Workflow-Enabled Client Automatic Device Discovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current distributed computing systems lack flexibility and efficiency in allowing computing devices and peripherals to interact, as users must manually configure and discover devices, and there is no mechanism for automatic detection or allocation of processing tasks based on device capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A distributed workflow-enabled system that includes a workflow unit with a communication manager, process control module, and user interface module, allowing for automatic discovery and dynamic allocation of processing tasks between providers and clients based on their capabilities, and enabling customizable interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration and device discovery methods are used, then users can interact with peripheral devices, but the system lacks flexibility and efficiency, requiring users to know about device existence and load different software drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic device discovery and configuration where devices autonomously register their capabilities with the workflow manager and clients automatically detect available services, eliminating the need for manual user configuration and driver loading
Solution Approach 2:
A workflow manager acts as an intermediary between peripheral devices and computing devices, providing a standardized interface that abstracts device-specific protocols and enables flexible interaction without requiring users to know device existence or load specific drivers
2Reliability
If each peripheral device requires compliance with different data communication protocols and has its own application interface, then specific device functionality is achieved, but the ability to interface with peripheral devices is significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow manager provides a universal standardized interface that can interact with multiple different peripheral devices through common protocols, while each device maintains its specific functionality through workflow-defined communication standards
3Adaptability or versatility
If new peripheral devices are added to the network, then device functionality increases, but each existing device must be modified or new software added to communicate with the new device
Solution Approach 1:
New peripheral devices automatically register their capabilities with the workflow manager upon network connection, and the workflow manager dynamically updates the service registry, eliminating the need to modify existing computing devices or add new software drivers
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to new devices through automatic service discovery and registration mechanisms, where the workflow manager continuously monitors network devices and updates available services without requiring system reconfiguration
4Loss of information
If there is no mechanism for automatically detecting devices on the network, then device existence can be known, but automatic setup and interaction configuration cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow manager serves as an intermediary that automatically detects peripheral devices on the network, retrieves their capability information, and makes this information available to computing devices through a standardized service registry
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback loops where the workflow manager continuously monitors network devices, detects new devices or capability changes, and automatically updates the service registry to inform computing devices of available services
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A workflow-enabled client comprises a client and a workflow manager interface unit. The workflow manager interface unit couples the client to a workflow manager to provide the automatic discovering, distributed processing and dynamic user interface generating functionality of the present invention. A communication manager of the workflow-enabled client has a registration unit that registers, and unregisters, the client with the workflow manager such as by providing a name, a data and other commands. A polling module uses a received location from the workflow manager to retrieve data. The process control module performs a plurality of processing functions such a processing polled data, storing it or providing it to other clients. The process control module can also initiate other clients. The present invention also includes a number of novel methods including a method for registering a client, a method for polling data, and a method for initiating other clients.