Household Appliance Wireless Settings Transfer via NFC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in replicating their preferred settings across different household appliances of the same type, such as coffee makers or programmable cookers, as custom configurations are not easily transferable.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance with a control unit and a wireless interface, preferably NFC, allows for the exchange of user setting data with a mobile device, enabling users to transfer and apply their preferred settings to other appliances, while ensuring security and interoperability through standardized data formats and multiple communication protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users manually configure settings through a preferences menu, then the appliance can be customized to user preferences, but it becomes difficult to reproduce settings at different locations or appliances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesettings transferabilityVSAvoidsettings reproduction effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements copying by transferring user setting data from a first household appliance to a mobile device, then from the mobile device to a second household appliance. This digital copying approach replaces manual reconfiguration, allowing users to reproduce their favorite settings at different locations without going through preferences menus again.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device serves as an intermediary that stores and transports user setting data between different household appliances. This mediator enables settings transfer without direct appliance-to-appliance communication, facilitating portable and flexible settings reproduction across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a wireless interface is added to enable data exchange, then settings can be transferred between appliances, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidwireless interface integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs universal wireless communication standards (NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) that are already widely integrated into mobile devices. This multi-functionality approach allows the same wireless interface to handle multiple tasks including settings transfer, authentication token exchange, and device pairing, reducing the need for specialized hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automatic authentication and data synchronization. The control unit automatically exchanges authentication tokens with the mobile device and initiates data transfer processes without requiring manual intervention, reducing the operational complexity despite the added wireless interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If NFC interface is used for secure communication, then security is enhanced, but the communication range is limited to very short distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidcommunication range

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic communication strategy where the system switches between different wireless interfaces based on communication needs. NFC is used for initial secure pairing and authentication due to its short range and security features, then Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is activated for data transfer when the mobile device is within range, providing both security and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic authentication token exchange between the control unit and mobile device. This periodic re-authentication ensures continuous security verification while allowing data transfer over slightly longer ranges using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, maintaining security through repeated short-range NFC-style authentication cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to consistently control household appliances according to their preferences across different devices, enhancing convenience and security through secure data transfer and compatibility with various mobile devices and networks.

Implementation Method 1

In passive mode, electric energy for processing or communication is harvested from an alternating electric field which is controlled by an active NFC interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy harvesting: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250097999A1Household appliance, system having the household appliance, and method of controlling the household appliance

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A household appliance contains a control unit for controlling a function of the household appliance dependent on a user setting and a wireless interface for communicating with a mobile device. The control unit is adapted to establish a wireless connection between the household appliance and the mobile device and to exchange user setting data with the mobile device.