Alarm Clock Control Using Nearby Users' Sleep State

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smart alarm clock systems lack flexibility in controlling alarms to avoid disturbing users in sleep states when multiple users are present in the same environment.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize sleep information from wearable devices associated with nearby terminal devices to control alarm clocks and their operating states based on the sleep status of users within a predefined distance, using Bluetooth, WiFi, or home network connectivity to determine proximity and adjust alarm settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alarm clock triggers are activated to remind users of scheduled events, then event reminder functionality is improved, but users in sleep states may be disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent reminder functionalityVSAvoiddisturbance to sleeping users
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of user sleep states before the alarm clock trigger time using wearable devices. Based on this advance detection, the system pre-adjusts alarm settings or selects appropriate alarm recipients, preventing disturbance to sleeping users before the alarm actually triggers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives feedback from wearable devices about user sleep states and uses this information to dynamically adjust alarm clock behavior. The feedback loop enables real-time adaptation of alarm triggers based on current sleep conditions, ensuring reliable reminders only for awake users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If alarm clock controls are made flexible to adapt to multiple users' sleep states, then user experience is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm control flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a server as an intermediary that receives sleep state information from multiple wearable devices and communicates with terminal devices running alarm clock applications. This intermediary handles the complex logic of determining which users are awake and should receive alarms, simplifying the architecture by centralizing the decision-making process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The wearable devices serve multiple functions: they not only provide sleep state monitoring but also act as communication nodes in the alarm system, transmitting their state information to the server and receiving control instructions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3474088B1Method and apparatus for controlling alarm clock
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3474088B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3474088B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3474088B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling an alarm clock. The method may include: determining (S101, S201, S301, S401) an alarm time for the alarm clock of a first terminal device; when a time difference between a present time and the alarm time reaches a preset time length, determining (SI02) whether there is at least one second terminal device in a same scene as the first terminal device; when it is determined that there is the at least one second terminal device, acquiring (SI03) sleep information of at least one user from at least one first smart wearable device associated with the at least one second terminal device; and controlling (S104, S205, S305, S405) the alarm clock of the first terminal device and an operating state of a second smart wearable device associated with the first terminal device based on the sleep information of the at least one user.