Unified API for Electrophoretic Display Control Ware

Solution Overview

Problem

Software developers face a longer learning curve and increased development time when creating application programs for electrophoretic displays due to the need to accommodate various communication interfaces such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and others, requiring different program implementations for each interface.

Innovation Solution

An electrophoretic display system and method that uses a control ware to provide a unified application program interface (API) and data encapsulating formats, allowing software developers to communicate with electrophoretic display devices through different communication protocols like WiFi, Bluetooth, and others without needing to understand the specific details of each protocol, by loading image data into the control ware and using the appropriate drivers and protocols for transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different application programs are developed for different communication interfaces, then adaptability to electrophoretic displays with various communication interfaces is improved, but software developing time and learning curve are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to electrophoretic displaysVSAvoidsoftware developing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control ware provides a unified application program interface (API) that can communicate with electrophoretic display devices through multiple communication interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). This universal API allows the same application program to work with different communication interfaces without requiring separate programs for each interface type, thereby improving adaptability while reducing development time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control ware acts as an intermediary layer between the application program and the electrophoretic display device. It handles the complexity of different communication protocols and interfaces internally, providing a simplified unified API to the application program. This mediator approach allows developers to interact with the display through a standard interface without needing to understand the underlying protocol differences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different application programs are developed for different communication interfaces, then adaptability to electrophoretic displays is improved, but developer learning curve is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to electrophoretic displaysVSAvoiddeveloper learning curve

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control ware provides a unified application program interface (API) that can communicate with electrophoretic display devices through multiple communication interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). This universal API allows the same application program to work with different communication interfaces without requiring separate programs for each interface type, thereby improving adaptability while reducing development time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control ware acts as an intermediary layer between the application program and the electrophoretic display device. It handles the complexity of different communication protocols and interfaces internally, providing a simplified unified API to the application program. This mediator approach allows developers to interact with the display through a standard interface without needing to understand the underlying protocol differences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10866481B2Electrophoretic display system and developing method

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 E INK HLDG INC

AI summary

An electrophoretic display system and a developing method are provided. The electrophoretic display system includes an electronic device storing a control ware, a first electrophoretic display device coupled to the electronic device and a first application program interface (API) provided by the control ware. A first application program loads a first image data into the control ware, and calls the first application program interface. The control ware obtains a first driver of a first communication protocol of the first electrophoretic display device according to the first API. The control ware encapsulates the first image data with a first data encapsulating format according to the first driver. The control ware transmits the encapsulated first image data to the first electrophoretic display device according to the first communication protocol.