Control Device Spatial Positioning for Smart Home Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiencies in controlling multiple intelligent household devices due to the cumbersome process of searching for target devices, which increases search time and operational complexity.

Innovation Solution

A control device method that establishes communication connections with household devices using multiple protocols, determines the target device based on relative position information such as distance and angle, and controls it using a low-power communication protocol, reducing user intervention and improving usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user searches for the target device manually from multiple intelligent household devices, then the control device can establish communication with the target device, but the search time increases and the operation becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of device controlVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device automatically determines the target device based on relative position information obtained from communication parameters, eliminating the need for manual searching by the user. The system serves itself by autonomously identifying which device to control based on spatial relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes communication connections and collects communication parameters (such as signal strength, time of flight) from all controllable devices before the user needs to control any device. This preliminary data collection enables rapid target device identification without manual searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control device establishes communication connections with multiple household devices, then the control capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the control process into distinct phases: establishing communication connections with multiple devices, collecting communication parameters, determining relative position information, and selecting the target device. This segmentation simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the complex control system into manageable functional modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary that manages communication between the user and multiple intelligent household devices. It uses communication parameters as intermediate data to determine relative position information and identify the target device, simplifying the interaction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the first communication connection is used for data transmission, then the communication quality is ensured, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes a second communication connection with lower power consumption characteristics before actual data transmission is needed. By having this alternative connection ready in advance, the system can switch to it for routine data transmission, reducing power consumption while maintaining communication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes communication parameters by switching between different communication connections (first connection for high-quality communication, second connection for low-power transmission) based on the specific transmission needs. This parameter adjustment optimizes the balance between communication quality and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3863228B1Device control method, electronic device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3863228B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3863228B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP3863228B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

A device control method, an electronic device, and a storage medium are provided. The method can include establishing a first communication connection with at least one controlled device in response to a control device entering a control state, and acquiring a preset communication index corresponding to the first communication connection. The method can further include determining relative position information with respect to the at least one controlled device according to the preset communication index, and determining one of the controlled devices as a target device based on the relative position information, and controlling the target device.