Cloud-Based Mobile Control for Outdoor Grills Beyond Bluetooth Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor appliances like grills and smokers require manual operation and have limited remote control capabilities due to range limitations of Bluetooth radios, restricting users' ability to control functions and access information from a distance.
Innovation Solution
A software application that provides a user interface for controlling electronically-controlled appliances, allowing users to communicate with remote computing systems to send instructions to the appliance for functions such as temperature control, cooking cycles, and fuel management, enabling remote operation through a mobile device or cloud service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Bluetooth radio is used for remote control, then user can control appliance from distance, but control range is limited by Bluetooth proximity requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based server as an intermediary between the mobile device and the outdoor appliance. The mobile device communicates with the server over the internet, which then relays commands to the appliance via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This mediator architecture allows users to control appliances from any location with internet access, effectively removing Bluetooth proximity limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct short-range Bluetooth communication to a cloud-based communication architecture that operates in the internet dimension. By moving the communication pathway to a different dimensional space (cloud infrastructure), the system achieves global reachability while the appliance itself only needs local wireless capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic controls are used, then appliance functionality is improved, but user must be physically present at the appliance to change settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the appliance to serve itself by automatically receiving and executing control commands remotely. The electronic controls are paired with automated communication systems that allow the appliance to respond to user inputs without requiring physical presence, making the system self-sufficient in terms of operation and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical controls (dials, knobs, physical buttons) with electronic controls that can be accessed remotely through mobile applications. This substitution eliminates the need for physical interaction with the appliance's control interface, allowing users to adjust settings from anywhere in the world.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-based remote control is implemented, then user can control appliance from any location, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex communication and data processing functions from the outdoor appliance itself and places them in a separate cloud-based server infrastructure. The appliance only needs to maintain simple local wireless connectivity, while all the complexity of remote communication, user authentication, and command routing is handled by the external cloud service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal cloud-based control platform that can serve multiple appliances and multiple users simultaneously. By building a multi-functional system that handles various appliance types and user scenarios through a single infrastructure, the per-appliance complexity is reduced while maintaining comprehensive remote control capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions. These functions are then interpreted and carried out on the electronically-controlled appliance via the hardware controller.