Remote Control System for Home Appliances with Automatic Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote control systems for home appliances require manual editing of setting files when new devices are added, leading to user burden and anxiety due to lack of notifications for device operation states upon going out or coming home, potentially causing devices to be left on unintentionally.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system that senses user movement, acquires in-house and device states, selects usual setting states, and provides notifications when actual states differ, allowing users to adjust settings remotely and reducing operational burden by only requiring input when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual editing of setting files is required when new devices are added, then device control functionality is achieved, but user burden increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects new devices on the network and configures them without requiring user intervention. The control device autonomously performs device discovery, adds devices to the control list, and determines appropriate control parameters, eliminating the need for manual setting file editing while maintaining full device control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary device discovery and network detection before the user needs to control the devices. By proactively identifying and configuring devices in advance, the system prepares the control environment so that users can immediately operate devices without encountering setup complexities
2Reliability
If no notification is provided for device operation states, then system simplicity is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to potential unintentional device activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic notifications to users about device operation states, particularly when devices are activated upon user arrival at home. This feedback mechanism ensures users are aware of device states and can verify whether activation was intentional, thereby preventing unintentional device operation while maintaining system simplicity through automated monitoring and communication
3Ease of operation
If the system requires user input for every device state change, then control precision is improved, but operational burden increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective notification rather than requiring user input for all device state changes. It provides notifications only for specific critical states such as device activation upon user arrival, while automatically managing routine operations without user intervention. This partial action approach maintains control precision for important decisions while minimizing operational burden by eliminating unnecessary user inputs
Data Source
AI summary
A usual setting state in accordance with a current in-house state and a device state is selected using an acquired in-house state and a device state from a plurality of setting states classified in advance in accordance with in-house states and device states. When the selected usual setting state and the acquired setting state differ from each other, a first notification that notifies a user of the difference is performed and a state of an information terminal is transitioned to a state where an input for remotely controlling a second device can be accepted.