Mobile Device Illumination Control via Location Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional illumination system controllers require users to perform onerous operations to adjust illumination states as they need to search through multiple devices, making it difficult to easily adjust illumination states according to changing situations, especially when there are many operation targets.

Innovation Solution

A control method for a mobile device that acquires location information and sorts setting screens accordingly, displaying only relevant screens for the current location, allowing users to easily adjust illumination states by prioritizing devices based on proximity and location, and enabling input of desired locations for precise control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a predetermined screen is displayed for adjusting each illumination state regardless of situation, then all illumination devices can be controlled, but the user operation becomes onerous when searching for specific devices in changing situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjusting illumination stateVSAvoidtime for searching illumination devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control screen dynamically changes its display content based on the user's current location information. The system automatically updates which illumination devices are shown and their arrangement order according to real-time location data, transforming a static interface into an adaptive one that responds to user movement and situational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary sorting and filtering of illumination devices based on location information before the user needs to access the control screen. By pre-organizing the device list according to spatial proximity and relevance, the system eliminates the need for users to manually search through all devices, presenting only the most relevant controls in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If all illumination devices are displayed on the control screen, then complete control is available, but the interface becomes complex and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of device controlVSAvoidcomplexity of control interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface applies local quality by displaying different information for different regions or groups of illumination devices based on their spatial relationship to the user. Devices closer to the user's location are presented with more prominent or detailed controls, while distant devices are shown with simplified or aggregated controls, creating a hierarchy of information density matched to spatial relevance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The complete set of illumination devices is segmented into multiple groups or categories based on location information, such as rooms, floors, or proximity zones. Each segment is displayed separately or with clear organizational structure, allowing users to navigate through segmented groups rather than facing a single overwhelming list of all devices simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the control screen shows illumination devices in fixed order, then the interface is simple, but it does not adapt to changing user locations and situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control interfaceVSAvoidadaptability to changing situations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The ordering and arrangement of illumination devices on the control screen transitions from a fixed static sequence to a dynamic one that automatically reconfigures based on location information. As the user moves between different locations, the system dynamically recalculates and reorders device presentation to reflect current spatial relationships, maintaining simplicity while achieving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2894948B1Control method for mobile device
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP2894948B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2894948B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2894948B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control method for a mobile device (100) that controls one or more illumination devices (200, 201), the mobile device (100) including a display (120), a computer, and a memory, the control method causing the computer of the mobile device to execute acquiring a piece of mobile-device location information indicating a location where the mobile device is present, sorting one or more setting screens corresponding to the respective one or more illumination devices using information stored in the memory, the information indicating correspondences between the one or more illumination devices and one or more pieces of illumination-device location information indicating locations where the respective one or more illumination devices are present, displaying the sorted one or more setting screens on the display, and transmitting a control signal in accordance with setting information indicating an illumination state set through the setting screens, to the one or more illumination devices.