Remote control methods, devices, electronic equipment and storage media for smart homes

Abstract

This invention provides a remote control method, device, electronic device, and storage medium for smart homes, relating to the field of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The method includes: determining a central device from a plurality of smart home devices; the central device communicating with a control device via a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicating with other smart home devices via the second communication network; the first communication network being a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network being a distributed local network; sending control commands to the central device for a first smart home device; the central device transmitting the control commands to the first smart home device; and controlling the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands. Thus, while achieving control of the smart home devices, the distributed network communication effectively reduces the network burden of the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and in particular to a remote control method for smart homes, a remote control device for smart homes, an electronic device, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of information technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a crucial bridge connecting the physical and digital worlds. By embedding sensors and software into various devices, the IoT enables these devices to collect and exchange data, thereby achieving intelligent identification, location, tracking, monitoring, and management. This technology has a wide range of applications, from industrial automation to smart cities and smart homes, and is gradually changing the way people live and work.

[0003] Among the many applications of the Internet of Things (IoT), smart homes have garnered significant attention due to their direct connection to people's daily lives. Smart home systems integrate various smart devices, such as smart bulbs, smart sockets, and smart security cameras, enabling automation and remote control of the home environment. Users can monitor and control their homes anytime, anywhere via smartphones or other terminal devices, greatly improving convenience and comfort. However, with the increasing number of smart home devices, the burden on home networks also increases. Over-reliance on home networks for data transmission and remote control can easily lead to excessive resource consumption, resulting in decreased network efficiency and even network congestion and latency. Furthermore, the limited coverage and penetration of home networks may create signal blind spots, affecting the normal use of devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a remote control method, device, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium for smart homes, in order to solve or partially solve the problems of the heavy burden on home networks caused by the control of smart home devices and the inability to effectively control the devices.

[0005] This invention discloses a remote control method for smart homes, comprising:

[0006] A central device is determined from a number of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network is a distributed local network.

[0007] The central device sends a control command to the first smart home device, and the central device sends the control command to the first smart home device to control the smart home device to perform the device operation corresponding to the control command.

[0008] In some feasible implementations, sending control commands for the first smart home device to the central device includes:

[0009] If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device through the first communication network.

[0010] If the central device and the control device are currently connected via the second communication network, or via the first communication network and the second communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device via the second communication network.

[0011] In some feasible implementations, sending the control command to the first smart home device through the central device includes:

[0012] Obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device;

[0013] If the strength of the first communication signal is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device;

[0014] If the strength of the first communication signal is less than a preset signal threshold, then a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device. The control command is then sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device.

[0015] Among some feasible implementation methods are:

[0016] Displays the control interface corresponding to the central device;

[0017] The control interface displays the device identifiers corresponding to each of the smart home devices. The device identifiers are information generated by the central device upon receiving the network frame to be configured broadcast by the smart home device.

[0018] In response to the selection operation for the device identifier, a target device identifier corresponding to the selection operation is determined, the central device is controlled to send a network configuration request to the second smart home device corresponding to the target device identifier, a communication connection is established between the central device and the second smart home device, and the second smart home device is added to the second communication network.

[0019] In some feasible implementations, determining the central device from a plurality of smart home devices includes:

[0020] Obtain the device parameters corresponding to each of the aforementioned smart home devices;

[0021] Select a central device from the smart home devices according to at least one of the device parameters, establish a first communication network and / or a second communication network between the central device and the control device, and establish a second communication network between the central device and other smart home devices.

[0022] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength with each of the smart home devices, and the selection of a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes:

[0023] The average signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices is calculated using the target communication signal strength.

[0024] The smart home device with the highest average signal strength is selected as the central device.

[0025] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least load information, and the step of selecting a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes:

[0026] The smart home device with the lowest load, as represented by the load information, is used as the central device.

[0027] The load includes at least one of the following: computing load, communication load, storage load, energy consumption load, and response load.

[0028] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least device energy consumption, and the step of selecting a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes:

[0029] Use the smart home device with the lowest energy consumption as the central device.

[0030] This invention also discloses a remote control device for smart homes, comprising:

[0031] The device selection module is used to determine a central device from a number of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network is a distributed local network.

[0032] The device control module is used to send control commands to the central device for the first smart home device, and to control the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands by sending the control commands to the first smart home device through the central device.

[0033] In some feasible implementations, the device control module is specifically used for:

[0034] If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device through the first communication network.

[0035] If the central device and the control device are currently connected via the second communication network, or via the first communication network and the second communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device via the second communication network.

[0036] In some feasible implementations, the device control module is specifically used for:

[0037] Obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device;

[0038] If the strength of the first communication signal is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device;

[0039] If the strength of the first communication signal is less than a preset signal threshold, then a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device. The control command is then sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device.

[0040] Among some feasible implementation methods are:

[0041] The interface display module is used to display the control interface corresponding to the central device;

[0042] The identification display module is used to display the device identification corresponding to each of the smart home devices in the control interface. The device identification is the information generated by the central device when it receives the network frame to be configured broadcast by the smart home device.

[0043] The connection establishment module is used to respond to the selection operation for the device identifier, determine the target device identifier corresponding to the selection operation, control the central device to send a network configuration request to the second smart home device corresponding to the target device identifier, establish a communication connection between the central device and the second smart home device, and add the second smart home device to the second communication network.

[0044] In some feasible implementations, the device selection module is specifically used for:

[0045] Obtain the device parameters corresponding to each of the aforementioned smart home devices;

[0046] Select a central device from the smart home devices according to at least one of the device parameters, establish a first communication network and / or a second communication network between the central device and the control device, and establish a second communication network between the central device and other smart home devices.

[0047] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength with each of the smart home devices, and the device selection module is specifically used for:

[0048] The average signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices is calculated using the target communication signal strength.

[0049] The smart home device with the highest average signal strength is selected as the central device.

[0050] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least load information, and the device selection module is specifically used for:

[0051] The smart home device with the lowest load, as represented by the load information, is used as the central device.

[0052] The load includes at least one of the following: computing load, communication load, storage load, energy consumption load, and response load.

[0053] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least device energy consumption, and the device selection module is specifically used for:

[0054] Use the smart home device with the lowest energy consumption as the central device.

[0055] This invention also discloses an electronic device, including a processor, a communication interface, a memory, and a communication bus, wherein the processor, the communication interface, and the memory communicate with each other through the communication bus;

[0056] The memory is used to store computer programs;

[0057] When the processor executes a program stored in the memory, it implements the method described in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0058] This invention also discloses a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform the methods described in this invention.

[0059] The embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0060] In this embodiment of the invention, a central device can be determined from a plurality of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. Then, control commands for a first smart home device can be sent to the central device. The central device sends the control commands to the first smart home device, controlling the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands. Thus, in a smart home scenario, a central device is selected from the smart home devices. The central device communicates with the control device through the first communication network, enabling the control device to remotely send corresponding control commands to the central device. At the same time, the central device communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network, constructing a local distributed network. During the remote control of smart home devices, the central device can send control commands to smart home devices through the second communication network. While achieving control of smart home devices, communication based on the distributed network effectively reduces the network burden of the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control. Attached Figure Description

[0061] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a remote control method for smart homes provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control scenario of the smart home device provided in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of a remote control device for smart homes provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 4This is a block diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0065] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0066] As an example, with the increasing number of smart home devices, the burden on home networks also increases. Over-reliance on home networks for data transmission and remote control can easily lead to excessive consumption of network resources, resulting in decreased network efficiency and even network congestion and latency. Furthermore, home networks have limited coverage and penetration capabilities, potentially creating signal blind spots that affect the normal use of devices.

[0067] In this invention, for multiple smart home devices deployed in a corresponding space, a central device can be first determined from among the smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. Then, control commands for a first smart home device can be sent to the central device. The central device sends the control commands to the first smart home device, controlling the smart home device to perform the device operation corresponding to the control command. Thus, in a smart home scenario, a central device is selected from the smart home devices. The central device communicates with the control device through the first communication network, allowing the control device to remotely send corresponding control commands to the central device. At the same time, the central device communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network, constructing a local distributed network. During the remote control of smart home devices, the central device can send control commands to smart home devices through the second communication network. While achieving control of smart home devices, communication based on the distributed network effectively reduces the network burden of the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control.

[0068] Reference Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a flowchart of a remote control method for smart homes provided in an embodiment of the present invention, which may specifically include the following steps:

[0069] Step 101: Determine a central device from a plurality of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to an Ethernet network, and the second communication network is a distributed local network.

[0070] Smart home devices refer to home appliances and systems that can be connected to and remotely controlled via the internet. They are typically integrated into smart home systems and can be controlled via smartphones, tablets, or other smart devices. These devices are designed to improve home comfort, security, and energy efficiency.

[0071] Common smart home devices include: smart bulbs and lighting systems, which can adjust brightness, color, and on / off times via smartphone apps or voice assistants; smart sockets, which allow users to remotely control the power supply of any appliance plugged in; smart thermostats, which automatically regulate the temperature in the home and can be remotely controlled via mobile devices; smart security systems, including smart door locks, surveillance cameras, door and window sensors, and alarm systems; smart curtains and blinds, which can be opened and closed on a timer or remotely; smart appliances, such as smart refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, and dishwashers, which can provide remote control and monitoring functions; smart entertainment systems, such as smart TVs, audio systems, and game consoles, which can be controlled via voice or mobile devices; and smart health devices, such as smart scales, blood pressure monitors, and sleep monitors, which can track users' health data, etc. This invention does not limit these categories.

[0072] It's worth noting that the characteristics of a smart home system can include: Connectivity: All devices can connect to each other via a home network and typically support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless communication technologies; Automation: Devices can automatically perform tasks based on preset scenarios or user habits; Remote Control: Users can control home devices anytime, anywhere via the internet; Voice Control: Many smart home devices support voice assistants; Energy Management: Smart home systems can help users monitor and control energy consumption, thereby saving on electricity bills, etc. Advantages of smart homes include: Convenience: Users can easily control various devices in their homes without manual operation; Security: Smart security systems can provide real-time monitoring and alarms, improving home safety; Energy Saving: Through smart thermostats and lighting systems, users can manage energy usage more effectively; Personalization: Users can customize smart home systems according to their needs and habits, etc. Smart home devices are changing the way we interact with our home environment, providing greater convenience, security, and energy efficiency. With technological advancements and cost reductions, smart home systems are becoming increasingly popular and an integral part of modern life.

[0073] Furthermore, the control device can be a smartphone, tablet computer, or computer, etc., and the present invention does not limit it.

[0074] In controlling smart home devices, besides automated control, users often need to remotely control these devices according to their needs. If all smart home devices are controlled through a home network (such as WiFi), it will undoubtedly increase the burden on the home network, making it prone to network congestion and latency. Furthermore, due to the limited coverage and penetration capabilities of home networks, remote device control may be impossible. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, a central device can be determined from among several smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network is a distributed local network.

[0075] This system constructs a distributed network within smart home devices, with a central device serving as the "central node." The central device handles external communication and internal command transmission within the network. Specifically, it receives control commands from control devices and forwards them to the corresponding smart home devices, enabling control over these devices. In a smart home scenario, the central device is selected from among the smart home devices. It communicates with the control devices via a first communication network, allowing the control devices to remotely send control commands. Simultaneously, the central device communicates with other smart home devices via a second communication network, creating a localized distributed network. During remote control of smart home devices, the central device can send control commands through the second communication network. This distributed network-based communication effectively reduces the network load on the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control.

[0076] The first communication network can be a local area network using Ethernet technology as its physical and data link layer communication standard. The central device can communicate with the Ethernet through a router in the home network, thereby realizing communication with the control device. The second communication network can be a distributed network in the house space. Each node in the distributed network can act as a router to forward data to other nodes. The second communication network can be a mesh network built using Bluetooth technology, Zigbee technology, Z-Wave technology, and Thread technology, etc. This invention does not limit this.

[0077] In some feasible implementations, for the construction of the communication network, users can select from multiple smart home devices through a control device. After establishing communication connections with each smart home device, the control device can obtain the device parameters corresponding to each smart home device, and then select a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one device parameter. A first communication network and / or a second communication network between the central device and the control device, as well as a second communication network between the central device and other smart home devices, are established. Thus, by selecting a central device from the smart home devices, the central device communicates with the control device through the home network, reducing the network burden on the home network.

[0078] For selecting a central device, the control device can choose a suitable one from the smart home devices based on at least one acquired device parameter. Specifically, the device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices, load information, and device energy consumption. The control device can calculate the average signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices using the target communication signal strength, and then select the smart home device with the highest average signal strength as the central device. Alternatively, the load information can be used to identify the smart home device with the lowest load, which includes at least one of the following: computational load, communication load, storage load, energy consumption load, and response load. Finally, the smart home device with the lowest energy consumption can also be selected as the central device. By selecting a suitable central device from the smart home devices based on these parameters, network stability can be effectively improved, ensuring stability between the central device and the control device, reducing the possibility of data transmission termination, optimizing system performance, ensuring the master device has sufficient resources to handle tasks and requests in the network, and helping to reduce the energy consumption of the entire smart home system, thereby reducing operating costs and contributing to environmental protection.

[0079] It should be noted that computing load represents the workload of smart home devices when performing various computing tasks, including processing sensor data, running intelligent algorithms, and responding to user commands. Communication load represents the workload of smart home devices when communicating with central devices, other devices, or cloud servers, including data transmission, information exchange, and connection maintenance. Storage load represents the workload of smart home devices when storing and managing data, including reading and writing data, storage space management, and data backup. Energy consumption load represents the workload of smart home devices when consuming energy, maintaining device operation, and keeping connections, including energy management, energy-saving strategies, and power consumption. Response load represents the workload of smart home devices when responding to user commands, sensor data, or environmental changes, including real-time response, data processing, and control execution.

[0080] In one example, suppose there are three devices in a smart home system: Device A, Device B, and Device C. The control device measures the signal strength between Device A and the control device as follows: Signal strength between Device A and the control device: -60dBm; Signal strength between Device B and the control device: -65dBm; Signal strength between Device C and the control device: -70dBm. The calculated signal strength is: Signal strength of Device A: -60dBm; Signal strength of Device B: -65dBm; Signal strength of Device C: -70dBm. Based on the signal strength, Device A has the highest signal strength with the control device, therefore Device A is selected as the central device.

[0081] In another example, suppose the load information for the three devices is as follows:

[0082] The load of device A is as follows: computing load = 10%, communication load = 15%, storage load = 20%, power consumption load = 25%, response load = 30%;

[0083] Device B's load: Computation load = 15%, Communication load = 20%, Storage load = 25%, Power consumption load = 30%, Response load = 35%;

[0084] The load of device C is as follows: computing load = 5%, communication load = 10%, storage load = 15%, power consumption load = 20%, response load = 25%;

[0085] Based on the above load information, device C has the lowest load across all categories, therefore device C is selected as the central device.

[0086] In another example, suppose the energy consumption of the three devices is as follows: device A consumes 5 watts; device B consumes 7 watts; and device C consumes 3 watts. Device C has the lowest energy consumption, so device C is selected as the central device.

[0087] It should be noted that the above example uses a single-dimensional device parameter to select the central device. This implies that the central device can also be selected based on multiple dimensions of device parameters. For example, assuming there are three devices in a smart home system: Device A, Device B, and Device C, the following dimensions can be considered comprehensively: signal strength with the control device.

[0088] Signal strength between device A and the control device: -60dBm;

[0089] Signal strength between device B and the control device: -65dBm;

[0090] Signal strength between device C and the control device: -70dBm;

[0091] The load information for each device includes:

[0092] The load of device A is as follows: computing load = 10%, communication load = 15%, storage load = 20%, power consumption load = 25%, response load = 30%;

[0093] Device B's load: Computation load = 15%, Communication load = 20%, Storage load = 25%, Power consumption load = 30%, Response load = 35%;

[0094] The load of device C is as follows: computing load = 5%, communication load = 10%, storage load = 15%, power consumption load = 20%, response load = 25%;

[0095] Energy consumption of each device:

[0096] Energy consumption of device A: 5 watts; Energy consumption of device B: 7 watts; Energy consumption of device C: 3 watts;

[0097] For the device parameters in the different dimensions mentioned above, a weight can be assigned to each dimension, and then the overall score for each device can be calculated, for example:

[0098] Signal strength weight: 0.4; load weight: 0.3; energy consumption weight: 0.3, etc.

[0099] Next, calculate the score for each device:

[0100] The score for device A = (0.4 * (-60dBm)) + (0.3 * (10% + 15% + 20% + 25% + 30%)) + (0.3 * 5 watts);

[0101] The score for device B = (0.4 * (-65dBm)) + (0.3 * (15% + 20% + 25% + 30% + 35%)) + (0.3 * 7 watts);

[0102] The score for device C = (0.4 * (-70dBm)) + (0.3 * (5% + 10% + 15% + 20% + 25%)) + (0.3 * 3 watts);

[0103] Based on the scores calculated above, the device with the highest score can be selected as the central device. If the scores are the same, other factors, such as the device's processing power and availability, can be further considered, but this invention does not impose any limitations on these factors.

[0104] During the operation of the central device, if the central device malfunctions, a new central device can be selected from the various smart home devices based on the above process of selecting a central device. This new central device can then resume performing the corresponding functions, ensuring the stability of smart home device control.

[0105] In addition, the central device needs to be able to connect to both the first and second communication networks, such as supporting both WiFi and Bluetooth functions, so that it can communicate with the control device through the first communication network and communicate with other smart home devices through the second communication network.

[0106] In the process of building a second communication network between the central device and other smart home devices, the central device can display its corresponding control interface and the device identifier of each smart home device. The device identifier is the information generated by the central device when it receives the network frame to be configured broadcast by the smart home device. Then, in response to the selection operation of the device identifier, the central device can determine the target device identifier corresponding to the selection operation, and send a network configuration request to the second smart home device corresponding to the target device identifier to establish a communication connection between the central device and the second smart home device, thus adding the second smart home device to the second communication network.

[0107] In one example, where both the central device and the smart home devices have SigmaEsh protocol stacks, the process of adding smart home devices to the mesh network through the central device can be as follows:

[0108] 1. The device to be configured broadcasts the SigmaEdge's unique unprovision mesh beacon to its surroundings;

[0109] 2. After the central device scans the surrounding area and finds the device to be connected to the network, it displays it on the user interface. This process is similar to Bluetooth scanning on a mobile phone.

[0110] 3. When a user clicks on a device to be configured on the user interface of the central device to configure a mesh network, the central device sends a configuration request to the device to be configured. After the request is approved, a GATT link will be established with the device to be configured.

[0111] 4. Next, the network configuration process as defined in the SigmaEdge protocol is performed, including mesh network key exchange and mesh node address allocation. Since this is a capability inherent in the SigmaEdge protocol itself, the entire network configuration process can be automatically completed within a very short time (1-2 seconds) after the user clicks "Configure Network," allowing the device to be configured to join the mesh network.

[0112] 5. After the device completes the distribution network, a card is generated on the interactive interface of the central device. After clicking the card, the user can enter the control interface of the device. The central device sends the user's control commands to the distribution network device through a proxy relay or GATT direct connection.

[0113] Step 102: Send a control command for the first smart home device to the central device. The central device sends the control command to the first smart home device to control the smart home device to perform the device operation corresponding to the control command.

[0114] For the central device, it can communicate with the control device through the first communication network and with other smart home devices through the second communication network. When a user sends control commands to the central device via the control device to control a corresponding smart home device, the control device can send control commands to the central device for the first smart home device. The central device then sends these control commands to the first smart home device, controlling it to perform the corresponding device operation. Thus, in a smart home scenario, the central device is selected from among the smart home devices. The central device communicates with the control device through the first communication network, allowing the control device to remotely send corresponding control commands to the central device. Simultaneously, the central device communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network, constructing a local distributed network. During remote control of smart home devices, the central device can send control commands to them through the second communication network. This distributed network-based communication effectively reduces the network load on the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control.

[0115] In practical implementation, the control device can send control commands to the central device through a first communication network or a second communication network. Specifically, if the central device and the control device are currently connected via the first communication network, the control device sends control commands for the first smart home device to the central device via the first communication network. If the central device and the control device are currently connected via the second communication network, or via both the first and second communication networks, the control device sends control commands for the first smart home device to the central device via the second communication network. Thus, based on actual control needs, the control device can choose a reasonable communication method to send control commands to the central device, further improving the flexibility of controlling smart home devices.

[0116] Furthermore, in the process of the central device sending control commands to the first smart home device, the control device can first obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device. If the first communication signal strength is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device. If the first communication signal strength is less than the preset signal threshold, a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device. The control command is then sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device. By obtaining the corresponding signal strength and flexibly adjusting the sending method of the control command based on the signal strength, the transmission of the control command is ensured, and the control of the smart home device is guaranteed.

[0117] In one example, assuming a preset signal threshold of -70dBm, a first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device of -65dBm, a third communication signal strength between the central device and the bridged smart home device of -60dBm, and a second communication signal strength between the bridged smart home device and the first smart home device of -68dBm, the corresponding processing procedure can be as follows:

[0118] The control device first obtains the first communication signal strength. Then, it measures the communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device, obtaining -65dBm. Next, it determines if a preset signal threshold is met: since -65dBm is greater than the preset signal threshold of -70dBm, the control device decides to directly send control commands to the first smart home device through the central device. If the first communication signal strength does not meet the preset signal threshold: assuming the first communication signal strength is -75dBm, which is less than the preset signal threshold of -70dBm, the control device will search for a bridging smart home device. The second communication signal strength between this device and the first smart home device, and the third communication signal strength between this device and the central device, should both be greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold.

[0119] During the above process, the second communication signal strength between the bridging smart home device and the first smart home device is -68dBm, and the third communication signal strength between the bridging smart home device and the central device is -60dBm, both of which are greater than the preset signal threshold of -70dBm. Therefore, the control device forwards control commands to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device, thereby obtaining the corresponding signal strength and flexibly adjusting the transmission method of control commands based on the signal strength, ensuring the transmission of control commands and guaranteeing the control of the smart home devices.

[0120] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the examples described above. It is understood that those skilled in the art can make further settings according to actual needs under the guidance of the ideas in the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention does not limit such settings.

[0121] In this embodiment of the invention, a central device can be determined from a plurality of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. Then, control commands for a first smart home device can be sent to the central device. The central device sends the control commands to the first smart home device, controlling the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands. Thus, in a smart home scenario, a central device is selected from the smart home devices. The central device communicates with the control device through the first communication network, enabling the control device to remotely send corresponding control commands to the central device. At the same time, the central device communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network, constructing a local distributed network. During the remote control of smart home devices, the central device can send control commands to smart home devices through the second communication network. While achieving control of smart home devices, communication based on the distributed network effectively reduces the network burden of the first communication network and improves the flexibility of smart home device control.

[0122] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following examples are provided for illustrative purposes:

[0123] Reference Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a control scenario for a smart home device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, which may specifically include the following processes:

[0124] 1. Central equipment configuration:

[0125] First, select a central device in your home, ensuring it has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities and is successfully connected to your home WiFi network. The central device can communicate with control devices via the network connection provided by the router, or directly via Bluetooth.

[0126] 2. Building a Bluetooth Mesh Network:

[0127] 1. The central device establishes a stable mesh network with other IoT devices that only have Bluetooth functionality via Bluetooth mesh technology. This step includes pairing, node joining, and other operations to build a reliable local mesh network.

[0128] 3. Local control:

[0129] In the home, users can directly control various devices via a Bluetooth mesh network. The central device, also equipped with Bluetooth, can act as a bridging node in the mesh network, transmitting control commands to target devices and achieving local control.

[0130] 4. Remote control support:

[0131] When the user is not at home, the central device receives remote commands via WiFi. Then, it transmits the commands to the target device via a Bluetooth mesh network, enabling remote control. The transmission of remote commands is secured through encryption and other means.

[0132] 5. Low-cost equipment compatibility:

[0133] For low-cost Bluetooth module devices, they can be easily integrated into a Bluetooth mesh network, enabling WiFi and mesh control of these devices. This step takes into account the specific characteristics of low-cost devices, ensuring their smooth integration into the overall network.

[0134] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of the present invention, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0135] Reference Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a structural block diagram of a remote control device for smart homes provided in an embodiment of the present invention, which may specifically include the following modules:

[0136] The device selection module 301 is used to determine a central device from a plurality of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and / or a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to an Ethernet network, and the second communication network is a distributed local network.

[0137] The device control module 302 is used to send control commands to the central device for the first smart home device, and to control the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands by sending the control commands to the first smart home device through the central device.

[0138] In some feasible implementations, the device control module 302 is specifically used for:

[0139] If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device through the first communication network.

[0140] If the central device and the control device are currently connected via the second communication network, or via the first communication network and the second communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device via the second communication network.

[0141] In some feasible implementations, the device control module 302 is specifically used for:

[0142] Obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device;

[0143] If the strength of the first communication signal is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device;

[0144] If the strength of the first communication signal is less than a preset signal threshold, then a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device. The control command is then sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device.

[0145] Among some feasible implementation methods are:

[0146] The interface display module is used to display the control interface corresponding to the central device;

[0147] The identification display module is used to display the device identification corresponding to each of the smart home devices in the control interface. The device identification is the information generated by the central device when it receives the network frame to be configured broadcast by the smart home device.

[0148] The connection establishment module is used to respond to the selection operation for the device identifier, determine the target device identifier corresponding to the selection operation, control the central device to send a network configuration request to the second smart home device corresponding to the target device identifier, establish a communication connection between the central device and the second smart home device, and add the second smart home device to the second communication network.

[0149] In some feasible implementations, the device selection module 301 is specifically used for:

[0150] Obtain the device parameters corresponding to each of the aforementioned smart home devices;

[0151] Select a central device from the smart home devices according to at least one of the device parameters, establish a first communication network and / or a second communication network between the central device and the control device, and establish a second communication network between the central device and other smart home devices.

[0152] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength with each of the smart home devices, and the device selection module 301 is specifically used for:

[0153] The average signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices is calculated using the target communication signal strength.

[0154] The smart home device with the highest average signal strength is selected as the central device.

[0155] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least load information, and the device selection module 301 is specifically used for:

[0156] The smart home device with the lowest load, as represented by the load information, is used as the central device.

[0157] The load includes at least one of the following: computing load, communication load, storage load, energy consumption load, and response load.

[0158] In some feasible implementations, the device parameters include at least device energy consumption, and the device selection module 301 is specifically used for:

[0159] Use the smart home device with the lowest energy consumption as the central device.

[0160] As the device embodiment is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and relevant parts can be found in the description of the method embodiment.

[0161] In addition, this invention also provides an electronic device, including: a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the various processes of the above-described smart home remote control method embodiments and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here.

[0162] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program. When executed by a processor, the computer program implements the various processes of the above-described smart home remote control method embodiments and achieves the same technical effects. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here. The computer-readable storage medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0163] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the hardware structure of an electronic device for implementing various embodiments of the present invention.

[0164] The electronic device 400 includes, but is not limited to, components such as: a radio frequency unit 401, a network module 402, an audio output unit 403, an input unit 404, a sensor 405, a display unit 406, a user input unit 407, an interface unit 408, a memory 409, a processor 410, and a power supply 411. Those skilled in the art will understand that the electronic device structure involved in the embodiments of the present invention does not constitute a limitation on the electronic device. An electronic device may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements. In the embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, in-vehicle terminals, wearable devices, and pedometers.

[0165] It should be understood that, in this embodiment of the invention, the radio frequency unit 401 can be used for receiving and transmitting signals during information transmission or calls. Specifically, it receives downlink data from the base station and processes it with the processor 410; additionally, it transmits uplink data to the base station. Typically, the radio frequency unit 401 includes, but is not limited to, an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low-noise amplifier, a duplexer, etc. Furthermore, the radio frequency unit 401 can also communicate with networks and other devices through a wireless communication system.

[0166] The electronic device provides users with wireless broadband internet access through network module 402, such as helping users send and receive emails, browse web pages, and access streaming media.

[0167] The audio output unit 403 can convert audio data received by the radio frequency unit 401 or the network module 402 or stored in the memory 409 into audio signals and output them as sound. Furthermore, the audio output unit 403 can also provide audio output related to specific functions performed by the electronic device 400 (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.). The audio output unit 403 includes a speaker, a buzzer, and a receiver, etc.

[0168] Input unit 404 is used to receive audio or video signals. Input unit 404 may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) 4041 and a microphone 4042. The GPU 4041 processes image data of still images or videos acquired by an image capture device (such as a camera) in video capture mode or image capture mode. The processed image frames can be displayed on display unit 406. The image frames processed by GPU 4041 can be stored in memory 409 (or other storage medium) or transmitted via radio frequency unit 401 or network module 402. Microphone 4042 can receive sound and process such sound into audio data. The processed audio data can be converted into a format that can be transmitted to a mobile communication base station via radio frequency unit 401 in telephone call mode.

[0169] The electronic device 400 also includes at least one sensor 405, such as a light sensor, a motion sensor, and other sensors. Specifically, the light sensor includes an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor. The ambient light sensor can adjust the brightness of the display panel 4061 according to the ambient light level, and the proximity sensor can turn off the display panel 4061 and / or backlight when the electronic device 400 is moved to the ear. As a type of motion sensor, an accelerometer sensor can detect the magnitude of acceleration in various directions (generally three axes). When stationary, it can detect the magnitude and direction of gravity and can be used to identify the posture of the electronic device (such as landscape / portrait switching, related games, magnetometer posture calibration), vibration recognition related functions (such as pedometer, tapping), etc. The sensor 405 may also include a fingerprint sensor, pressure sensor, iris sensor, molecular sensor, gyroscope, barometer, hygrometer, thermometer, infrared sensor, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0170] The display unit 406 is used to display information input by the user or information provided to the user. The display unit 406 may include a display panel 4061, which may be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or the like.

[0171] User input unit 407 can be used to receive input numerical or character information, and generate key signal inputs related to user settings and function control of electronic devices. Specifically, user input unit 407 includes a touch panel 4071 and other input devices 4072. Touch panel 4071, also known as a touch screen, can collect touch operations performed by the user on or near it (such as operations performed by the user using a finger, stylus, or any suitable object or accessory on or near touch panel 4071). Touch panel 4071 may include two parts: a touch detection device and a touch controller. The touch detection device detects the user's touch position and the signal generated by the touch operation, and transmits the signal to the touch controller; the touch controller receives touch information from the touch detection device, converts it into touch point coordinates, and sends it to the processor 410, which receives and executes commands from the processor 410. In addition, touch panel 4071 can be implemented using various types such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave. Besides touch panel 4071, user input unit 407 may also include other input devices 4072. Specifically, other input devices 4072 may include, but are not limited to, physical keyboards, function keys (such as volume control buttons, power buttons, etc.), trackballs, mice, joysticks, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0172] Furthermore, the touch panel 4071 can cover the display panel 4061. When the touch panel 4071 detects a touch operation on or near it, it transmits the information to the processor 410 to determine the type of touch event. Subsequently, the processor 410 provides corresponding visual output on the display panel 4061 according to the type of touch event. It is understood that in one embodiment, the touch panel 4071 and the display panel 4061 are implemented as two independent components to realize the input and output functions of the electronic device. However, in some embodiments, the touch panel 4071 and the display panel 4061 can be integrated to realize the input and output functions of the electronic device. The specific implementation is not limited here.

[0173] Interface unit 408 serves as an interface for connecting external devices to electronic device 400. For example, external devices may include a wired or wireless headphone port, an external power supply (or battery charger) port, a wired or wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device with an identification module, an audio input / output (I / O) port, a video I / O port, a headphone port, and so on. Interface unit 408 can be used to receive input from external devices (e.g., data, power, etc.) and transmit the received input to one or more components within electronic device 400, or it can be used to transmit data between electronic device 400 and external devices.

[0174] The memory 409 can be used to store software programs and various data. The memory 409 may primarily include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system, applications required for at least one function (such as sound playback, image playback, etc.), etc.; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the mobile phone (such as audio data, phonebook, etc.). Furthermore, the memory 409 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage device.

[0175] The processor 410 is the control center of the electronic device. It connects various parts of the electronic device via various interfaces and lines. By running or executing software programs and / or modules stored in the memory 409, and by calling data stored in the memory 409, it performs various functions and processes data, thereby providing overall monitoring of the electronic device. The processor 410 may include one or more processing units; preferably, the processor 410 may integrate an application processor and a modem processor. The application processor mainly handles the operating system, user interface, and applications, while the modem processor mainly handles wireless communication. It is understood that the modem processor may not be integrated into the processor 410.

[0176] The electronic device 400 may also include a power supply 411 (such as a battery) for supplying power to various components. Preferably, the power supply 411 can be logically connected to the processor 410 through a power management system, thereby enabling functions such as managing charging, discharging, and power consumption through the power management system.

[0177] In addition, the electronic device 400 includes some functional modules not shown, which will not be described in detail here.

[0178] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0179] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk), and includes several instructions to cause a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0180] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0181] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0182] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0183] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0184] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0185] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0186] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0187] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A remote control method for smart homes, characterized in that, include: A central device is determined from a number of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network is a distributed local network. The central device is determined by multiple dimensions of device parameters of each of the smart home devices. The device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength between the control device and each of the smart home devices, load information, and device power consumption. Send a control command for the first smart home device to the central device, and send the control command to the first smart home device through the central device to control the smart home device to perform the device operation corresponding to the control command; The step of sending the control command to the first smart home device through the central device includes: Obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device; If the strength of the first communication signal is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device; If the strength of the first communication signal is less than a preset signal threshold, then a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device, and the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device. The step of sending control commands to the central device for the first smart home device includes: If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network, the control device sends a control command for the first smart home device to the central device through the first communication network. If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network and the second communication network, the control device sends control commands for the first smart home device to the central device through the second communication network.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Displays the control interface corresponding to the central device; The control interface displays the device identifiers corresponding to each of the smart home devices. The device identifiers are information generated by the central device upon receiving the network frame to be configured broadcast by the smart home device. In response to the selection operation for the device identifier, a target device identifier corresponding to the selection operation is determined, the central device is controlled to send a network configuration request to the second smart home device corresponding to the target device identifier, a communication connection is established between the central device and the second smart home device, and the second smart home device is added to the second communication network.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process of determining the central device from a plurality of smart home devices includes: Obtain the device parameters corresponding to each of the aforementioned smart home devices; A central device is selected from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters, a first communication network and a second communication network are established between the central device and the control device, and a second communication network is established between the central device and other smart home devices.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength between the smart home devices, and the step of selecting a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes: The average signal strength between the smart home device and other smart home devices is calculated using the target communication signal strength. The smart home device with the highest average signal strength is selected as the central device.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The device parameters include at least load information, and the step of selecting a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes: The smart home device with the lowest load, as represented by the load information, is used as the central device. The load includes at least one of the following: computing load, communication load, storage load, energy consumption load, and response load.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The device parameters include at least device energy consumption, and the step of selecting a central device from the smart home devices based on at least one of the device parameters includes: Use the smart home device with the lowest energy consumption as the central device.

7. A remote control device for smart homes, characterized in that, include: A device selection module is used to determine a central device from a plurality of smart home devices. The central device communicates with a control device through a first communication network and a second communication network, and communicates with other smart home devices through the second communication network. The first communication network is a local area network connected to Ethernet, and the second communication network is a distributed local network. The central device is determined by at least one device parameter of each of the smart home devices. The device parameters include at least the target communication signal strength between the control device and each of the smart home devices, load information, and device power consumption. The device control module is used to send control commands to the central device for the first smart home device, and send the control commands to the first smart home device through the central device to control the smart home device to perform device operations corresponding to the control commands; Specifically, the device selection module is used for: Sending the control command to the first smart home device through the central device includes: Obtain the first communication signal strength between the central device and the first smart home device; If the strength of the first communication signal is greater than or equal to a preset signal threshold, the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the central device; If the strength of the first communication signal is less than a preset signal threshold, then a bridging smart home device is selected from the smart home devices that has a second communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the first smart home device and a third communication signal strength greater than or equal to the preset signal threshold with the central device, and the control command is sent to the first smart home device through the bridging smart home device. Specifically, the device control module is used for: If the central device and the control device are currently communicating through the first communication network, then control commands for the first smart home device are sent to the central device through the first communication network. If the central device and the control device are currently communicating via the first communication network and the second communication network, then the central device sends control commands for the first smart home device via the second communication network.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a processor, a communication interface, a memory, and a communication bus, wherein the processor, the communication interface, and the memory communicate with each other through the communication bus; The memory is used to store computer programs; When the processor executes a program stored in the memory, it implements the method as described in any one of claims 1-6.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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