Portable Device Translating Vehicle Configuration Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Self-configurable environments, such as automobiles, are not readily transportable, making it inconvenient for users to transfer their personalized settings to different vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A portable consumer device can store and communicate configuration settings to a self-configurable environment, allowing it to automatically adjust settings like seat orientation, radio preferences, and climate control based on user preferences, using environment-translation software to standardize and translate settings across different vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If self-configurable environments are implemented in automobiles, then user convenience is improved, but portability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a portable digital copy of the environment configuration settings stored on a consumer device. This copy can be transported to different locations and used to configure similar environments elsewhere, resolving the contradiction by making the configuration data portable while the actual self-configurable environment remains in the automobile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a portable consumer device as an intermediary that stores and transports configuration settings between different environments. This mediator enables the transfer of preferences from one automobile to another, allowing portability of configuration data without requiring the physical automobile itself to be portable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If environment configuration settings are stored locally in each vehicle, then configuration accuracy is improved, but adaptability to different vehicles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidcompatibility across vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates universal configuration settings that can be applied across multiple different vehicle types and models. The portable consumer device stores generalized preference data that can adapt to various environments, allowing the same configuration set to work across different automobiles while maintaining reasonable accuracy for each

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10899363B2Automatic configuration of self-configurable environments

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 APPLE INC

AI summary

A portable electronic device for repositioning adjustable fixtures in vehicles. The portable electronic device includes a communication module, a processor, and a memory that stores computer program instructions that cause the processor to receive a first configuration setting that is specific to the first vehicle, the first configuration setting describing a preferred position of a first adjustable fixture in the first vehicle, translate the first configuration setting into a second configuration setting that is specific to a second vehicle, and transmit, to the second vehicle using the communication module, the second configuration setting to the second vehicle for use in moving a second adjustable fixture in the second vehicle from an initial position to an adjusted position that is based on the preferred position.