Remote Control Interface Database Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently managing user inputs for remote control of electronic devices on small screens, particularly for users like children and elders, where input errors are frequent due to limited screen space and unreliable speech-to-text conversion, requiring significant processing resources and accuracy in large databases.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a database associating device identifiers with alternative argument values and graphical elements, allowing for filtering based on contextual data to improve accuracy and reduce processing resources, enabling users to select graphical elements for input, thereby simplifying the remote control process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If graphical elements are used instead of words to simplify user input on small screens, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for large databases storing word-graphical element correspondences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser input simplicityVSAvoiddatabase structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The database is segmented into multiple tables with specific functions: device identifiers table, graphical elements table, and associations table. This segmentation allows efficient storage and retrieval of word-graphical element correspondences without requiring a single complex database structure, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that handles the conversion between user input (words or graphical elements) and device commands. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of database queries and correspondences, shielding the user from complexity while maintaining simple interaction. The intermediary also optimizes database access patterns to reduce processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If speech-to-text conversion is used to enable hands-free operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to conversion errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operation capabilityVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where speech-to-text conversion results are validated against the structured database of device identifiers, functions, and parameters. If the conversion is ambiguous or incorrect, the system can provide feedback to the user for clarification or offer alternative interpretations from the database, thereby improving reliability while maintaining hands-free operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares multiple possible interpretations and fallback options in advance within the database structure. When speech-to-text conversion produces uncertain results, the system can fall back to pre-prepared alternative interpretations or suggest corrections based on the structured database, cushioning against conversion errors before they cause failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If large databases with comprehensive word-graphical element correspondences are used, then adaptability is improved, but processing resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput method flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The comprehensive database is segmented into modular tables (device identifiers, graphical elements, associations, functions, parameters) that can be independently queried and processed. This segmentation allows the system to load and process only the relevant portions of the database needed for a given input, rather than processing the entire database, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial processing by querying only the necessary portions of the database based on the user input type and context. Rather than processing all word-graphical element correspondences, the system performs partial searches limited to relevant device categories or function types, reducing processing resources while maintaining full adaptability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3317866B1User input processing for controlling remote devices

Publication Date: 2020.09.02 ORANGE SA

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AI summary

User input processing for controlling remote devices The invention relates to a method for managing a remote electronic device using a user interface on an electronic device, the electronic device being operatively connected to a database associating, for each given device identifier, alternative argument values and graphical elements, the method comprising: receiving (200) a user input through the user interface on the electronic device; determining (201) a first device identifier based on the user input; accessing (203) the database to retrieve (204) a first graphical element associated with a first alternative argument value of the first device identifier, the first alternative argument value matching the user input; rendering (205) the user input by outputting the retrieved first graphical element.