Smart Home Controller Server List for Multi-AP Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In smart home systems with multiple Access Points (APs), control devices may misjudge the presence of controllees when connected to different APs, leading to unexpected situations where users cannot control target devices effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow control devices to discover and control controllees by receiving a list of controllees from a server, transmitting reply request signals, and generating a non-replied controllee list when no response is received, enabling control via the server even when controllees and control devices are connected to different APs or networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a smart home system uses multiple Access Points to improve network coverage and control reliability, then the system can serve more devices and areas, but control devices may misjudge the presence of controllees when connected to different APs, leading to control failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that maintains a centralized controllee list accessible by all control devices. When a control device cannot directly discover a controllee on the same AP, it queries the server for the controllee's information. The server acts as a mediator that bridges control devices on one AP with controllees on other APs, ensuring continuous control capability across the multi-AP network.
Solution Approach 2:
The controllee list obtained from the server serves multiple functions: it provides device discovery information, enables control across different APs, and maintains system-wide device registry. This universal list allows control devices to operate effectively regardless of which AP they are connected to, making the control mechanism applicable throughout the entire smart home network.
2Ease of operation
If control devices discover controllees through direct local network communication, then the discovery process is simple and fast, but controllees connected to different APs cannot be discovered or controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges local direct-discovery mechanisms with server-based centralized discovery. Control devices first attempt simple local discovery on their current AP, and when that fails, they seamlessly transition to querying the server for controllee information. This combination maintains the simplicity of local discovery while adding the versatility of network-wide device access through the server.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a device for searching for and controlling controllees in a smart home system. The method for searching for and controlling controllees existing on two or more networks from controllers in a smart home system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: requesting a list of the controllees and receiving the list of the controllees from a server; transmitting a response request signal for requesting a response to the controllees existing in the received list of the controllees; and, when a response signal has not been received from one or more controllees, generating a non-response list for controlling, by the server, the controllees from which the response signal has not been received.