Smart Plug Pairing for Digital Signage Remote Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional digital signage systems face challenges in remote control and energy management due to unreliable timers and Wake-on-LAN functions, leading to potential errors in turning digital signage on or off, especially in hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A digital signage system that integrates a smart plug with a player, enabling remote control through a server connection via WiFi, allowing the server to manage the power state of the player by pairing the smart plug with the player and using the same login information to log in to the server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a timer is used to control digital signage on/off remotely, then automation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to timer errors and inability to monitor status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smart plug as an intermediary device between the administrator and the digital signage system. The smart plug receives control commands via WiFi network, monitors its own operational status, and provides feedback to the administrator. This intermediary approach replaces the unreliable timer mechanism while maintaining automation, as the smart plug can reliably execute on/off commands and report status through network connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If Wake-on-LAN is used to remotely control computer host, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to function failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable Wake-on-LAN function with a smart plug as an intermediary control device. The smart plug directly controls power delivery to the digital signage system and reports status through WiFi network, providing a more reliable control mechanism while maintaining remote operation convenience. The smart plug's ability to monitor and report its own status ensures reliable feedback to administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart plug incorporates feedback capability by monitoring its own operational status and transmitting this information back to the administrator through the network. This feedback mechanism allows administrators to verify whether control commands were successfully executed, addressing the reliability issue inherent in Wake-on-LAN where no status confirmation is provided.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital signage is placed in hard-to-reach locations, then adaptability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates due to difficult access
Solution Approach 1:
The smart plug enables self-service monitoring and control by providing network-based status reporting and remote command execution. Administrators can monitor system status and control on/off operations remotely through the smart plug without needing to physically access the digital signage installation location. This self-service capability allows the system to be placed in hard-to-reach locations while maintaining ease of maintenance through remote management.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a digital signage system including a smart plug and a player. The smart plug is configured to provide power and has a wireless network connection function. The player receives power from the smart plug and has a wireless network connection function. The player uses a network setting to connect and log in to a server via a network base station. The player searches for the smart plug and wirelessly links to the smart plug directly, and the player transmits the network setting and login information for logging in to the server to the smart plug. The smart plug connects to the server via the network base station according to the received network setting, and the smart plug logs in to the server with the received login information thereby pairing the smart plug with the player.