Electronic Device Controlling Home Appliances via Route Arrival Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic devices cannot automatically control multiple home appliances based on vehicle movement information, limiting their functionality in providing integrated route and appliance control solutions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a wireless communication unit, search unit, display unit, and controller that transmits control signals to home appliances based on estimated arrival time at a destination, allowing for automatic operation of appliances along a route.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic device provides only route information, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability and versatility are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides route information through the display unit while simultaneously controlling multiple home appliances through the wireless communication unit. The controller integrates navigation and appliance control functions, allowing the device to serve as both a navigation system and a remote control system for home appliances, thereby achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate devices.

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

2Extent of automation

If the electronic device manually controls home appliances, then the ease of operation is high, but the extent of automation is low

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveautomationVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The user pre-configures the control signals for home appliances in advance through the wireless communication unit. The controller then automatically transmits these pre-configured control signals at appropriate times during the journey without requiring manual intervention. This preliminary configuration approach enables the system to automate appliance control while maintaining user convenience, as the setup is done once and then executed automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic device automatically determines when to transmit control signals to home appliances based on route information and timing data. The system self-manages the control process by monitoring its own location and automatically initiating appliance control operations without continuous user input, thereby achieving high automation while keeping the interface simple for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic device provides integrated route and appliance control, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines route provision functionality and home appliance control functionality into a single electronic device. The display unit provides route information while the wireless communication unit simultaneously controls home appliances. The controller integrates both navigation processing and appliance control logic, merging what would traditionally require separate devices into one unified system, thereby achieving integration capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of time

If the electronic device requires direct user intervention for appliance control, then the measurement precision of user intent is high, but the loss of time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime efficiencyVSAvoiduser intent accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Users pre-configure their appliance control preferences and control signals in advance through the wireless communication unit. The controller stores these configurations and automatically executes them at the appropriate times during the journey based on route information. This preliminary configuration captures user intent accurately upfront, eliminating the need for real-time manual control and thereby saving time without losing precision in understanding user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2894435B1Electronic device and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2894435B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2894435B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2894435B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of providing route information and a method for controlling same. An electronic device capable of providing route information according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless communications unit, a search unit for searching out a destination inputted by the user, a display unit for setting, as a destination, one of the places searched out by the search unit and for displaying the route of the set destination, and a control unit for sending a control signal to control at least one electric home appliance based on an expected time of arrival at the destination.