Cloud-Connected Voice Faucet Control Beyond Built-In Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional faucets with built-in voice recognition have limited speech recognition capabilities, cannot be easily updated, and have a restricted operating range, requiring users to be physically close to the faucet for voice activation.
Innovation Solution
A network-enabled faucet system that offloads complex speech recognition and language understanding to remote natural language processing (NLP) servers, allowing voice commands to be processed and executed from any device with a microphone, enabling remote operation of faucets through a cloud-based system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If built-in voice recognition engines are implemented in faucets, then voice activation capability is provided, but speech recognition capability is limited and cannot process natural speech
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based natural language processing server as an intermediary between the user's voice command and the faucet controller. The faucet includes a microphone to capture voice input, transmits it to the remote NLP server for advanced processing, and receives control commands in return. This mediator architecture enables sophisticated speech recognition without requiring complex hardware at the faucet itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If built-in voice recognition engines are installed in faucets, then voice control is enabled, but updates require hardware replacement which is burdensome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex speech recognition and natural language processing functions from the faucet hardware and relocates them to a remote cloud-based server. The faucet retains only basic components (microphone, network interface, controller) while the intelligence required for voice processing resides externally. This extraction allows the system to leverage continuously improving NLP technologies without any hardware changes at the faucet.
3Ease of operation
If built-in microphones are used in faucets, then voice commands can be received, but operating range is limited to a few feet from the faucet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the faucet's microphone with the user's existing audio input devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer microphone). Instead of relying solely on the faucet's limited microphone, the system combines it with the superior audio capture capabilities of modern user devices, which have more sensitive microphones and better noise filtering. This merging extends the effective operating range significantly.
4Ease of operation
If users must be physically close to the faucet for voice activation, then built-in microphones can be used, but user convenience is reduced requiring users to get out of bed to access voice capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the user's existing audio device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) as an intermediary to capture voice commands from a distance. The audio device's microphone records the user's voice, transmits the audio data over the network to the NLP server, which then sends control commands to the faucet. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for the user to physically approach the faucet.
Data Source
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AI summary
A faucet system comprising a faucet; an electronic valve associated with the faucet; and a faucet controller associated with the electronic valve; wherein the faucet controller is configured to receive a faucet command from a command server; and actuate the electronic valve upon receiving the faucet command; wherein the command server is configured to receive a speech-based command from a natural language processing (NLP) server; generate the faucet command from the speech-based command and transmit the faucet command to the faucet controller; and wherein the NLP server is remote to the faucet.