METHOD FOR PROCESSING CLEANING ACTIVITIES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids, such as cleaning agents, cleaning devices, device accessories and the like, as well as a cleaning configurator which is intended or suitable for such a method.

[0002] Within a household, various cleaning tasks are regularly performed, such as vacuuming, dusting, mopping floors, cleaning windows, and / or wiping surfaces. For each of these cleaning tasks, users have access to a variety of cleaning aids that enable, facilitate, optimize, and / or improve the performance of cleaning tasks.

[0003] Examples of cleaning aids and the cleaning activities that can be carried out with them are listed as follows: Microfiber cloth: Dry cleaning operations such as dusting, wet cleaning operations such as wiping surfaces, surface maintenance activities Nozzles for electric cleaning devices: Dry cleaning processes (e.g. upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, mattress nozzle), wet cleaning processes (e.g. attachment nozzle with rotating attachment) Cleaner (chemical): for example upholstery cleaner, carpet cleaner, all-purpose floor cleaner, window cleaner, bathroom cleaner, kitchen (appliance) cleaner Care products: for example parquet care, carpet care

[0004] Due to the variety of cleaning aids that can be used and are available, it is difficult for the user to assess or decide which of the equipment or cleaning aids available in the household can be used to carry out an upcoming cleaning task in the best, most successful and most efficient way.

[0005] In the area of ​​cooking, for example, it is known that an app on a smartphone can provide the user with suggestions as to which dishes the user can prepare based on the food he or she has in his or her household. At the same time, reviews from other consumers can be displayed as to whether and how good these possible dishes taste and what effort is expected to be involved in their preparation.

[0006] From the document WO 2016 / 066209 A1, for example, a system is known which comprises at least one discharge unit for discharging cleaning fluid, an input unit for entering a conveying parameter by a user and an output unit for issuing a recommendation of the discharge unit depending on the entered conveying parameter.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a user-adapted and / or optimized method for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids, wherein the method in particular provides suggestions regarding the use of the best possible cleaning aid available in the household for the respective upcoming cleaning activity.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids having the features of claim 1 and by a cleaning configurator having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] According to the invention, a method for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids comprises the following method steps: Determination of the cleaning activities to be carried out by the user on a portable additional device, determination and setting of at least one, preferably all, available cleaning aid(s) by the user with the portable additional device, linking the available cleaning aid with the cleaning activities to be carried out, and displaying suggestions on the portable additional device regarding the available cleaning aid for completing at least one of the cleaning activities to be carried out, taking into account product information of the available cleaning aid, the usability of the available cleaning aid and / or process data arising during cleaning, wherein the determination of the available cleaning aid is carried out by scanning a product barcode, by entering the product number or by selecting from a menu.

[0010] The inventive solution is characterized in particular by a cleaning configurator, which, in particular virtually, provides the user with suggestions regarding which cleaning task should preferably be performed with which cleaning aid available in the household. For this purpose, any or all cleaning aids available in the household are preferably registered with the portable add-on device. At the same time, cleaning aids are evaluated for their suitability based on several different properties. This evaluation enables the user to make a sufficiently accurate assessment of whether the suggested cleaning aid meets their needs and requirements.

[0011] In particular, given the wide range of cleaning aids available, the user is provided with a recommendation of suitable cleaning aids tailored to their needs. These recommendations, based on the cleaning equipment available at home and the specific cleaning task to be performed, provide suggestions as to which of the cleaning aids available in the household is best suited for the task at hand. These suggestions can include not only product information about the cleaning aids, but also their suitability for use, for example, from the perspective of other users, as well as process data generated during the cleaning activity.

[0012] The method according to the invention thus enables the comparison of cleaning aids with regard to their suitability for an upcoming cleaning task based on attributes. The attributes can be derived from the manufacturer's specifications, as well as from individual user ratings and / or neutral bodies such as testing institutes. In particular, at the user's request, a "recipe" of cleaning aids to be used for a specific cleaning task, such as window cleaning or floor mopping, is compiled. This includes, among other things, information from the manufacturer of the cleaning aids, such as the area of ​​application and / or user ratings.

[0013] The method according to the invention is preferably implemented in an app, for example, within the so-called BSH HomeConnect app. This app is known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be explained in detail here.

[0014] Cleaning activities include all cleaning processes that may occur in a household. This includes both dry and wet cleaning processes such as dusting, wet wiping of surfaces, surface care activities, floor mopping, vacuuming, wet vacuuming, parquet care, carpet care, upholstery care, mattress care, window cleaning, bathroom cleaning, and / or kitchen (appliance) cleaning.

[0015] A cleaning aid is understood to mean any tool that can be used for household cleaning. This includes, for example, floor-cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners, wet vacuum cleaners, and their accessories, such as nozzles for electric cleaning devices, as well as brooms, mops, cloths such as microfiber cloths, dusters, and wiping cloths, as well as any cleaning agents such as chemical cleaners, care products, and polishes.

[0016] In the present case, an additional device is understood to mean, in particular, any device that is portable for a user, that is arranged outside the cleaning aid, in particular that is separate from the cleaning aid, and that is suitable for displaying, providing, transmitting and / or transmitting data, such as a cell phone, a smartphone, a tablet and / or a computer or laptop. The additional device has, in particular, an operating unit for the user. An operating unit is understood to mean, in particular, any unit that is suitable for operating the additional device, such as an actual or virtual keypad, a touchpad and / or an associated screen or display.

[0017] Product information refers to any information that can be assigned to the respective cleaning aid, such as ingredients, areas of application, built-in components, properties regarding toxic substances and the like.

[0018] Usability refers to the suitability of a cleaning aid for specific cleaning tasks. This may include, in particular, the perspective of other users and / or the user's own.

[0019] Process data refers to any data relating to cleaning resources that may arise during the cleaning activity, such as updates, maintenance and / or care of equipment, equipment components and / or inventory.

[0020] According to the invention, the available cleaning aid is determined by scanning a product barcode, by entering the product number, or by selecting it from a menu. At the beginning of the method, the user first specifies which cleaning aids are available in their household. All available cleaning aids are registered on the additional device, for example in an app, such as the BSH HomeConnect app. Registration can be done by scanning the product barcode of the respective cleaning aid, by entering the respective product number of the cleaning aid, or by selecting the cleaning aid from a drop-down menu, for example. The type of registration can also vary from cleaning aid to cleaning aid.

[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, the available cleaning aid is linked to the cleaning activities to be performed using a lookup table. After determining the available cleaning aids, for example in the app, the next step is to link them, preferably also in the app, using a lookup table. In this case, one or more possible cleaning activities along a so-called cleaning-jobs-to-be-done journey are assigned to each available cleaning aid, such as dry cleaning, wet cleaning, care and maintenance of cleaning equipment or its inventory. The linking can be done by the user and / or by machine intelligence.

[0022] The cleaning activities assigned to the cleaning aid can be provided, for example, by the operator of the cleaning configurator, e.g., the app. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning activities assigned to the cleaning aid can be uploaded to the cleaning configurator by the manufacturers of the cleaning aids, for example, using a corresponding interface. Preferably, any information relating to the respective cleaning aid can be fed into the cleaning configurator.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, country-specific characteristics are included when presenting suggestions. In particular, by inputting any information about the respective cleaning agent, country-specific characteristics regarding these cleaning agents can also be mapped. For example, chemical cleaning agents are preferred in the Arab world compared to other parts of the world.

[0024] In addition to the basic information of the respective cleaning aid, the cleaning aids can also be provided with further attributes, preferably in the app, such as the suitability of the cleaning aid for use during the cleaning activity or cleaning application.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment, the sustainability and / or environmental friendliness of the available cleaning agent are taken into account when presenting suggestions. Some attributes or information about the cleaning agent, such as sustainability and / or environmental friendliness, are advantageously derived from third-party information. These attributes or information are derived, for example, from information provided by testing institutes and / or neutral third parties. These attributes or information are particularly taken into account when presenting suggestions and, for example, displayed in the app.

[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment, user-specific information is included when presenting suggestions. Preferably, after completing at least one cleaning task to be performed, the user submits a rating for the available cleaning aid on the portable additional device. For example, after completing the cleaning task, the user rates the cleaning aid based on predefined and / or their own criteria. This user-specific rating is preferably also displayed to other users of the app. Such rating systems are known, for example, from online shopping portals, where, for example, star ratings can be submitted after the purchase has been completed and displayed to other users.

[0027] This rating system advantageously increases user interaction with the cleaning configurator. Furthermore, in addition to manufacturer information, the cleaning aids also receive real user opinions regarding the suitability of the respective cleaning aid for the proposed cleaning task.

[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, the method comprises the further method step of presenting the user on the additional device, in particular in the app or the cleaning configurator, with suggestions for additional, unavailable cleaning aids for improved performance of the cleaning tasks to be performed. In a further method step, the cleaning configurator thus presents the user with suggestions for cleaning aids not yet available in the user's household that can be used to facilitate certain cleaning tasks. These suggestions are made, for example, based on the user's information regarding their cleaning behavior and / or by inferences drawn by machine algorithms, e.g., neural networks, regarding the user's cleaning behavior.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment, the method comprises the further method step of transmitting relevant values ​​from the cleaning aid to the portable additional device in order to include product information of the available cleaning aid. This can reduce the user's manual interaction with regard to evaluating the respective cleaning aid attributes. In particular, it is provided that all IoT-capable cleaning devices can send selectable data directly to the cleaning configurator. Such data are preferably data that are independent of the user's perception, such as the length of time a cleaning aid is actively used, the energy requirement or the cleaning performance during the active period of use of the cleaning aid, such as the amount of dirt absorbed over the cleaning time.

[0030] The transmission and sending of data can preferably only take place with the express consent of the user. Transmission is preferably carried out in an anonymized form, provided that it is intended that this data will be passed on to third parties or other users. It is also possible for the user to manually determine which data should be forwarded or transmitted.

[0031] Data and / or attributes that are strongly influenced by the user's subjective perception, such as handling, can and should continue to be evaluated and entered manually.

[0032] According to the invention, a cleaning configurator is further provided which is intended or suitable for a method according to one of the preceding claims. In particular, after the user has specified the cleaning activities to be carried out on a portable additional device, after the user has determined and specified at least one available cleaning aid by the portable additional device, and after linking the available cleaning aid with the cleaning activities to be carried out, the cleaning configurator according to the invention presents suggestions regarding the available cleaning aid for completing at least one of the cleaning activities to be carried out, wherein product information of the available cleaning aid, the usability of the available cleaning aid, and / or process data arising during cleaning are included.and wherein the available cleaning agent is determined by scanning a product barcode, entering the product number, or selecting from a menu.

[0033] The cleaning configurator according to the invention thus provides the user with suggestions, depending on the cleaning task to be performed, as to which available cleaning aid is best suited for the respective cleaning task. The cleaning configurator is preferably run in an app, for example, within the BSH HomeConnect app. At the same time, the cleaning aids are rated for their suitability based on several properties. This rating allows the user to make a sufficiently accurate assessment of whether the suggested cleaning aid meets their needs.

[0034] A cleaning configurator is any configurator that allows for electronically assigning cleaning agents to suitable cleaning activities. This occurs after determining the available cleaning agents and the cleaning activities to be performed, preferably automatically in the cleaning configurator, which then displays suggestions for available, suitable cleaning agents for specific cleaning activities.

[0035] Any features, configurations, embodiments and advantages relating to the method also apply in connection with the cleaning configurator according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, which are merely examples. They show: Figure 1: a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids, and Figure 2: a further schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids.

[0037] In Figure 1A flowchart is shown schematically in which the method according to the invention for processing cleaning tasks with available cleaning aids is shown as a schematic diagram. Depending on the cleaning task to be performed, the method provides the user with suggestions as to which cleaning aid available to the user is best suited for the respective cleaning task. The method is preferably carried out in an app, for example, within the BSH HomeConnect app, and / or via a cleaning configurator.

[0038] To do this, in a first step (1a), the user initially enters in the app which cleaning tasks are pending in their household and which cleaning supplies are available. Cleaning supplies include all cleaning agents and (electrical) cleaning devices such as vacuum cleaners, cloths, cleaners, care products, and much more. Cleaning supplies can be added by scanning the product barcode of the respective cleaning supply, by entering the respective cleaning supply product number, or by selecting the cleaning supply from a drop-down menu (step 1b).

[0039] If the user has added the available cleaning aids, the process proceeds to step 3a. If no existing cleaning aids have been added, the process returns to step 1a via step 2 to prompt the user to specify existing cleaning aids (as described above).

[0040] In step 3a, the cleaning aids available in the household are linked to the cleaning activity(s) to be performed with them. In particular, the cleaning aid is linked to basic information regarding its use. The basic information about a cleaning aid and its suitability for its use is provided, for example, by the respective manufacturer (step 3b). To this end, the manufacturer of the cleaning aid independently uploads the information relating to their products into the cleaning configurator, for example, using a corresponding interface. Additionally or alternatively, the operator of the cleaning configurator can provide the cleaning activities assigned to the cleaning aid.

[0041] For example, the link is established via a so-called lookup table. This means that each cleaning tool is assigned one or more cleaning functions along a so-called cleaning-jobs-to-be-done journey, such as dry cleaning, wet cleaning, and the care and maintenance of cleaning equipment and inventory. In step 4a, the cleaning tool is assigned to a specific cleaning activity, and the basic information is stored in the lookup table.

[0042] In addition to this basic information, the cleaning aids can also be assigned additional attributes (step 4b). For example, country-specific characteristics regarding the respective cleaning aids can be mapped. For example, chemical cleaning agents are used more frequently in the Arab world than in other parts of the world. Alternatively or additionally, the suitability for use during cleaning or the sustainability and / or environmental friendliness of the respective cleaning aid can be entered in step 4b. Some of these attributes regarding the cleaning aids, such as sustainability, are preferably based on third-party information. For example, these attributes are derived from information from testing institutes and / or neutral third parties.

[0043] In addition, in step 4c, the user is expected to rate the respective cleaning aid after completing the cleaning task based on certain criteria, such as usability, and this rating is displayed to other users. This creates a rating system that increases user interaction with the cleaning configurator. Furthermore, in addition to the manufacturer's specifications, the cleaning aids receive real consumer opinions regarding the suitability of the cleaning aid for a specific cleaning task.

[0044] In particular, in step 4c, the individual consumer evaluates the usability of the cleaning agent based on the product characteristics. In step 5, all consumer feedback on product characteristics is summarized in a cumulative evaluation.

[0045] In step 6, the product information collected or compiled in steps 4a, 4b, 4c, and 5 is combined. A daily evaluation of a cleaning product is performed based on the basic information, the user's rating, and other criteria such as sustainability, country-specific cleaning habits, and the like.

[0046] In a final step, the cleaning configurator presents the user with suggestions for cleaning aids not yet available in the user's household that could facilitate certain cleaning tasks. This involves making purchase suggestions to the individual user for cleaning aids that would (good) complement the existing equipment. These suggestions are based on the user's information regarding their cleaning behavior and / or on inferences drawn by machine algorithms such as neural networks regarding the user's cleaning behavior. In particular, the information from steps 3a, 4c, and 6 is incorporated here.

[0047] Figure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram in which the method according to the invention for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids is shown as a schematic diagram. Figure 1The process described is supplemented by a further step 8. The remaining process of Figure 2 (i.e. steps 1 to 7) correspond to steps 1 to 7 of the Figure 1 .

[0048] To reduce manual user interaction with regard to evaluating the respective attributes, in the additional step 8, all IoT-enabled electrical cleaning devices can send selectable data and information directly to the cleaning configurator. This data and information is preferably recorded by sensors of the respective cleaning device. Such data and information are preferably those that are independent of the user's subjective perception, such as the duration of active use of the cleaning agent, the energy consumption, the cleaning performance during the active use of the cleaning agent, maintenance intervals, and / or the amount of dirt collected over the period.

[0049] Attributes that are influenced by the user's subjective perception, such as handling, can additionally be evaluated manually (step 4c).

[0050] Preferably, data is only sent with the user's express consent. It is particularly preferred that data be sent in anonymized form if it is intended to be passed on to third parties. In addition, the user can preferably determine at any time which data should be sent and which should not.

[0051] The Figures 1 and 2 The method described advantageously enables the comparison of cleaning agents with regard to their suitability for a given cleaning task based on various attributes. These attributes are derived from manufacturer specifications, individual consumer ratings, and neutral bodies such as testing institutes.

Claims

1. Method for processing cleaning activities with available cleaning aids, comprising the following method steps: - specification of the cleaning activities to be performed, by the user on a portable additional device, - determination and specification of at least one available cleaning aid, by the user with the portable additional device, - linking of the available cleaning aid with the cleaning activities to be performed, - displaying of suggestions on the portable additional device with regard to the available cleaning aid for the completion of at least one of the cleaning activities to be performed, factoring in product information on the available cleaning aid, the suitability for use of the available cleaning aid and / or process data arising during the cleaning, characterised in that the determination of the available cleaning aid takes place by scanning a product barcode, by entering the product number or by selecting from a menu.

2. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the linking of the available cleaning aid with the cleaning activities to be performed takes place by means of a lookup table.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein country-specific special characteristics are factored in when displaying suggestions.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein sustainability and / or eco-friendliness of the available cleaning aid are factored in when displaying suggestions, by information from third parties being factored in in particular.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein user-dependent information is factored in when displaying suggestions.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, after completing the at least one cleaning activity to be performed, the user submits a review for the available cleaning aid on the portable additional device.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following, further method step: - displaying of suggestions of further cleaning aids that are not available in the household of the user for improved performance of the cleaning activities to be performed.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following, further method step: - in order to factor in product information of the available cleaning aid, relevant values of the cleaning aid are transmitted to the portable additional device.

9. Cleaning configurator, which is provided for a method according to one of the preceding claims, in which, after the specification of the cleaning activities to be performed by the user on a portable additional device, after determination and specification of at least one available cleaning aid by the user with the portable additional device and after linking of the available cleaning aid with the cleaning activities to be performed, suggestions are displayed with regard to the available cleaning aid for the completion of at least one of the cleaning activities to be performed, wherein product information on the available cleaning aid, the suitability for use of the available cleaning aid and / or process data arising during the cleaning are factored in here, characterised in that the determination of the available cleaning aid takes place by scanning a product barcode, by entering the product number or by selecting from a menu.