Wireless USB Host Management via HMC and OHRP
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no established procedure for a wireless USB device to efficiently select and manage connections among multiple co-located wireless hosts, leading to complex and user-unfriendly host selection processes, especially in scenarios requiring frequent interconnect establishment and sharing.
Innovation Solution
A new device class interface, Host Management Class (HMC), is defined to facilitate host selection and connection management through control commands and a graphical user interface, along with an Out-of-band Host Request Protocol (OHRP) using WiMedia beaconing for secure and efficient host switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a physical switch is used on the device to select hosts, then host selection can be performed, but the user experience is poor and it does not account for complex connection scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical switch with an electronic software-based host selection interface. The device now uses a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays available hosts and allows selection through software controls, eliminating the need for physical switch manipulation while providing more sophisticated connection management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary host selection mechanism that acts as a mediator between the device and multiple hosts. This intermediary system maintains a list of known hosts, presents them to the user through a GUI, and manages the connection establishment process, thereby simplifying complex multi-host scenarios.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a device connects to only one wireless host at a given time, then connection stability is maintained, but the ability to support frequent interconnect establishment and sharing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic host selection capabilities where the device can adaptively switch between different hosts based on user needs and connection scenarios. The system maintains stable connections when needed while providing flexible switching mechanisms through the host selection interface, allowing the connection state to dynamically adjust between stability and versatility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the device universally compatible with multiple hosts by implementing a host selection mechanism that can work with any host in the known hosts list. The device maintains the ability to connect to a single host at a time for stability while providing multi-functionality through the capability to switch between different hosts, supporting various usage scenarios including frequent interconnect establishment and sharing.
3Device complexity
If no established procedure exists for host selection, then device simplicity is maintained, but efficient connection management among multiple hosts cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a list of known hosts before connection is needed. The device scans for and stores information about available hosts in advance, so when connection is required, the user can quickly select from the pre-identified list rather than searching for hosts at the moment of connection need, thereby improving connection establishment efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a Master/Salve or Host/Device system in which there is only one host and one or more devices connected by cables to the host. To connect a USB device to a different host controller (say another PC), the user unplugs the USB cable and establishes the connection physically by plugging the cable into the new host controller interface. Certified Wireless USB (CWUSB), a logical extension to the USB, preserves the USB connection model, except that the link between the host and the device is now using a wireless technology. A wireless device is usually connected to only one wireless host at a given point of time, even though several wireless hosts may be co-located in the same physical neighborhood. The connection between the wireless host and device is initiated by the device. A device usually selects a wireless host from a stored set of known hosts that have established a trusted relationship with the device. If more than one wireless host is operating in the same neighborhood, there is no well known established procedure for the device to select a particular wireless host to establish a connection.