Method and system for voice operating at least one electronic device, especially a household domestic appliance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice control methods for household appliances only adapt standard control commands based on the user's individual profile, failing to account for preferences of other individuals or situations where no user profile is assigned.

Innovation Solution

The method detects signal words in voice commands to select and apply user profiles, allowing for adaptive control commands based on stored information, even if no specific profile exists, and utilizes speech recognition and a server-based system for cost-effective implementation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If voice control adapts only to the speaking user's profile, then the control is personalized for the speaker, but it cannot accommodate preferences of other individuals or situations without user profiles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different usersVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments user identification into two independent components: voice biometric recognition for speaker identification and signal word detection for explicit user profile selection. This segmentation allows the system to handle cases where the speaker and the intended user differ, resolving the contradiction between personalization and multi-user support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Signal words act as an intermediary mechanism between the voice command and user profile selection. Instead of directly linking voice biometrics to user profiles, the signal word serves as a mediator that explicitly specifies which user profile should be applied, enabling flexible user profile selection independent of the speaker's identity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple user profiles are supported with explicit selection, then the system can accommodate different users' preferences, but the voice command structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for multiple user profilesVSAvoidintuitiveness of voice control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs self-service through automatic signal word detection and user profile selection. Instead of requiring users to manually navigate complex profile selection interfaces or remember specific profile identifiers, the system automatically detects signal words in the voice command and selects the appropriate user profile, maintaining ease of operation while supporting multiple profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of user profile selection from implicit (based solely on voice biometrics) to explicit (based on detected signal words). This parameter change allows the system to support multiple user profiles while maintaining intuitive operation, as users can simply mention another person's name or a profile identifier in their voice command without needing to understand the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3605317B1Method and system for voice operating at least one electronic device, especially a household domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3605317B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3605317B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3605317B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for voice control of at least one electronic device, in particular a household appliance, wherein a voice command is detected by means of a voice input device and the voice command is monitored for a standard control command. It is provided that the voice command is monitored for signal words, that upon detection of a signal word a stored user profile is selected depending on the detected signal word, and that the electronic device is controlled depending on the standard control command on the one hand and on information contained in the selected user profile on the other.