Smart home controller refrigerator and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators, due to their continuous power supply requirement and limited control capabilities, have not been effectively utilized as smart home controllers to manage and control other home appliances, limiting their role in smart home systems.
Innovation Solution
A smart home controller refrigerator is developed, equipped with a control unit that receives and transmits operation signals using various communication protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee) to control other home appliances, allowing remote control and scheduling of operations through a portable device like a smartphone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refrigerator is used as a smart home controller, then the control stability and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator is transformed from a single-function appliance to a multi-functional device that combines refrigeration with smart home control capabilities. The control unit can both manage refrigerator operations and control other home appliances through multiple communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, infrared), making the refrigerator a universal control hub for the entire home.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator's control unit acts as an intermediary device between the user's portable device and other home appliances. It receives control information from the portable device, processes it, generates appropriate operation signals, and transmits them to the target appliances, thereby mediating the control process and improving system reliability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple remote controls are replaced by a single refrigerator controller, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability to different appliances decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator control unit is designed to support multiple communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, infrared) to accommodate different types of home appliances. This multi-functional capability allows a single device to control diverse appliances while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface on the portable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically adjusts its communication parameters and protocols based on the target appliance being controlled. It can switch between different communication methods (wireless or wired) and adapt its signal format to match the requirements of the specific appliance, thereby maintaining high adaptability while simplifying user operation.
3Device complexity
If the refrigerator focuses on refrigeration function only, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity in smart home control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator system integrates both refrigeration control and smart home control functions within a single control unit. The control unit can independently or simultaneously manage refrigerator operations and control other home appliances, thereby increasing overall productivity without requiring separate dedicated devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the refrigerator's native control system with smart home control capabilities into a unified system. The control unit combines refrigeration management functions with multi-protocol communication capabilities, merging what would traditionally be separate functions into a single integrated solution that enhances productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a smart home controller refrigerator and a control method therefor, the smart home controller refrigerator, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a control unit comprising a control protocol communication unit for receiving control information for controlling a home appliance in a home, an operation protocol communication unit for generating an operation signal calculated from the control information, and a signal transmission unit for transmitting the operation signal to the home appliance; at least one storage space; and at least one door for controlling the opening/closing of the at least one storage space.