Indoor Position Verification for Household Appliance Remote Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control systems for household appliances lack safety and convenience, particularly in determining the proximity of the user to the appliance during operation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing an indoor positioning system to determine the position of a mobile control device relative to a household appliance, enabling or preventing remote-control instructions based on this position, ensuring safe and convenient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control is enabled without position verification, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unauthorized control
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary position verification using indoor positioning data before allowing remote control execution. The control device determines its position relative to the household appliance and only permits control if the device is in an authorized location, preventing unauthorized control while maintaining ease of use for legitimate operations.
2Reliability
If position determination is implemented, then reliability is improved through authorized control, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary positioning verification module that acts as a mediator between the control device and the household appliance. This module uses indoor positioning systems (GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, or other location technologies) to verify the control device's position and authorization status, adding reliability without requiring complex modifications to the core control mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If line of sight verification is required, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the verification parameter from visual line-of-sight confirmation to position-based authorization using indoor positioning systems. Instead of requiring the user to visually confirm line of sight, the system automatically determines authorization based on the control device's determined position relative to the appliance, improving safety while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient remote control by ensuring the user is in proximity to the appliance, preventing unauthorized control and enhancing user safety and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The indoor positioning system can enable a localization on the basis of one or several radio technologies, such as for example Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and/or RFID (Radio Frequency ID)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for the remote control of a household appliance is configured to receive a remote-control instruction for the remote control of a household appliance from a mobile control device. The apparatus is configured to determine a position of the control device relative to the household appliance by using an indoor positioning system. The apparatus is further configured to implement or not implement the remote-control instruction as a function of the determined position of the control device. A system and a method for the remote control of a household appliance are also provided.