Universal Control Engine Protocol Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inconsistent adoption of new communication protocols and command formats by appliance manufacturers leads to confusion and mis-operation when users or manufacturers try to utilize enhanced features in controlling devices, such as remote controls, due to the large installed base of prior generation appliances and fragmented adoption of newer methods.
Innovation Solution
A modular hardware and software solution called the Universal Control Engine (UCE) that adapts to various control methodologies and communication media, allowing a single controlling device to issue commands to multiple appliances using the most reliable method for each device, such as IR, CEC, IP, RF4CE, Bluetooth, or UPnP, by receiving commands from devices like smartphones or tablets and propagating them optimally across different protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols and command formats are supported to ensure compatibility with legacy and new appliances, then the controlling device can operate with a wide range of appliances, but the device complexity increases due to the need to manage multiple protocols and select the appropriate one for each appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control engine as an intermediary component that manages multiple communication protocols. The control engine receives commands from the controller and automatically selects and translates them into the appropriate protocol for each target appliance, shielding the user from protocol complexity while maintaining multi-protocol support
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling device is designed with a universal control architecture that integrates multiple communication interfaces (IR, RF, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) and a smart algorithm that can identify appliances and select appropriate protocols automatically, allowing one device to control multiple types of appliances without requiring separate controllers for each protocol
2Reliability
If new communication methods are adopted to improve control performance and reliability, then the control efficiency is enhanced, but the ease of operation decreases due to user confusion from inconsistent manufacturer adoption and large installed base of legacy appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts its communication method based on the target appliance. The smart algorithm identifies the appliance type and automatically selects the most reliable protocol (e.g., using IR for legacy devices, WiFi for smart devices), allowing the system to optimize reliability for each device while maintaining a simple unified user interface
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control engine monitors the response and status of controlled appliances, automatically adjusting its protocol selection and command format based on observed appliance behavior, thereby improving reliability through adaptive learning while keeping the user interface simple and consistent
Data Source
AI summary
In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.