Controlling a household appliance

Abstract

A method (200) for controlling a household appliance (110, 115) having a wireless interface (130) comprises steps of establishing a communication channel via the interface (130) to an external device in the vicinity of the household appliance (110, 115); monitoring a communication parameter of the channel; and detecting a person (145) in the vicinity of the household appliance (110, 115) on the basis of the monitoring.

Description

[0001] 202403138

[0002] 1 / 16

[0003] Controlling a household appliance

[0004] The present invention relates to the control of a household appliance. In particular, the invention relates to the contactless control of a household appliance with respect to a person.

[0005] A household appliance is installed in a household and designed to perform a predetermined, household-related task. For example, a household appliance might be a kitchen appliance, such as a stove or an oven. To operate the appliance, a person can use a physical interface designed on the appliance, such as a switch, a knob, or a touch-sensitive button. If the person is more than arm's length away from the household appliance, they must move to control it.

[0006] It has been proposed to equip a mobile device, particularly a smartphone, to enable wireless control of the household appliance. A user interface for the appliance could then be displayed on the mobile device. However, remote control over a greater distance is not permitted for household appliances whose operation could potentially lead to an accident, such as a stove.

[0007] It was further proposed to control a household appliance via gesture control. For this to work, the user would have to be at a predetermined distance from the appliance and perform a specific gesture to trigger a corresponding function. The appliance would include a sensor to scan the user, such as a radar or LiDAR sensor. The sensor typically identifies numerous points on the user, meaning the collected data could be used to draw conclusions about the individual, potentially violating their privacy. Furthermore, such a sensor is expensive, and analyzing its signals can be complex.

[0008] One of the problems underlying the present invention is to provide an improved technology for controlling a household appliance by a person. The invention solves this problem by means of the elements of 202403138

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[0010] Independent claims. Dependent claims describe preferred embodiments.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a household appliance with a wireless interface comprises steps of establishing a communication channel via the interface to an external device in the area of ​​the household appliance; monitoring a communication parameter of the channel; and determining a person in the area of ​​the household appliance based on the monitoring.

[0012] Advantageously, the wireless interface for communication with the external system can already be integrated into the appliance and used to transmit information. For example, the appliance can be wirelessly connected to a gateway or router, allowing contact with a central system that manages the appliance's operating parameters or provides additional information about its operation.

[0013] It is proposed to use the interface for wireless person identification. The household appliance would not need to be equipped with an additional sensor for person identification, resulting in cost savings. By monitoring the communication parameter, the person can be identified with just the right degree of accuracy to allow the household appliance to be controlled based on this identification. Over-identification, which could potentially infringe on the person's privacy rights, is virtually eliminated.

[0014] Preferably, the presence, distance, identity, and / or gesture of the person is determined. To identify the person, signal strength or a related parameter can be combined with further information regarding the channel, such as the direction in which the external device communicating with it is located.

[0015] The person is further preferred based on a change in the communication parameter. The communication parameter can be monitored over a predetermined period. Changes can be 202403138

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[0017] These parameters can be characteristic of specific events, such as a person approaching or moving away, a characteristic of the person, or a gesture the person makes. Multiple communication parameters related to the channel can also be evaluated.

[0018] The individual can be identified using artificial intelligence technology designed to determine the person based on changes. This technology can be trained on a large number of individuals and their actions. Thus, artificial intelligence (AI) can determine a parameter of the individual based on monitoring, such as their identity, distance, etc.

[0019] The communication parameter can be assigned to a physical layer. The physical layer, layer 1 in the OSI model, provides mechanical, electrical, physical, and other functional means to activate and deactivate physical connections, maintain them, and transmit bits over them. Wireless communication preferably uses radio waves, which are converted into electrical signals and vice versa by a transceiver (a combination of a transmitter and receiver). An electrical parameter can be sampled and preferably digitized to support further processing.

[0020] The communication parameter can be assigned to a data link layer. The data link layer can include a Media Access Control (MAC) layer and / or a Logical Link Control layer, and the communication parameter can reside in one of these components. According to the OSI model, this layer is layer 2 and abstracts the physical layer.

[0021] In a further development of the invention, communication channels of several household appliances are monitored; the person in the vicinity of one of the household appliances is identified based on the monitoring. The necessary exchange of observations or monitoring data can advantageously take place via wireless interfaces, which are used for monitoring.

[0022] 4 / 16

[0023] In practice, monitoring data from any number of household appliances can be collected and analyzed together. The analysis can be performed by one of the household appliances or by a wirelessly connected external device. The results of the analysis can be forwarded to one or more household appliances. The direct wireless exchange of information between the household appliances is advantageous because it ensures that they are located in a common area, particularly within a household, and preferably in the same room. A person can influence the communication parameters of multiple channels while moving through this area.

[0024] The channel can support one-to-many communication with multiple participants. Such a connection is also called point-to-multipoint. For example, the household appliance can communicate with the external device and additionally with one or more other household appliances. Alternatively, one or more independent one-to-one (point-to-point) channels can be used.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the interface operates in the 60 GHz range. In this range, the increased resolution allows for more informative measurements of the person. Experience or known procedures from radar technology can be used to evaluate the surveillance data. In particular, a synthetic aperture radar technique can be employed to perform rapid and high-resolution scanning of the person. The interface preferably also utilizes OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing).

[0026] The interface preferably operates according to the IEEE 802.11 standard. This standard refers to WLAN norms, also known as WiFi. A person can be scanned using a technique called WiFi sensing. Interfaces for communication based on these standards are widespread and well-understood. Transceivers can be used cost-effectively. Some of the standards use a high transmission frequency, which is particularly suitable for scanning a person. In202403138

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[0028] In one embodiment, the interface supports the IEEE standard 802.11 bf, for which a draft exists.

[0029] The household appliance can be controlled depending on the specific person. In particular, an operating parameter of the household appliance can be controlled depending on the presence, distance, identity and / or gesture of the person.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a control device for a household appliance comprises a wireless interface and a processing unit; wherein the processing unit is configured to establish a communication channel via the interface to an external device in the area of ​​the household appliance; to monitor a communication parameter of the channel; and to determine a person in the area of ​​the household appliance based on the monitoring.

[0031] The processing equipment may be configured to partially or completely execute a method described herein. For this purpose, the processing equipment may be electronic and may, for example, include a programmable microcomputer or microcontroller. The method may be in the form of a computer program product containing program code. The computer program product may also be stored on a computer-readable data carrier. Features or advantages of the method may be transferred to the equipment and vice versa.

[0032] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a household appliance comprises a control device as described herein. The household appliance can be mobile, for example in the form of an autonomous or manual vacuum cleaner or a food processor; preferably, however, the household appliance is stationary, i.e., a freestanding device, so that its position does not change between measurements. The household appliance can, for example, comprise a kitchen appliance such as a stove, an oven, a dishwasher, or a range hood. Alternatively, the household appliance can also comprise a laundry care device such as a washing machine or a clothes dryer. 202403138

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[0034] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a household appliance described herein and another household appliance. The other household appliance comprises a wireless interface and a processing unit configured to establish a communication channel via the interface to an external device within the household appliance; to monitor a communication parameter of the channel; and to transmit a result of the monitoring to the household appliance. The processing unit of the household appliance is configured to identify the person based on multiple monitoring observations.

[0035] Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 a system; and

[0037] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a process

[0038] represent.

[0039] Figure 1 shows an exemplary system 100 in a household 105. The system 100 includes, by way of example, a first household appliance 110 and a second household appliance 115. For illustrative purposes, the first household appliance 110 is shown as a washing machine and the second household appliance 115 as an oven. It should be noted that the technology presented herein can also be implemented with only one household appliance 110, 115 or with more than two household appliances 110, 115.

[0040] A household appliance 110, 115 comprises a control device 120, which is preferably configured to control the associated household appliance 110, 115. A control device comprises a processing unit 125 and a wireless interface 130. The interface 130 can operate according to various radio technologies. However, it is preferred that the interface 130 operates according to one of the IEEE 802.11 (WLAN) standards.

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[0042] WLAN is defined in various frequency ranges, all of which are fundamentally suitable for the technology presented here. For example, a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz can be used. In another embodiment, the interface 130 operates in a frequency range higher than approximately 10 GHz, preferably higher than approximately 50 GHz. An IEEE 802.11 standard that meets these requirements and is therefore well-suited for the present technology is IEEE 802.11bf. A higher frequency range that might be used for WLAN in the future is also suitable for the technology presented here.

[0043] An interface 130 comprises a transceiver configured to send and / or receive data. The transceiver establishes a channel between the control device 120 and another device—for example, a control device 120 of another household appliance 110, 115—over which information can be transmitted. A channel can be established between one or more transceivers (1:n) or between a first and a second transceiver (1:1). In a simple embodiment, the transceiver comprises only a single antenna. However, a transceiver can also comprise multiple antennas that can be controlled to determine a directional characteristic. The transceiver can sample at least one communication parameter of the channel and provide it to the control device 120.The parameter can include, in particular, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal strength, signal phase, or a modulation parameter. The communication parameter is preferably read from the device via the Channel State Information (CSI). Furthermore, the instantaneous channel state information, which indicates the current channel conditions, is preferably evaluated.

[0044] Furthermore, a location 135 is provided in household 105, which is external to the household appliances 110 and 115 and is also referred to herein as the external facility or external location 135. The external location 135 is preferably also installed in household 105 and may, in particular, include a gateway that is optionally connected to another communication network.

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[0046] and via which a control device 120 can communicate with a connected location. Such a location can manage and communicate with several household appliances 110, 115 of a household 105.

[0047] The external device 135 comprises a wireless interface 140 configured to communicate with a wireless interface 130 of a control device. The transceivers of interfaces 130 and 140 can essentially be of the same design. In one embodiment, the transceiver of the external device 125 can acquire a communication parameter of a channel. The communication parameter can be forwarded to a control device 120, preferably via the communication channel.

[0048] A person 145, located in household 105, can move within the vicinity of household appliances 110, 115 and the external location 135. In one embodiment, the person 145 is in direct contact between a transmitter and a receiver, such that the electromagnetic signals are influenced by the person 145's body. The person 145 can also be located in the Fresnel zone between two transceivers of subscribers 110, 115, 135 of a communication channel. In another embodiment, the person 145 is located outside the line of sight between the transmitter and receiver, and their body reflects the signals. In both cases, a communication parameter of the channel can be changed, and this change can be detected by the receiving transceiver.

[0049] Observed changes in a communication parameter can be evaluated at a control device 120 assigned to the transceiver. Preferably, observations from several transceivers are aggregated and processed together at a single location 110, 115, 135. A pattern in which one or more communication parameters of a channel have been influenced can be detected. A characteristic of the person 145 can be assigned to the pattern, in particular a size, mass, weight, distance, orientation, or physical characteristic that allows conclusions to be drawn about their identity. Only a predetermined number of persons 145 can regularly be present in the household 105, so it is sufficient to distinguish these persons 145 from each other.

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[0051] In another embodiment, a gesture performed by person 145 can be recognized based on an observed pattern. Such a gesture may, for example, include a vertical, horizontal, or circular movement of a hand.

[0052] A household appliance 110, 115 can be controlled based on a recognized characteristic of person 145. For example, a stove could be switched to an energy-saving mode if no person 145 is within a predetermined area. This can mitigate the risk of fire caused by overheated cookware. Other control methods are also possible. It is also possible to control several household appliances 110, 115 in a coordinated manner based on observations.

[0053] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a method 200 for controlling one or more household appliances 110, 115. The illustration is based on the example of controlling the two household appliances 110, 115 shown in Figure 1, although the method 200 can also be executed with only one or more than two household appliances 110, 115. Steps assigned to the first household appliance 110 are shown in the left-hand section, and steps assigned to the second household appliance 115 are shown in the right-hand section. Steps with the same reference numerals are executed identically on all household appliances 110, 115. A step shown in the center can be executed by one or more of the household appliances 110, 115.

[0054] In step 205, a household appliance 110, 115 establishes a communication channel to another device, in particular to another household appliance 110, 115 or to an external location 135, using its wireless interface 130. In another embodiment, signals from another device are only received without establishing a communication channel over which controlled information is transmitted. For example, unidirectional or bidirectional communication between other devices can be observed. Transmitted content does not need to be decoded. In a further embodiment, signals from another device indicating its readiness to communicate (advertising) can be received.

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[0056] In step 210, status information is determined about the communication channel. This status information relates to a communication parameter of the communication link. Typically, multiple status updates are determined for several communication parameters. Furthermore, status information can be collected over a predetermined period.

[0057] In step 215, it is determined whether and how the status of the communication parameter has changed during the period under consideration. Steps 210 and 215 are preferably executed repeatedly in a loop. In one embodiment, a data transfer can be specifically initiated between a control device 120 of a household appliance 110, 115 and its communication partner in order to sample improved status information. The data transfer can, for example, include a simple request for a response ("ping").

[0058] In step 220, status information from several household appliances 110, 115 can be compared. For this purpose, the status information can be collected from one of the appliances 110, 115. Status information can be transmitted from one household appliance 110 to another 115 via the existing communication link, either directly or indirectly via the external point 135. Collected information can be distributed between the household appliances 110, 115, either processed or unprocessed.

[0059] In step 225, based on the observations, a person 145 can be identified in the vicinity of one of the household appliances 110, 115, or the external location 135. This can be achieved by recognizing a predetermined pattern in observed changes in status information. This recognition can be performed, for example, heuristically, statistically, or using artificial intelligence methods.

[0060] In step 230, a household appliance 110, 115 can be controlled with respect to the detected person 120 or a detected characteristic of person 120. 202403138202403138

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[0062] Reference sign

[0063] 100 System

[0064] 105 household

[0065] 110 first household appliance

[0066] 115 second household appliance

[0067] 120 Control device

[0068] 125 Processing unit

[0069] 130 wireless interface

[0070] 135 external position

[0071] 140 wireless interface

[0072] 200 procedures

[0073] 205 Create channel

[0074] 210 Determine status information

[0075] 215 changes?

[0076] 220 Compare with another household appliance 225 Identify person

[0077] 230 household appliance control

Claims

202403138 13 / 16 PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method (200) for controlling a household appliance (110, 115) using a wireless interface (130), wherein the method (200) comprises the following steps: - Establishing (205) a communication channel via the interface (130) to an external device in the area of ​​the household appliance (110, 115); - Monitoring (210, 215) a communication parameter of the channel; and - Determining (225) a person (145) in the area of ​​the household appliance (110, 115) based on the monitoring.

2. Method (200) according to claim 1, wherein the presence, distance, identity and / or gesture of the person (145) is determined.

3. Method (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the person (145) is determined on the basis of a change in the communication parameter.

4. Method (200) according to claim 3, wherein the person (145) is determined by means of an artificial intelligence technique which is designed to determine the person (145) on the basis of the change.

5. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication parameter is assigned to a bit transmission layer.

6. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication parameter is assigned to a data link layer.

7. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein communication channels of several household appliances (110, 115) are monitored; and wherein the person (145) in the area of ​​one of the household appliances (110, 115) is determined on the basis of the monitoring.

8. Method (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel supports 1:n communication with multiple participants. 202403138 14 / 16 9. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (130) operates in the 60 GHz range.

10. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (130) operates with OFDM.

11. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (130) operates according to an IEEE 802.11 standard.

12. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the household appliance (110, 115) is controlled depending on the specific person (145).

13. Control device (120) for a household appliance (110, 115), wherein the control device (120) comprises a wireless interface (130) and a processing unit (125); wherein the processing unit (125) is configured to establish a communication channel via the interface (130) to an external device (135) in the vicinity of the household appliance (110, 115); to monitor a communication parameter of the channel; and, based on the monitoring, to identify a person (145) in the vicinity of the household appliance (110, 115).

14. Household appliance (110, 115) comprising a control device (120) according to claim 13.

15. System (100) comprising a household appliance (110, 115) according to claim 14 and a further household appliance (110, 115) with a wireless interface (130) and a processing unit (125); wherein the processing unit (125) of the further household appliance (110, 115) is configured to establish a communication channel via the interface (130) to an external device in the vicinity of the household appliance (110, 115); to monitor a communication parameter of the channel; and to transmit a result of the monitoring to the household appliance (110, 115); and wherein the processing unit (125) of the household appliance (110, 115) is configured to 15 / 16 is set up to identify the person (145) on the basis of multiple surveillance operations.

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