Wireless Device Bonding via Wired Address Pre-registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mass production and surgical environments, the existing Bluetooth and ZigBee wireless connection establishment processes are inefficient and prone to human error due to the large number of slave devices, leading to prolonged bonding times and potential safety hazards from incorrect device pairing.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a fixed cable connection to discover and authenticate slave device addresses, replacing the wireless searching phase with a wired connection to ensure accurate and rapid pairing between Bluetooth master and slave devices, thereby eliminating human error and reducing bonding time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless searching process is used to discover slave devices, then device pairing can be established without physical connection, but the searching process becomes inefficient and error-prone when many slave devices are present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless device pairingVSAvoidbonding process efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-registering slave device addresses in the master device before the actual bonding process. During mass production, slave device addresses are obtained through wired connection and pre-registered in the master device's memory. This preliminary registration eliminates the need for time-consuming wireless searching during bonding, allowing the master device to directly connect to the intended slave device using the pre-stored address, thereby significantly improving bonding efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If wireless searching is performed to find slave devices, then automatic pairing is possible, but the search list fills up rapidly preventing desired devices from being entered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic device pairingVSAvoidcorrect device pairing

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a wired connection as an intermediary during the address acquisition phase. The wired connection serves as a reliable mediator to transfer slave device addresses to the master device without the limitations of wireless searching. This intermediary wired phase ensures accurate address transmission, after which the actual bonding occurs wirelessly, combining the reliability of wired communication with the convenience of wireless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If manual intervention is used to enter slave device addresses, then accurate pairing can be achieved, but large amounts of time are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccurate device pairingVSAvoidpairing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically obtain and register slave device addresses through wired connection without requiring manual intervention. The master device automatically queries and stores slave device addresses during the wired phase, and then automatically uses these addresses for wireless bonding. This automated self-service process eliminates both the time consumption of manual address entry and the errors associated with manual input, achieving both speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If wireless searching is performed in surgical environment, then device discovery is possible, but safety hazards arise from bonding with wrong devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidsafety hazards from incorrect pairing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7636549B2Automated bonding for wireless devices

Publication Date: 2009.12.22 JOHNSON & JOHNSON SURGICAL VISION INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for managing the establishment of a wireless connection between an instrument host and a non-fixed device is provided. The method comprises acquiring the non-fixed medical device address over a fixed wire by replacing the traditional wireless searching mechanism. The method also comprises providing an authentication mechanism between the instrument host and the non-fixed device, for example, across a wireless communications network.