Combined Smart Device Control Interface Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interface display methods for smart terminals are inflexible, allowing control of only one smart apparatus at a time, limiting user convenience when managing multiple connected devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that detect a user's instruction to combine control interfaces for multiple smart apparatuses, acquire their respective control interface information, generate a combined control interface, and display it, enabling simultaneous control of multiple devices through a unified interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal displays dedicated control interfaces for each smart apparatus, then each interface can control its corresponding smart apparatus effectively, but the terminal cannot flexibly control multiple smart apparatuses simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface flexibilityVSAvoidinterface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple dedicated control interfaces into a single combined control interface that can control multiple smart apparatuses simultaneously. The terminal receives a control interface combination instruction, determines the target smart apparatuses, acquires their control interface information, and generates a unified interface that integrates controls for all selected devices, thereby improving interface flexibility and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The combined control interface is designed to be universal, enabling a single interface to control multiple different types of smart apparatuses (e.g., air conditioners, televisions, lights) that were previously requiring separate dedicated interfaces. This multi-functional interface responds to control instructions and transmits them to the appropriate target smart apparatuses based on user selection.

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

2Ease of operation

If the terminal displays only one dedicated control interface at a time, then the interface design is simple, but the user convenience for managing multiple devices is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinterface generation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary actions by acquiring and storing control interface information for multiple smart apparatuses in advance. When a user requests a combined interface, the terminal already has the necessary control data ready, allowing it to quickly generate and display the unified interface without requiring complex real-time processing, thus improving user convenience while managing interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the terminal creates a unified interface for multiple devices, then user convenience improves, but the interface generation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidinterface generation process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal's interface generation process operates autonomously by automatically acquiring control interface information from the server, determining target smart apparatuses based on user input, and generating the combined interface without requiring manual configuration. This self-service approach streamlines the complex interface generation process, improving operational efficiency while the system handles the complexity internally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3163549B1Interface display method and device
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3163549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3163549B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3163549B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides an interface display method and device. The method includes: when a control interface combination instruction inputted by a user is detected, determining (103) a plurality of target smart apparatuses designated by the control interface combination instruction; acquiring (104) control interface information of the plurality of target smart apparatuses respectively; generating (105) a combined control interface according to the control interface information of the plurality of target smart apparatuses, the combined control interface being configured to control the plurality of target smart apparatuses; and displaying the combined control interface.