Proximity-Based Slave Unit Selection for Safe Voice Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to ensure that voice-controlled household appliances are operated within a predetermined spatial proximity to a central voice control unit to prevent long-distance effects that could compromise user safety, as per safety standards like DIN EN 60335-01 (VDE 0700-1), without equipping each appliance with a separate speech receiver unit.
Innovation Solution
A method where slave units, such as household appliances, establish a wireless communication connection with a master unit, transmitting signals with a predetermined maximum power to determine their proximity, using soft access points and unique addresses for secure communication, allowing only appliances within the specified range to be controlled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a central voice control unit is used to control household appliances, then the complexity of equipping each appliance with a voice receiver is reduced, but the risk of remote control compromising user safety increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proximity detection mechanism as an intermediary between the voice control unit and the appliance control system. This intermediary verifies spatial proximity before allowing voice commands to execute appliance functions, thereby mediating the safety risk while maintaining the centralized control architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary proximity verification before enabling voice control functionality. The master unit checks whether slave units are within the predetermined spatial proximity range before accepting or executing voice commands, preventing remote control activation before safety conditions are confirmed.
2Ease of operation
If voice control is enabled for household appliances, then ease of use is improved, but the ability to control appliances from outside line of sight increases safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through proximity detection, where the master unit continuously monitors the spatial relationship with slave units and provides feedback by enabling or disabling voice control functionality based on whether units are within the safe proximity range, thus maintaining ease of use when safe and preventing remote control when unsafe.
3Speed
If wireless communication with maximum signal power is used, then communication range is extended, but the precision of determining spatial proximity within a specific range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of signal power from maximum to predetermined maximum, which is specifically calibrated to achieve the optimal balance between communication range and proximity determination precision. This parameter adjustment ensures that signals extend far enough for reliable communication while maintaining the ability to distinguish units within the specific proximity range.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for selecting at least one first slave unit (1), preferably a first household appliance (1), within a predetermined spatial proximity to a master unit (0), preferably to a voice control unit (0), wherein at least the first slave unit (1), preferably the first household appliance (1), a second slave unit (2), preferably a second household appliance (2), and the master unit (0) are configured, each with a wireless communication connection (A;B) to perform, comprising at least the following steps: • transmitting (440) a signal from the first slave unit (1) and from the second slave unit (2) via a respective wireless communication link (A) directly to the master unit (0), • receiving (500) the signal from the first slave unit (1) by the master unit (0), and • selecting (700) the first slave unit (1) from the slave units (1, 2) by the master unit (0), wherein the transmission (440) of the signal by the slave units (1, 2) is each carried out with a predetermined maximum signal power, which is designed such that the transmitted signal can only be received by the master unit (0) if the transmitting slave unit (1, 2) is within the predetermined spatial proximity to the master unit (0).;