Method for exchanging information between a household appliance and a mobile device v
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances' graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are limited in their ability to provide comprehensive information, making it difficult for users and technicians to access and process operational data, error codes, and usage statistics effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes a mobile device's camera to capture and process optical information from a household appliance's GUI, using markers to align and decode information, such as seven-segment displays or light emitting diodes, to transfer complex information from the appliance to the mobile device for accurate processing and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a limited GUI at the household appliance is used to provide information, then the device complexity is reduced, but the quantity of information that can be provided to the user is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the household appliance and the user. The appliance's limited GUI provides basic optical information (error codes, operational status), which the mobile device then captures, processes, and presents in a comprehensive manner through its own display and processing capabilities, effectively overcoming the information limitation while keeping the appliance simple
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device creates a digital copy of the information displayed on the appliance's GUI by capturing images or video of the optical information. This copy is then processed and displayed on the mobile device's screen, allowing the user to access comprehensive information without requiring the appliance's GUI to display all information directly
2Measurement precision
If markers are added to the appliance GUI for alignment, then the measurement precision of optical information is improved, but the ease of manufacture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visually distinct markers (such as colored frames or patterns) on the appliance GUI that are easily recognizable by the mobile device's camera. These markers enable precise alignment and identification of the optical information area without requiring complex manufacturing processes, as they can be implemented through standard display technologies
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment markers are pre-configured on the appliance GUI during manufacturing or setup. This preliminary placement of markers ensures that when the mobile device captures the optical information, the alignment is already established, improving measurement precision without adding complexity to the manufacturing process
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for exchanging information between a household appliance (1) and a mobile device (2), the method comprising the steps of: - providing optical information at a graphical user interface (3) of the household appliance (1) (S10); - aligning the mobile device (2) with respect to the household appliance (1) based on one or more markers (4) displayed at a graphical user interface (5) of the mobile device (2) (S11); - receiving optical information at the mobile device (2) by capturing said optical information provided at the household appliance (1) by a camera (6) of the mobile device (2) (S12); - processing said received optical information at the mobile device (1) in order to derive an information message included in said received optical information (S13); - providing said information message or information associated with said information message at a user interface of the mobile device (2) (S14).