Context-Aware QR Access for Energy Device Troubleshooting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional energy supply devices require users to perform complex commissioning and troubleshooting steps, often leading to incorrect settings, error messages, and inefficient support processes due to lack of technical expertise, resulting in delayed troubleshooting and high support efforts.

Innovation Solution

An energy supply device with an integrated or connectable output unit that generates context-specific codes, such as QR codes, which can be read by a mobile terminal to access relevant device information from a server, providing users with accurate instructions and support through a dynamically generated two-dimensional optical code or acoustic tone sequence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users follow conventional commissioning and troubleshooting procedures using operating instructions, then they can obtain basic support, but the process becomes complex and error-prone due to lack of technical expertise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of commissioning and troubleshootingVSAvoidcomplexity of commissioning and troubleshooting procedures
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile terminal device as an intermediary between the user and the energy supply device. The mobile terminal captures images of display messages, automatically transmits them to a service center, and receives structured guidance. This intermediary handles the technical complexity while providing users with a simple camera-based interface, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and procedure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service troubleshooting by automatically analyzing displayed error messages through image recognition, eliminating the need for users to manually interpret technical documentation. The service center receives pre-processed image data and provides targeted guidance, allowing users to resolve issues independently without requiring technical expertise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If users contact a service hotline for support, then they can receive expert assistance, but they experience long waiting times and multiple queue connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of error identificationVSAvoidtime for troubleshooting and support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing and transmitting error message images to the service center before human intervention is needed. The service center can pre-analyze the transmitted images and prepare targeted solutions, eliminating the need for users to wait in queues. This pre-processing of error information significantly reduces support response time while maintaining high reliability in error identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If users manually describe errors to technicians, then they can provide feedback, but incorrect device information and error numbers are frequently provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of error information transmissionVSAvoidease of error description
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of relying on users to manually transcribe error information, the system creates an accurate visual copy of the displayed error message through image capture. The mobile terminal's camera directly captures the display content, preserving all visual information including error codes, device identifiers, and message text. This eliminates transcription errors while maintaining ease of operation, as users simply need to point the camera at the display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of typing and communicating error information with an automated optical system. The camera captures the display image, and image recognition algorithms automatically extract and transmit the error data. This substitution eliminates human error in information transmission while keeping the user interface simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3025203B1System, device and method for providing relevant device information data for an energy device
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 FRONIUS INT GMBH
  • EP3025203B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3025203B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (1) for providing relevant device information data for an energy device (2), wherein the energy device (2) outputs a dynamically generated code from internal context data (device ID, manufacturer ID, etc.) and external context data (geographical position, user name and user qualification), and a user's mobile terminal device (3) captures the code optically (QR code, bar code) or acoustically. After successful decryption of the code by a decryption unit (3D) of the mobile terminal device (3), the mobile terminal device (3) establishes a data connection to a server (6), which provides relevant device information data for the energy device (2) (operating instructions, installation instructions, order form) that is relevant for the context specified in the context data.