Intelligent Assistant for Home Device Control via Location-Based Intent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Managing a large number of remotely controlled devices in a home environment becomes complex due to the need to remember unique identifiers and navigate through different software applications for various devices.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent automated assistant system that processes natural language inputs to determine user intent and control devices accordingly, using a data structure to identify candidate devices and perform actions based on user requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional software applications with unique identifiers are used to control each device, then device control capability is provided, but user operation complexity increases significantly when managing 40-50 devices across multiple applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control system that consolidates control of multiple device types (lights, thermostats, locks, cameras, etc.) from different manufacturers into a single interface. This eliminates the need for users to switch between multiple manufacturer-specific applications, directly reducing operation complexity while maintaining comprehensive device control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a central control interface that acts as an intermediary between users and individual devices. This mediator translates user-friendly location-based selections into device-specific control commands, shielding users from the complexity of unique device identifiers and communication protocols while maintaining precise device control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manufacturer-specific software applications are used to control different device types, then comprehensive device coverage is achieved, but time to locate and switch between applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple manufacturer-specific applications into a single unified control interface. By consolidating device control capabilities across different manufacturers and device types into one application, users no longer need to locate and switch between multiple applications, directly eliminating time loss while maintaining comprehensive device coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary organization of devices by physical location (rooms, floors, buildings) before user interaction. This pre-arranged structure allows users to immediately access devices based on their location without needing to search through applications or remember which application controls which device, significantly reducing access time.
3Measurement precision
If unique identifiers are assigned to each device for precise control, then device identification accuracy is maintained, but user memory burden and selection difficulty increase with 40-50 identifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by organizing devices according to their physical location characteristics (specific rooms, floors, buildings) rather than using uniform unique identifiers. This location-based organization allows users to select devices based on familiar spatial context, maintaining precise device identification while eliminating the need to remember numerous abstract identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the physical environment's spatial structure within the graphical user interface. This virtual representation mirrors real-world locations and device placements, allowing users to navigate and select devices based on intuitive spatial relationships rather than memorizing identifier lists, thus reducing interface complexity while preserving identification accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In one example process, discourse input representing a user request is received. The process determines whether the discourse input relates to a device of an established location. In response to determining that the discourse input relates to a device of an established location, a data structure representing a set of devices of the established location is retrieved. The process determines, using the data structure, a user intent corresponding to the discourse input, the user intent associated with an action to be performed by a device of the set of devices, and a criterion to be satisfied prior to performing the action. The action and the device are stored in association with the criterion, where, in accordance with a determination that the criterion is satisfied, the action is performed by the device.