Server-Based Simultaneous Control of Application Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Controlling multiple electronic devices connected to a server via the Internet is time-consuming and inconvenient, as users must explicitly enter URLs, parameters, or commands for each device to change settings or preferences.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating and sending documents with instructions from a server to application devices based on user identification and device status, allowing devices to automatically adjust settings without user interaction, using user and context profiles to reflect preferred settings and location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users explicitly control each device by entering URLs, parameters, or commands through browser entry fields, then each device can be controlled individually, but the process becomes very time-consuming when many devices need to be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary actions by automatically generating control documents for multiple devices based on user profile information before the user needs to interact with each device. The system pre-configures the control parameters and settings, so when the user wants to control devices, the work is already done or substantially completed by the server
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the server to automatically generate and send control documents to devices without requiring explicit user input for each device. The user profile information serves as automatic instructions, enabling the system to control devices autonomously based on stored preferences and contextual information
2Ease of operation
If users explicitly control each device by entering commands for each device, then precise control of individual devices is achieved, but the process becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs multiple functions: it retrieves user profile information, generates control documents, sends documents to multiple devices, and coordinates device operations. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate manual operations for each device into a single automated process
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple devices. Instead of the user directly controlling each device through browser entry fields, the server mediates by automatically generating and sending control documents based on user profile information, simplifying the interaction model
3Productivity
If the server generates and sends control documents automatically based on user identification, then simultaneous control of multiple devices is achieved, but backward compatibility with older devices must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by adapting the control documents to match the capabilities and language versions of different devices. Older devices receive documents in their supported XML language versions, while newer devices receive updated formats, allowing the same automated process to work across different device generations without sacrificing speed
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system of controlling application devices simultaneously. The application devices can be a Web tablet, a set-top box, a VCR, a TV, and PDA, a lamp, a coffee machine, a radio, a telephone, a background wall, a DVD player or an electronic information panel. The method includes four steps controlled by a server: retrieving first documents (501) from a first set of application devices; retrieving identification (502) of a user; generating (505) second documents, each comprising an instruction, on the basis of at least a part of the retrieved identification of the user and at least a part of the first documents; simultaneously sending (506) at least one of the second documents to each device of a second set of the application devices; and performing (507) for a given device of the second set one instruction from at least one of the second documents received in the given device. The step of retrieving identification by the server includes the steps of retrieving user profile (503) information based on the user identification, and retrieving context profile information (504) relating to present surroundings of the user. The said documents include Hyper Text Markup Language, Scalable Vector Graphics, Resource Description Framework and Extensible Markup Language (XML).