METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SETTING A CLOCK

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for setting a clock and a computer program for execution on a mobile electronic device for setting a clock.

[0002] There are many clocks that must be set manually on a regular basis, such as table clocks, wristwatches, wall clocks, and grandfather clocks. There are also devices that contain internal clockworks that also need to be repeatedly set manually, such as household appliances, electronic entertainment products, televisions, music systems, motor vehicles, or industrial equipment. In many cases, important functions depend on the correct internal time, such as wake-up and alarm functions, appointment reminders, or time-controlled automatic functions such as those found in time-programmable ovens, dishwashers, auxiliary heaters in cars, or building energy systems, solar systems, or lighting controls.

[0003] Due to varying month lengths, daylight saving time changes, and normal fluctuations in accuracy of up to several minutes per year or month (e.g., with the frequently used quartz clock movements), all these clocks must be changed or adjusted several times a year. Due to the multitude of clocks and devices, setting the current time as simply, consistently, and precisely as possible is desirable.

[0004] Furthermore, there is currently no way to manually set these clocks to the atomically accurate, "official" time, as manual setting always involves a tolerance of several tenths of a second or more. Furthermore, the user actions or key combinations required to set the time vary considerably between clocks and devices. The average number of clocks and devices with clock functions in a household or business makes it virtually impossible to effortlessly and quickly change all clocks, for example, during daylight saving time.

[0005] Often, the date also needs to be adjusted regularly, as many devices don't have an internal "perpetual" calendar and therefore can't determine how many days the current month has or whether the current year is a leap year, for example. The result is that on many watches, the date deviates from the actual date after just one month.

[0006] Some clocks therefore contain special reception devices for receiving radio time signals (in Germany, for example, DCF77), GPS signals or RDS radio signals, which also transmit the time information.

[0007] However, these technologies have significant disadvantages. They are error-prone, as reception problems repeatedly occur due to strongly fluctuating signal strengths, especially indoors. Their complexity and required sensitivity make them technically complex and costly to produce. Furthermore, they are difficult to deploy worldwide due to the lack of internationally uniform standards, and the corresponding signals cannot be received at all in many areas.

[0008] It is also known to transmit data to a mobile electronic device by modulating the brightness of a screen display. This data transmission technology is used, for example, in online banking to transmit or generate transaction numbers using a small mobile device that must be held up to a computer screen.

[0009] A comparable data transmission method has become known from US Patent No. 5,488,571, in which the brightness of a CRT monitor display is modulated in order to transmit, for example, calendar entries to a PDA ( personal digital assistant ) or a wristwatch.

[0010] From the publication WO 2015 / 072281 A1, a method for setting a clock using an electronic device, in particular a smartphone, is known. The clock has an analog display with hands and a battery that is charged via a solar cell. To set the clock, the smartphone compares the clock's hand position with a current time, whereby the hand position is either automatically detected or entered by a user. The deviation determined in this comparison is emitted by the electronic device as a light signal using a flashlight and received by the clock's solar cell. A stepper motor of the clock then controls the clock's hand according to the received deviation.

[0011] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a method for setting a clock and a computer program product with a corresponding program with which the setting of a clock can be simplified.

[0012] This object is achieved by the method having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subsequent subclaims.

[0013] The steps of the method can be performed in the specified order. Encoding the information about the current time results in a sequentially transmittable character string. For example, a binary code can be used for this, resulting in a sequence of zeros and ones. In principle, however, any other suitable form of encoding is also possible. Encoding the information about the current time can, in particular, take place in the mobile electronic device.

[0014] To transmit a light signal with brightness varying according to the bit sequence, the invention controls a flashlight of a mobile electronic device. This results in a relatively high brightness of the light signal, making it particularly easy to receive and evaluate. This high brightness results in a high degree of insensitivity to fluctuations in ambient light. The flashlight is, in particular, an LED flashlight, which can provide high brightness for short periods.

[0015] The clock to be set has a light sensor, in particular a photodiode or phototransistor, with which the light signal is received. The light signal is decoded to make the information about the current time available. This occurs, in particular, within the clock's electronic control system. The clock is then set according to the information about the current time contained in the light sensor.

[0016] The procedure is very easy for a user to perform, especially since the steps are essentially fully automated by an electronic control system on the mobile electronic device or watch. After setting up the appropriate software, the user simply needs to execute it and, when transmitting the light signal, enable the watch to receive it in order to set the time. No special knowledge, especially regarding watch operation, is required.

[0017] A further advantage of the invention is that it is possible to equip a watch with a light sensor using simple and inexpensive components, so that costs are significantly lower than those for other receiving devices, for example for GPS signals.

[0018] In one embodiment, the light signal includes a verification code, and the watch indicates correct reception of the light signal with a signal. To do so, it can evaluate the verification code and thus verify the correct transmission of the information. A visual or acoustic indicator can be provided, for example, to indicate correct reception.

[0019] The method requires the availability of information about the current time. This information can originate from any source, for example from a clock contained in the mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the mobile electronic device obtains the information about the current time from a GPS signal, an RDS radio signal or another radio signal, or queries the information about the current time from a server via a network. The network can be, for example, the Internet or a mobile phone network. This ensures that the information about the current time used to set the clock is correct. Many mobile electronic devices are already set up to evaluate the aforementioned signals or to query a server accordingly, so that essentially no additional effort is required for this.

[0020] In one embodiment, the brightness of the light signal is varied such that different bits of the bit sequence correspond to different brightnesses. For example, a logical 1 can correspond to maximum brightness, a logical 0 to minimum brightness, or a switched-off state of the flashlight. Different definitions are also possible, even using medium brightnesses.

[0021] In one embodiment, the brightness of the light signal is varied such that different bits of the bit sequence correspond to light pulses of different lengths. For example, a logical 1 can correspond to a light pulse with a relatively long duration, and a logical 0 can correspond to a light pulse with a shorter duration, for example, half as long. This also enables reliable transmission of information.

[0022] In one embodiment, several light signals are emitted consecutively, and the clock is only set once two consecutive light signals have been correctly received. This prevents incorrect setting of the clock due to a failed data transmission. Whether the consecutive light signals have been received correctly can be verified by evaluating corresponding test codes. Alternatively or additionally, the light signals can be emitted at predetermined time intervals, for example, ranging from 0.1 seconds to 10 seconds, and contain different time information depending on this time interval. Correct reception can then be verified on the clock side by checking the consistency of the transmitted time information and its agreement with the predetermined or elapsed time interval.

[0023] In one embodiment, the mobile electronic device is positioned relative to the watch when emitting the light signal so that there is a direct line of sight between the flashlight and the light sensor. For example, the flashlight of the mobile electronic device can be positioned at a distance of less than 2 m, less than 1 m, less than 50 cm, or less than 10 cm from the light sensor. This ensures that the light signal reaches the light sensor with sufficient brightness.

[0024] In one embodiment, the clock is mounted on a wall, and the light sensor is arranged on a rear side of the clock facing the wall, in particular at a distance from the wall. In this way, a wall clock can be set using the method according to the invention without the front of the wall clock being aesthetically impaired by the light sensor. In particular, the idea is to utilize a reflection of the light from the wall during the transmission of the light signal.

[0025] The mobile electronic device can in principle be any portable / handheld device that has a suitable light source that can be controlled in the manner according to the invention. Examples of suitable devices include cameras, but also flashlights that have light sources suitable for use as flashlights, in particular LED light sources. These can be equipped with a corresponding electronic control system for use in the method according to the invention. In addition, the mobile electronic device can be equipped with a device for receiving or retrieving information about the current time, for example with a WLAN module. In this way, special mobile electronic devices for setting clocks can be developed, for example in the form of key chains or the like. In the invention, the mobile electronic device is a smartphone or a tablet PC.These devices are found in many households and usually feature a suitable flashlight. By installing appropriate software, also known as an app, these devices can be used particularly easily for the procedure.

[0026] In the invention, the mobile electronic device has a camera, and the flash is designed to illuminate photographic subjects. The photo flash, in particular an LED flash, can generate high brightness due to its intended function of adequately illuminating photographic subjects, which is a particularly favorable prerequisite for interference-free information transmission.

[0027] In one embodiment, the clock is a table or wall clock, a wristwatch, or a clock integrated into an electronic device. The electronic device can be, for example, a household appliance or an entertainment electronics device, such as a video recorder or a television. Table or wall clocks and wristwatches have a display intended for displaying the time. This can also be the case for the other devices mentioned, but is not mandatory. Alternatively, the electronic device in question can only have an "internal clock" that serves to control the device but not to display the time.

[0028] In one embodiment, the watch has an electronic control system configured to evaluate output signals from the light sensor without prior user interaction. The watch is constantly ready to receive light signals, which further facilitates the execution of the method for the user. Alternatively, the watch can have a control element that sets the watch to receive light signals.

[0029] In one embodiment, the information about the current time includes hours, minutes, and seconds and / or a date. Transmission of even more precise time information is also possible, for example, including tenths or hundredths of a second. Depending on the intended use of the clock to be set, this allows for a precise setting of the time and / or date. The date can, in particular, also include the day of the week.

[0030] The above-mentioned object is also achieved by the computer program product having the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are summarized in the subsequent subclaim.

[0031] The computer program product contains the computer program in executable form, stored on a suitable data carrier, such as a DVD or CD-ROM, a USB stick or other flash memory.

[0032] In one embodiment, the computer program contains further instructions that cause the mobile electronic device to perform one or more of the steps of claims 2 to 6. Reference to claim 2 means that the flashlight of the mobile electronic device is controlled such that the light signal includes a check code.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown in a figure.

[0034] The single figure illustrates the implementation of the method using the example of a table clock that is set using a smartphone.

[0035] The smartphone 10 depicted in a user's hand is a mobile electronic device with a flashlight 12, specifically an LED flashlight, on its back. A computer program runs on the smartphone 10, which encodes information about the current time available in the smartphone 10 as a bit sequence and controls the flashlight 12 in such a way that a light signal, represented by a wavy line 14, is emitted with brightness varying according to the bit sequence.

[0036] The clock 16 has a rectangular front panel with a display 18 that shows the time. Also located on the front panel of the clock 16 is a light sensor 20 that receives the light signal emitted by the flashlight 12.

[0037] The clock 16 further comprises an electronic control system that evaluates an output signal from the light sensor 20 and decodes the light signal. After successful decoding of the light signal, the clock is set to the current time according to the information contained in the light signal, so that this time is displayed on the display 18.

[0038] The watch 16 is constantly ready to receive, so the user does not need to interact with the watch 16 to set the time. It is sufficient to run the computer program on the smartphone 10 and position the flashlight 12, as illustrated in the figure, so that the emitted light signal can be received by the light sensor 20. The steps described above in the watch 16 are then carried out automatically, without any user interaction.

[0039] The light signal contains information about the current time, which is explained in the following example using binary coding. For example, if the current time is 2:56 p.m. and 30 seconds on Friday, January 30, 2015, this is represented simply as the decimal number 20150130145630. This information is converted to a binary number. This results in the following bit sequence: 100100101001110010001010110010111100101011110, where 1 stands for light and 0 for dark, or 1 for a longer pulse and 0 for a shorter pulse.

[0040] In addition, a test algorithm can be transmitted to exclude accidentally valid time signals, e.g. due to flickering lights.

[0041] The frequency is selected so that the transmission can be received without errors. The signal is repeated, for example, at intervals of one second with the current time. Control mechanisms can prevent incorrect transmissions; for example, two valid and logically consecutive signals can always be transmitted before the time is changed in clock 16, and each bit sequence can be preceded by an identification signal.

Claims

1. A method for setting a clock (16) using the following steps: • encoding information on the current time that comprises hour, minute and second information of the current time as a bit sequence, • actuating a flash (12) of a mobile electronic device that emits a light signal with a brightness which varies corresponding to the bit sequence, wherein the mobile electronic device is a smartphone (10) or a tablet PC and has a camera and the flash (12) is designed to illuminate photographic subjects, • receiving the light signal by means of a light sensor (20) of the clock (16), • decoding the light signal, and • setting the clock (16) according to the information on the current time contained in the light signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the light signal comprises a verification code, and the clock (16) indicates the correct reception of the light signal by a signal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mobile electronic device gathers the information on the current time from a GPS signal, an RDS radio signal, or another radio signal, or requests the information on the current time from a server via a network.

4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the brightness of the light signal is varied so that different brightnesses correspond to different bits of the bit sequence.

5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the brightness of the light signal is varied so that light pulses of different lengths correspond to different bits of the bit sequence.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of light signals are emitted sequentially, and the clock (16) is only set after two sequential light signals have been correctly received.

7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, when emitting the light signal, the mobile electronic device is arranged relative to the clock (16) so that there is a direct line of sight between the flash (12) and the light sensor (20).

8. The method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the clock (16) is fastened to a wall, and the light sensor (20) is arranged on a rear of the clock (16) facing the wall.

9. The method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the clock (16) is a tabletop or wall clock, a watch, or a clock integrated into an electronic device.

10. The method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the clock (16) has an electronic control which is designed to evaluate output signals from the light sensor (20) without a previous user interaction.

11. The method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the information on the current time comprises date information.

12. A computer program product having a computer program for execution on a mobile electronic device for setting a clock (16), wherein the computer program contains instructions that cause the mobile electronic device to execute the following steps: • encoding information on the current time that comprises hour, minute and second information of the current time as a bit sequence, • actuating a flash (12) of a mobile electronic device that emits a light signal with a brightness which varies corresponding to the bit sequence, wherein the mobile electronic device is a smartphone (10) or a tablet PC and has a camera and the flash (12) is designed to illuminate photographic subjects.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, characterized in that the computer program contains additional instructions that cause the mobile electronic device to execute one or more of the steps in claims 2 to 6.