Floor Plan GUI for Connected Home Device Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current connected home system user interfaces lack an appropriate balance of information, usability, intuitiveness, and functionality, making them less convenient and less intuitive for remote monitoring and control of home devices.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided that includes a floor plan of the home with graphics representing connected devices, offering features like callout windows, textual descriptions, connection and operational status indicators, and user-selectable options for control, along with tools for floor plan definition and element placement, enhancing user interaction and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional user interfaces are used for connected home systems, then basic device control is possible, but the balance of information, usability, intuitiveness, and functionality is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into multiple functional panels including a floor plan view panel for spatial representation, a device list panel for comprehensive device inventory, and a detailed information panel for specific device controls. This segmentation allows users to navigate information hierarchically and access functionality in organized modules, improving usability without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The interface transitions from traditional linear or list-based layouts to a two-dimensional floor plan visualization where devices are represented as icons positioned according to their physical location. This spatial dimensionality enables users to understand device relationships and locations intuitively, enhancing both usability and information presentation
2Loss of information
If more information is displayed about devices and their statuses, then device monitoring capability is improved, but interface complexity and usability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Information is divided across multiple panels: the floor plan panel provides visual device locations and basic status, the device list panel provides comprehensive device inventory and detailed status, and the detailed information panel provides control options. Users can access information at different levels of detail without displaying all information simultaneously, maintaining completeness while preserving usability
Solution Approach 2:
The interface dynamically adapts its content based on user interactions and selected views. When a user views a specific device or area, related information is highlighted or expanded. The system adjusts the amount and type of information displayed based on the current context, ensuring complete information availability while preventing interface clutter
3Adaptability or versatility
If device control options are integrated into the interface, then functionality is improved, but intuitiveness and usability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Control functionality is merged directly into the floor plan visualization through interactive device icons that can be clicked or tapped to access control options. This combining of navigation and control functions in a single intuitive interface reduces the steps users must take and maintains natural interaction patterns, preserving intuitiveness while enhancing functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method includes a user interface subsystem communicatively coupled to a home monitor and control subsystem providing a graphical user interface view for display on a display screen, the graphical user interface view including a graphical representation of a floor plan of a home associated with the home monitor and control subsystem and a graphic representing an element of the home monitor and control subsystem, wherein the graphic is positioned relative to the graphical representation of the floor plan in the graphical user interface view to visually indicate a location of the element at the home.