Server Protocol Translation for Appliance Internet Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home and office electrical appliances face challenges in efficiently connecting to the Internet for remote updates and control due to the need for resource-intensive components and complex redesigns, which increase cost, size, and delay market introduction, while also requiring frequent upgrades to accommodate new Internet and WWW services.
Innovation Solution
A communication system where electrical appliances communicate only with a server, which translates protocols to enable connectivity with various Internet or WWW services, reducing the complexity and cost of appliances by offloading protocol management and upgrade capabilities to the server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical appliances are equipped with large microprocessors and sufficient memory resources to host various required software and networking services for Internet connectivity, then the appliances can communicate through Internet and WWW services, but the cost and size of the appliances increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the networking services and protocol handling functionality from the electrical appliance itself and relocates them to a remote server. The appliance only retains minimal communication capabilities to interact with the server, while the server handles all complex Internet protocol translations and service integrations, thereby reducing the appliance's hardware requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the electrical appliance and the Internet/WWW services. This server acts as a mediator that translates between the appliance's simple communication protocol and the various Internet protocols, eliminating the need for the appliance to directly implement complex networking functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical appliances are equipped with large microprocessors and sufficient memory resources to host various required software and networking services for Internet connectivity, then the appliances can communicate through Internet and WWW services, but the overall cost of the appliances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the networking services and protocol handling functionality from the electrical appliance itself and relocates them to a remote server. The appliance only retains minimal communication capabilities to interact with the server, while the server handles all complex Internet protocol translations and service integrations, thereby reducing the appliance's hardware requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the electrical appliance and the Internet/WWW services. This server acts as a mediator that translates between the appliance's simple communication protocol and the various Internet protocols, eliminating the need for the appliance to directly implement complex networking functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrical appliances are redesigned with significant changes to core components to add networking or external communication capability, then the appliances can connect to the Internet, but the introduction of new products into the market is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the networking services and protocol handling functionality from the electrical appliance itself and relocates them to a remote server. The appliance only retains minimal communication capabilities to interact with the server, while the server handles all complex Internet protocol translations and service integrations, thereby reducing the appliance's hardware requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If electrical appliances are overdesigned to ensure full upgrading capability for new Internet and WWW services, then the appliances can support emerging protocols, but the complexity and cost of the appliances increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the electrical appliance and the Internet/WWW services. This server acts as a mediator that translates between the appliance's simple communication protocol and the various Internet protocols, eliminating the need for the appliance to directly implement complex networking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides universal support for multiple Internet and WWW services, handling protocol translations for email, SMS, Facebook, Twitter, and other services. This multi-functional approach allows a single server to support numerous different services and protocols, eliminating the need for each appliance to implement each service individually.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for communicating between electrical appliances (e.g. smoke detectors, thermostats, refrigerators, TV program recorders, lawn/garden sprinkler systems, irrigation control systems, etc.) and cloud-based applications (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, email, SMS, etc.) includes a server that translates communications between the communication protocols used by the appliances and applications. The electrical appliances include a minimum complexity necessary to perform their primary functions and to communicate with the server. Additional complexity necessary for the electrical appliances to communicate with the cloud-based applications is enabled by the server remote from the electrical appliances.