Shared Environment Model Coordination for Multi-User Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges arise in maintaining synchronization of environment models shared among multiple users or controller devices, particularly when multiple users have permission to modify the model, leading to inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
Designate one controller device as a coordinator to manage updates, allowing other devices to request modifications, accept or reject them, and synchronize the environment model across all devices while enabling local updates if rejected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users are permitted to modify the environment model simultaneously, then user collaboration and customization capability is improved, but model consistency and synchronization across devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary that mediates all modification requests to the environment model. When a user wants to modify the model, the request is sent to the coordinator, which evaluates the request against existing constraints and coordinates the update across all devices. This intermediary prevents direct conflicting modifications while maintaining collaborative capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the coordinator device communicates modification outcomes back to requesting devices and other connected devices. When a modification is proposed, the coordinator evaluates it and provides feedback on whether it will be accepted or rejected based on current model state and constraints, allowing users to adjust their modifications accordingly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a coordinator device is designated to manage updates, then model consistency is improved, but device complexity and coordination overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator device performs multiple functions: it acts as a modification request receiver, evaluator, approver/rejector, and synchronization coordinator. By consolidating these functions in a single device (or centralized service), the system avoids the complexity of peer-to-peer coordination protocols while maintaining model consistency across all connected devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices automatically handle coordination tasks without requiring manual intervention. When a modification is made, the system automatically communicates with the coordinator, receives approval or rejection, and propagates updates to all connected devices without user awareness of the coordination process, reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If real-time synchronization is implemented across all devices, then model currency is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The environment model is divided into distinct components or segments (such as accessory information, trigger information, action information). When a modification occurs, only the affected segments are updated and propagated to connected devices, rather than transmitting the entire model, reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining currency of relevant data.
Data Source
AI summary
Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.