Smart Hub Command Translation for Device Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart home devices often use different communication protocols and have varying setup procedures, leading to interoperability issues and user confusion when configuring and commissioning new devices, resulting in incomplete access to features.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that translate advanced functionality commands into sub-commands, allowing a hub device to manage the execution of these sub-commands across multiple devices, enabling devices without specific capabilities to emulate advanced functionalities by coordinating the capabilities of multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices use different communication protocols and setup procedures, then device diversity and capabilities are enhanced, but interoperability and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hub device as an intermediary that mediates between devices using different communication protocols. The hub translates commands and coordinates between devices, enabling interoperability without requiring all devices to support every protocol. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining device diversity while providing a unified interface for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub device is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple communication protocols (Z-Wave, ZigBee, Insteon, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi) and various setup procedures simultaneously. This universal capability allows the system to accommodate diverse devices while presenting a consistent user experience through standardized commissioning and configuration processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices have varying capabilities, then device functionality is enhanced, but access to advanced features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hub acts as an intermediary that provides advanced functionalities not present in individual devices. It translates high-level commands into coordinated actions across multiple devices or emulates advanced features by managing simpler devices, ensuring all users access the same feature set regardless of individual device capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the capabilities of multiple simpler devices to emulate advanced functionalities. When a device lacks a specific capability, the hub combines resources and functions from multiple devices to provide the desired advanced feature, ensuring uniform access across all devices in the network.
3Ease of manufacture
If each device has unique setup procedures, then device-specific optimization is improved, but commissioning complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hub serves as an intermediary during the commissioning process, managing device-specific setup procedures while presenting a unified commissioning interface to users. It handles protocol-specific configurations and translations internally, shielding users from the underlying complexity while maintaining device-specific optimizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the commissioning process into standardized user-facing steps and device-specific implementation details. The hub handles the segmentation by separating the universal commissioning workflow from protocol-specific configuration tasks, allowing device-specific optimization without exposing complexity to users.
Data Source
AI summary
A first device receives a first command for performing a first functionality on at least a second device, the first functionality comprising a plurality of constituent functionalities, wherein the second device is not configured to execute the first command. The first command is translated into a plurality of sub-commands for execution by respective devices. Each of the plurality of sub-commands, when executed, performs a respective constituent functionality of the plurality of constituent functionalities, and execution of any one of the sub-commands individually does not perform the entire first functionality. The first device manages execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices, wherein execution of the plurality of sub-commands by the respective devices emulates performance of the first functionality on at least the second device.