Refrigerator Door Event Control for Context-Aware Cooking Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators cannot determine if the user who opens and closes the door is the same user from a previous opening, leading to redundant information being provided or different users receiving inappropriate information.
Innovation Solution
A control method for a refrigerator that includes a processor to sense changes in the door or drawer state, receive state information from connected electrical appliances, determine if the user is cooking, and provide tailored notifications based on these conditions, using facial recognition or other identification methods to ensure information is relevant to the correct user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the refrigerator notifies the user of data received from PC with predetermined timing, then the user receives information, but redundant information may be provided to the same user or different users may receive inappropriate information
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator uses door opening/closing events as feedback triggers to determine when to notify the user. By monitoring whether the door is opened or closed and cross-referencing with cooking status from electrical appliances, the system dynamically decides what information to provide, preventing redundant notifications while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically identifies user context through sensor data (door state, appliance operation) without requiring explicit user input or complex authentication. The refrigerator self-determines cooking status and user presence, providing relevant information passively when the door is opened or closed
2Loss of time
If the refrigerator provides information every time the door is opened or closed, then the user receives timely information, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary processing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of processing and notifying for every door opening/closing event, the system applies partial action by selectively notifying only when cooking is detected. The door state sensor continuously monitors, but information processing and notification are triggered only under specific conditions (cooking status + door event), reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining timely delivery when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic door opening/closing events as natural triggers for information delivery rather than continuous monitoring or fixed-time notifications. This event-driven periodic approach ensures information is provided when the user naturally interacts with the refrigerator, minimizing processing power while maintaining timeliness
Data Source
AI summary
A control method is provided for controlling a refrigerator that is connected to one or more electrical apparatuses, in which the refrigerator includes a door/drawer and a processor. The control method causes the processor to sense a change in an opened state or a closed state of the door/drawer and receive state information indicating an operation state of the one or more electrical apparatuses from the one or more electrical apparatuses, which are operable when the user is. The processor determines whether the user is cooking based on the received state information, and notifies the user of different information each time a change in the opened state or the closed state is sensed if a change in the opened state or the closed state is sensed when a determination is made that the user is cooking.