Visual Programming Interface for Toy Assembly Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toy assembly technologies limit the degree of freedom and complexity in programming, requiring separate, complicated programs for advanced processes, making it difficult for users to create complex programs through visual operations.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that allows users to produce complex programs through visual operations by combining icons representing hardware and software components, enabling easy creation and execution of programs using Near Field Communication and Bluetooth standards for toy assemblies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If assembly blocks are controlled by existing separate programs, then each block can be controlled individually, but the degree of freedom and complexity in controlling the toy assembly is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegree of freedom of movement or controlVSAvoidprogram complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the programming process into two distinct parts: a visual programming interface for creating control logic and a separate execution environment on the toy assembly. This segmentation allows users to create complex programs visually without dealing with low-level implementation details, thereby increasing adaptability while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication module serves as an intermediary between the control device and the toy assembly blocks. This intermediary enables seamless data transmission and coordination between blocks, allowing complex coordinated movements and interactions without requiring complex wiring or direct block-to-block programming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If complicated programs are produced separately for advanced processes, then specific functions can be implemented, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvanced process capabilityVSAvoidprogram production ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional text-based or complex block-based programming mechanics with a visual drag-and-drop interface. Users can create advanced processes by visually assembling program elements on a touchscreen, eliminating the need to write or manually configure complex code, thereby maintaining advanced functionality while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses visual icons and graphical representations to copy and represent programming concepts, making abstract programming logic tangible and understandable. This visual copying approach allows users to understand and manipulate program structures without dealing with syntactic complexity, enabling advanced process creation with simple visual operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If visual operations are used for program creation, then ease of operation improves, but the ability to produce complex programs may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual operation easeVSAvoidprogram complexity capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a visual dimension to programming by displaying program elements as graphical icons that can be manipulated on a touchscreen interface. This visual dimension allows users to perceive and manipulate program structure spatially, enabling them to create complex programs through intuitive visual arrangements rather than text-based coding, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and program complexity capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The visual programming interface implements a nested structure where program elements can contain sub-elements, allowing users to build complex programs by nesting simpler functional blocks within each other. This nesting approach enables hierarchical program organization, where high-level visual commands can encapsulate detailed sub-operations, maintaining visual simplicity while achieving program complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3588270B1Control device, control method, information processing device, information processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.06.01 VIVIWARE JAPAN INC

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AI summary

In order to enable a user to produce a program by means of visible operations, a pairing unit 101 pairs a user terminal 1 and a basic core 2. A program production unit 102 produces a program on the basis of touch operations by the user. An H parts supply unit 121 and an S parts supply unit 122 respectively supply H parts and S parts to the program production unit 102. A parts connection unit 123 connects the various H parts and S parts in accordance with touch operations by the user. A program execution unit 103 extracts from a program storage unit 300 a program to be executed, and executes that program. A communication control unit 105 transmits the execution result for the program executed by the program execution unit 103 to the basic core 2 via a second close-range communication unit 31.