Smart Home Device Sharing With Permission-Based Function Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart household device sharing systems pose security risks due to incorrect operations by users, particularly for high-security devices like door locks, potentially compromising family safety and privacy.

Innovation Solution

A method for sharing devices that allows users to specify different function permissions for different users, using a cloud server to match user permissions with device function properties and generate plug-ins for controlled access, ensuring only authorized functions are accessible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user shares a smart household device with another user to enable operation of all functions, then the ease of operation and user experience is improved, but the security risk and potential harmful factors increase due to incorrect operations by the shared user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments device permissions into different levels (first level, second level, third level) where each level corresponds to a specific set of operable functions. When sharing a device, the owner can grant the shared user access to only certain permission levels rather than all functions. This segmentation allows the shared user to operate specific functions safely while restricting access to high-risk functions, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If all functions of a smart household device are made accessible to a shared user, then the versatility and adaptability of the device is improved, but the reliability and safety deteriorate due to potential incorrect operations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides device functions into multiple permission levels with progressively broader access rights. The shared user can be granted access to specific levels based on their needs and trustworthiness. This segmentation maintains versatility by allowing flexible configuration of accessible functions while ensuring safety through controlled access to critical functions, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different access rights to different functional modules of the device. Each permission level corresponds to a specific set of functions with different risk profiles. The shared user receives tailored access rights appropriate for their role and responsibility, allowing them to operate necessary functions while being restricted from high-risk operations, thereby maintaining both versatility and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4276669B1Method and apparatus for sharing device
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4276669B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276669B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4276669B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a method and an apparatus for sharing a device, and relate to the terminal field, to specify a permission of a user to be shared with, thereby reducing a security risk caused by an incorrect operation of the user to be shared with. The method is: A first electronic device (a mobile phone A) displays a first interface, where the first interface includes N to-be-shared devices; the first electronic device receives an operation that a user selects a target device and a target user, and displays a second interface, where the second interface includes a plurality of options, different options in the plurality of options correspond to different use permissions, and different use permissions allow the target user to use different function properties; the first electronic device receives an operation that the user selects a target option from the plurality of options and an operation that the user determines to share the target device with the target user by using a use permission corresponding to the target option; and a second electronic device displays a third interface, where the third interface includes a first control corresponding to a function property that is of the target device and that the target user is allowed to use, and the first control is in an operable state.