Automatic Terminal Pairing via Public IP Address Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for pairing user terminals with user accounts in services like document archiving are cumbersome and prone to input errors, requiring tedious manual entry of serial numbers, leading to increased technical support costs.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves identifying user terminals through their public IP addresses, allowing a configuration terminal with the same public IP address to facilitate transparent pairing with user accounts, using a pairing device that establishes a virtual private network and employs STUN protocol for address translation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual entry of terminal serial number in user account placeholder is used, then terminal-account pairing can be achieved, but the process becomes tedious and prone to input errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs terminal identification and account pairing without requiring manual user input. The terminal's public IP address is automatically obtained and used to retrieve the terminal identifier, which is then automatically paired with the user account, eliminating manual serial number entry and reducing errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The user's public IP address serves as an intermediary element that connects the terminal to the user account. Instead of directly using serial numbers, the system uses the IP address as a mediator to automatically retrieve the terminal identifier and establish the pairing, simplifying the user's task while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual serial number entry is required for pairing, then terminal identification can be achieved, but technical support costs increase due to input errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal identification accuracyVSAvoidpairing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of typing serial numbers is replaced with an automated network-based system. The terminal identifier is automatically retrieved through network communication using the public IP address, eliminating manual input operations and associated errors while reducing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically obtaining the terminal identifier through the user's public IP address before the pairing operation is completed. This preliminary automatic identification eliminates the need for manual serial number entry and prevents input errors before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If public IP address is used for terminal identification, then automatic pairing can be achieved, but network address translation must be handled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing automation levelVSAvoidnetwork configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The public IP address acts as an intermediary that works seamlessly with NAT gateways. The system uses this intermediary element to automatically retrieve the terminal identifier without requiring users to understand or configure NAT settings, thereby achieving high automation while keeping the user-facing process simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2647177B1Method and entity for pairing a terminal and a user account
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 SAGEMCOM DOCUMENTS
  • EP2647177B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2647177B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2647177B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A pairing must be performed between a terminal, termed the terminal to be paired, and a user account for a service implemented by at least one device connected to a first communication network. The terminal to be paired is connected via a second communication network to a gateway which links the first and second communication networks by performing an address translation with the aid of a public address routable on the first communication network. A pairing device performs steps: of obtaining (3.2) said public address; of detecting (3.4) an access to said user account, said access being performed from another terminal (1.2), separate from the terminal to be paired; of obtaining (3.5) the address of said other terminal; of pairing (3.6) the terminal to be paired and said user account if the address of said other terminal coincides with said public address.