Appliance Confirmation Device for Remote Control Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Connected household appliances that allow user adjustments via a network often produce unnecessary confirmatory tones, which can be annoying to others and are not received by users making adjustments remotely.
Innovation Solution
The appliance includes a controller that selectively adjusts a confirmation device, such as a sound generator, to produce confirmatory signals only when instructed by the user input device, and can turn off auditory feedback when receiving commands over a network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If confirmatory tones are produced for all user adjustments, then user feedback is provided, but unnecessary annoyance is caused to others and users remotely cannot hear the tones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different confirmation experiences based on the input source: local tactile/visual confirmation for control panel inputs, and remote digital confirmation for network inputs. The control panel provides immediate tactile feedback and local audible tones, while network inputs provide digital confirmation through the external device, eliminating the need for audible tones in remote scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the confirmation device adaptable to different input sources. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to activate audible confirmation tones based on whether the input came from the control panel or the network, allowing the system to optimize user feedback while avoiding unnecessary annoyance in remote control scenarios.
2Loss of information
If confirmatory tones are produced for all user adjustments, then user feedback is provided, but unnecessary tones are produced when user is not close to the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different confirmation experiences based on the input source: local tactile/visual confirmation for control panel inputs, and remote digital confirmation for network inputs. The control panel provides immediate tactile feedback and local audible tones, while network inputs provide digital confirmation through the external device, eliminating the need for audible tones in remote scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the confirmation device adaptable to different input sources. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to activate audible confirmation tones based on whether the input came from the control panel or the network, allowing the system to optimize user feedback while avoiding unnecessary annoyance in remote control scenarios.
3Reliability
If the confirmation device is always active, then all user inputs are confirmed, but unnecessary auditory feedback is provided during remote adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different confirmation experiences based on the input source: local tactile/visual confirmation for control panel inputs, and remote digital confirmation for network inputs. The control panel provides immediate tactile feedback and local audible tones, while network inputs provide digital confirmation through the external device, eliminating the need for audible tones in remote scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the confirmation device adaptable to different input sources. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to activate audible confirmation tones based on whether the input came from the control panel or the network, allowing the system to optimize user feedback while avoiding unnecessary annoyance in remote control scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance including an instruction confirmation device and a method for controlling the confirmation device are provided. The appliance comprises a controller configured to communicate with a user input device and to communicate wirelessly with an external device. The confirmation device is adjustable by the user input controls and the external device to generate a confirmatory signal in response to receipt of an instruction or to not generate such a signal.