Household Appliance Remote Monitoring Using Overlay Image Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote monitoring systems for household appliances inadequately display the operating status, leading to insufficient user information and potential incorrect operation.
Innovation Solution
A method using a portable communication terminal that generates a graphical user interface by overlaying a base image of a household appliance in a reference state with an overlay image showing differences, providing a realistic and intuitive representation of the current operating state, allowing users to quickly and reliably determine the appliance's status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If text form is used to output the current operating status, then data transmission is simple, but the information presentation is inadequate and user understanding is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses image copies (photographs or graphical representations) of the household appliance to represent its operating status. Instead of transmitting complex status data and rendering it as text, the system transmits simplified image copies that visually represent the appliance's state, making information more intuitive while keeping data transmission efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes in the image copies to indicate different operating statuses. By changing colors of specific regions or elements in the appliance image, the system conveys status information intuitively without requiring complex text descriptions or interface elements
2Reliability
If detailed status information is provided, then user information is sufficient, but the interface becomes complex and user understanding becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the appliance image into distinct regions or elements that correspond to different functional components. Each segment can be independently highlighted or colored to indicate its specific status, allowing users to quickly understand the overall state without being overwhelmed by detailed information about every component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes as a visual encoding system to represent different operating statuses. This intuitive visual language allows users to immediately grasp the appliance's state without requiring complex text descriptions or detailed interface interactions, thereby improving both reliability of understanding and ease of operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for remote monitoring of the operation of a household appliance (3) by means of an in particular portable communication end device (2), by receiving of status data (9) of the household appliance (3) via a communication apparatus (7) of the communication end device (2); by detecting a current operating state of the household appliance (3) based on the received status data (9) via a control unit (6) of the communication end device (2) and by actuating a display apparatus (4) of the communication end device (2) for displaying a graphical user interface (8) for remote monitoring of the operation by the control unit (6), wherein the current operating status of the household appliance (3) is output via the user interface (8), wherein the outputting of the current operating status comprises that an image depiction (13) is generated by the control unit (6) in the user interface (8) which image depiction (13) characterizes the current operating status, wherein, in order to generate the image depiction (13), differential features between the current operating status and a reference status of the household appliance (3) are identified and a basis image (11), in which the household appliance (3) is shown in the reference status, is overlaid by at least one overlay image (12) illustrating the differential features, which overlay image (12) illustrates the household appliance (3) in the current operating status in interaction with with the basis image (11).