Mobile UI for Unified Control of Neighboring Home Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The proliferation of various electronic devices in homes requires multiple remote controllers for each device, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency in controlling devices with similar functions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device capable of identifying and controlling neighboring devices through a user interface that displays UI elements, detects user inputs, and transmits control commands based on identification codes, allowing for unified control of devices with similar functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a typical remote controller is used to control electronic devices, then the control function is provided for pre-defined devices, but the versatility to control devices with similar functions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as a universal remote controller that can control multiple types of electronic devices (TV, air conditioner, sound bar, projector) through a single application interface. The system identifies neighboring devices and presents unified control options, allowing one device to perform multiple control functions that would traditionally require separate remote controllers for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and various electronic devices. Instead of requiring direct remote control for each device, the mobile device mediates by detecting neighboring devices, presenting unified control interfaces, and transmitting appropriate control commands to the target devices through wireless communication.
2Ease of operation
If multiple remote controllers are provided for different electronic devices, then each device can be controlled specifically, but the convenience and efficiency of device management is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functionality of multiple device-specific remote controllers into a single mobile device application. By consolidating control interfaces for different device types into one unified application, the system reduces the quantity of separate remote controllers needed while maintaining the ability to control each device type through its specific control functions.
3Device complexity
If a single mobile device controls multiple neighboring devices, then device management is simplified, but the complexity of identifying and selecting the correct device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic device detection and identification without requiring manual input from the user. The mobile device automatically detects neighboring electronic devices, retrieves their information, and presents appropriate control interfaces through the application, eliminating the need for users to manually search or configure device connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying detected neighboring devices and their status in the interface. This allows users to see which devices are available for control and makes the selection process more intuitive, reducing the cognitive load of identifying the correct device among multiple options.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device and a method of controlling the same. A control method according to an embodiment comprises displaying a user interface (UI) screen which includes a plurality of UI elements, detecting a first user input associated with a first UI element among the plurality of UI elements, identifying one or more identification codes associated with the first UI element based on the detecting of the first user input, detecting one or more neighboring devices based on the one or more identification codes, displaying a window which includes one or more UI elements associated with the one or more neighboring devices, detecting a second user input associated with a second UI element among the one or more UI elements, determining a neighboring device associated with the second UI element, among the one or more neighboring devices, as a controlled device controllable through the second UI element, based on detecting of the second user input, and transmitting a control command related to the first UI element to the neighboring device determined as the controlled device.