Virtual Environment for Remote Physical Component Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in effectively interacting with and controlling embedded devices in various environments, as existing technologies lack intuitive and efficient methods for remote management and control of physical components.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a virtual environment to store and display representations of physical components, allowing users to interact with these representations and send commands to corresponding physical components, enabling remote control and monitoring through a computer-readable storage medium and a network of computing devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users directly interact with physical embedded devices, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitive interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical environment including embedded devices, allowing users to interact with the virtual representation instead of the physical device directly. This virtual copy maintains the functional characteristics of the physical device while providing an intuitive graphical interface for control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual environment acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the physical embedded devices. User interactions with virtual objects are translated into commands for the corresponding physical devices, providing both ease of operation through graphical interface and precise control through direct command mapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users are physically present with devices, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to location constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a virtual dimension to the physical environment, allowing users to access and control embedded devices through a graphical interface that can be displayed on any computing device. This transcends physical location constraints by enabling remote access through networks while maintaining the ease of direct interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If complex control interfaces are used, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of complicating the physical device interface, the patent creates a virtual copy with an intuitive graphical interface. The complexity of precise control is managed in the virtual environment where graphical elements can provide detailed control options without adding physical complexity to the embedded devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8924879B2Method and system for controlling physical components via a virtual environment

Publication Date: 2014.12.30 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A computer readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that are executable by a processor, the set of instructions being operable to store a virtual representation of a plurality of physical components, display the virtual representation, receive user interaction with at least one of the virtual representations and send a command to the physical component corresponding to the user interaction.