Household Appliance User Interface Adaptation for Multi-User Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliances with user interfaces are not intuitive or efficient for multiple users, leading to varying degrees of error and inefficiency due to different usage patterns and preferences.

Innovation Solution

A method for detecting user-specific usage actions and adapting the user interface to provide a personalized experience, prioritizing frequent actions, offering favorite programs, and providing user-specific tips and maintenance reminders, thereby reducing incorrect operation and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single user interface is provided for multiple users, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates for individual users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface complexityVSAvoidintuitiveness for individual user
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface dynamically adapts its configuration based on the detected user's usage patterns. The system monitors usage actions over time and automatically reconfigures the interface to prioritize frequently used functions for each individual user, making the interface both simple and personalized simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects and learns each user's preferences and usage patterns without requiring manual configuration. The interface self-adjusts by monitoring usage actions and autonomously optimizing its layout and prioritization to suit each user's needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the user interface is customized for each user, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitiveness for individual userVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into prioritizable elements that can be independently arranged based on user preferences. The system divides the interface into multiple priority levels, allowing frequently used functions to be displayed more prominently while keeping less frequently used functions accessible but less prominent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes interface parameters such as display priority, positioning, and visibility based on detected usage patterns. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the interface becomes customized for each user without requiring a complete redesign of the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If usage actions are detected and stored for each user, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of information increases due to storage requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-specific adaptationVSAvoiddata storage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential usage action data needed for interface adaptation, storing minimal information about user preferences and frequently used functions. By focusing on extracting only the critical data elements, the system achieves adaptability while minimizing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3685251B1Method for operating a household appliance and household appliance
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3685251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3685251B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3685251B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance (1) having a user interface (16) for operation of the household appliance (1) by a plurality of users. The method comprises the steps of: capturing (S1), in a user-specific manner, a number of predetermined usage actions of a particular user of the plurality of users when operating the household appliance (1), and providing (S2) a user-specific operator interface (17) by means of the user interface (16) for the particular user on the basis of the usage actions of the particular user which are captured in a user-specific manner.