Remote Control Interface Replication via Image Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

The user experience is fragmented when controlling home automation devices due to differences in user interfaces between the devices themselves and remote control devices, leading to a learning curve for users.

Innovation Solution

A remote control device or application with a user interface that is substantially identical to the home automation device it controls, using image recognition to match the interface and provide a consistent experience, including three-dimensional rendering and live status updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a remote control device uses a different user interface than the home automation device, then the remote control device can have its own optimized control methods, but the user experiences inconsistency and requires a learning curve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control capabilityVSAvoiduser interface consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by reproducing the home automation device's user interface on the remote control device. The remote control device captures an image of the home automation device's display and displays a substantially identical interface on its own screen, allowing users to interact with familiar controls and visual cues regardless of which device they use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies homogeneity by making the user interfaces of both devices substantially identical. Through image capture and processing, the remote control device presents the same visual interface, buttons, and layout as the home automation device, creating a homogeneous user experience across different control methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Ease of operation

If the remote control device displays a substantially identical user interface to the home automation device, then user experience consistency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface consistencyVSAvoidinterface matching complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual interface design with automated image processing. Instead of manually designing and synchronizing interfaces across devices, the system uses camera capture, image processing, and digital display to automatically reproduce the interface, substituting automated computational processes for manual interface development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by making the remote control device's display system capable of showing multiple interface types. The same display hardware can show the reproduced home automation interface, application-specific interfaces, or other content, making the display component multi-functional and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2775374B1User interface and method
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP2775374B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2775374B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2775374B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user interface method can include providing an object to be controlled, providing a remote control device, capturing an image of the object, using the image of the object to recognize the object, and based on recognition of the object, displaying a second user interface on the viewing screen of the remote control device, wherein the second user interface is substantially identical to a first user interface of the object. A user interface method can also include providing an object to be controlled, providing a remote control device, focusing an image capturing device of the remote control device on the object, identifying coordinates, identifying the object as being associated with the identified coordinates, and based on identifying the object, displaying a second user interface on the viewing screen of the remote control device, wherein the second user interface is substantially identical to a first user interface of the object.