Smart Mat User Identification for Personalized Content Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of effective solutions for improving content playback experiences on mats, such as mattresses or sofa cushions, where users often engage with devices to watch content, as existing technologies do not efficiently identify and tailor content recommendations to the user's preferences while they are using the mat.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that uses sensors on the smart mat to detect and identify users through temperature, pressure, and physiological parameters, determining identity information to automatically play recommended content, enhancing user experience by eliminating the need for manual content selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual content selection is used, then user control over content is maintained, but content playback efficiency and convenience are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent playback efficiencyVSAvoidmanual content selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting user presence on the mat, identifying the user's identity, and selecting recommended content without requiring manual user intervention. The smart mat itself performs the content selection service, eliminating the need for users to manually browse and select content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing user profiles with preference data, pre-detecting user presence through sensors, and pre-selecting recommended content based on historical data before the user even requests content playback. This prepares the system in advance to immediately play appropriate content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If generic content is played, then content playback is simple, but content relevance to user preferences is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent recommendation accuracyVSAvoiduser identification system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual user identification mechanisms with automatic sensor-based detection. Pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and other detection devices automatically identify user presence and characteristics, substituting mechanical or manual identification processes with automated electronic sensing and data processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses parameter changes in physical quantities (pressure, temperature, electrical characteristics) detected by sensors to identify user presence and characteristics. By monitoring changes in these parameters, the system can distinguish between different users and determine their preferences without complex identification procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If user identification is implemented, then personalized content recommendations are enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonalized content recommendationVSAvoidsensing and identification system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The smart mat is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a passive support surface and as an active sensing platform. The same mat structure that provides comfort also houses integrated sensors for user detection, identification, and preference analysis, combining multiple functions into a single universal device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the content selection function with the mat itself rather than requiring a separate control device. The mat integrates sensing elements, processing capabilities, and content delivery functions, combining what were previously separate systems into a unified smart mat platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution improves content playback efficiency and convenience by accurately identifying users and providing personalized content recommendations, ensuring that the content played on the mat is relevant and enjoyable for the user.

Implementation Method 1

temperature data of the object on the smart mat is acquired; and if the temperature data is within a pre-stored temperature range of human body, it is determined that the object on the smart mat is a user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

pressure information of the object on the smart mat is acquired; a shape of the object on the smart mat is determined according to points where the pressure information is acquired on the smart mat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3133818B1Method and apparatus for controlling device, and smart mat

Publication Date: 2018.10.17 XIAOMI INC

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
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AI summary

A method and apparatus for controlling a device, and a smart mat are provided. The method includes that identity information of a user on an smart mat is determined (101); recommended content for the user is determined according to the identity information of the user (102); and an instruction for playing the recommended content is sent to a device associated with the smart mat (103).