Smart Device Pre-Awakening via Image Detection and Voice Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart devices have a low exposure rate and utilization ratio due to users being unaware of their functions and how to interact with them effectively.

Innovation Solution

The smart device employs a pre-awakening mode that detects users at a distance through image analysis, triggering a voice broadcast to introduce its functions, and transitions to an awakening mode when closer, allowing natural interaction and guiding users to operate the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the smart device remains in a dormant state to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but user awareness and interaction rate decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiduser awareness of device functions
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of user presence before full activation is needed. The image collection unit continuously monitors the environment in a low-power state, detecting users at distance triggers the voice broadcast function to activate, serving as a preliminary action that bridges the dormant and active states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device dynamically transitions between multiple operational states (dormant, pre-awakening, awakening, interaction) based on real-time user proximity detection. This dynamic state adjustment allows the device to optimize energy consumption while maintaining appropriate levels of user engagement at different distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the smart device actively broadcasts voice to guide users, then user interaction intention is enhanced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction guidanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The voice broadcast function operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when user presence is detected at specific distance thresholds. This periodic activation pattern provides necessary user guidance while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary user detection through image analysis before activating the voice broadcast function. This preliminary action ensures that energy-intensive voice guidance is only activated when actually needed, optimizing the balance between user assistance and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If the device detects users at long distance and activates pre-awakening mode, then exposure rate increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice exposure rateVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user detection and interaction process is segmented into distinct distance-based zones (long distance for pre-awakening, short distance for full awakening). Each zone triggers specific predefined actions, simplifying the control logic by breaking down the complex interaction process into manageable segments based on spatial positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements preliminary user detection and classification at long distance before committing to full interaction modes. This preliminary sorting of user proximity and intent allows the device to prepare appropriate response protocols in advance, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making during actual interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly increases the exposure and utilization rate of smart devices by facilitating user interaction and awareness of available services through voice greetings and intuitive operation.

Implementation Method 1

an image of a surrounding environment of the smart device is collected when the smart device is in a dormant state; if a character feature is detected in the collected image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage detection: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP3866054B1Smart device control method and apparatus, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 BEIJING ORION STAR TECH CO LTD
  • EP3866054B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3866054B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3866054B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A smart device control method and apparatus, and a storage medium, relating to the technical field of smart devices. Said method comprises: when a smart device is in a dormant state, acquiring an image of an environment surrounding the smart device (201); if a character feature is detected in the acquired image and the distance between a target having the character feature and the smart device is within a first specified distance, triggering the smart device to perform voice broadcasting (202); and after voice broadcasting, if it is detected that the distance between the target and the smart device is within a second specified distance, waking up the smart device, the second specified distance being less than the first specified distance (203). Thus, the method is able to determine, according to image detection, whether users nearby have an interaction intention, and guide, by means of active voice broadcasting, users having a potential interaction intention to a smart device for operation, thereby improving the exposure and usage of the smart device.