Television Occupancy Simulation via Usage Data Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for simulating home occupation, such as using timers for lighting, are inadequate in convincingly mimicking human activity, and require significant labor or resources, failing to effectively deter intruders.
Innovation Solution
A television receiver system that automatically operates a TV to display broadcast programming and visual/sound effects simulating human activity, using a predetermined schedule generated from usage data to mimic typical viewing habits and randomize channel surfing, lighting, and appliance operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If timers are used to turn on and off table lamps, then the appearance of occupation is simulated, but the resemblance to complex human activities is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single electronic device: receiving broadcast programming, recording programming, controlling television display, and generating visual/sound effects. This merging allows the system to simulate complex human activities more convincingly while maintaining ease of implementation through automated integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies human viewing habits by analyzing usage data and replicating typical viewing patterns, channel-surfing behavior, and timing. This creates a realistic simulation of occupation without requiring actual human presence, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and convincing effect.
2Reliability
If someone enters the home daily to turn on and off lighting randomly, then the simulation of occupation becomes more convincing, but the task becomes labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device performs self-service by automatically analyzing its own usage data, generating predetermined schedules, and executing the simulation without external intervention. The system records its own viewing patterns and uses this information to create realistic occupation simulations, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining convincing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from recorded usage data to automatically adjust and refine the simulation schedule. By analyzing actual viewing patterns and incorporating this feedback into the predetermined schedule generation, the system creates increasingly realistic simulations without requiring manual input, resolving the labor intensity issue.
3Reliability
If a live-in house-sitter is invited, then the activities of residents can be convincingly recreated, but the resources and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device is designed with universal functionality to perform multiple tasks: receiving broadcast programming, recording programs, controlling television display, generating visual/sound effects, and analyzing usage data. This multi-functionality allows the system to simulate complex human activities convincingly without requiring additional devices or resources, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high simulation quality.
4Ease of operation
If the television displays programming according to a user-set schedule, then the operation is predictable, but it fails to mimic random human viewing habits
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static user-set schedules to dynamic predetermined schedules generated automatically from usage data. The schedule adapts to mimic random human viewing habits, channel-surfing patterns, and timing variations. This dynamic approach maintains ease of operation through automation while significantly improving the realism of the simulation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device (300) operates a television (350) located in a premises to simulate occupation of the premises, and thereby deter intrusion. Historical usage data (320) of the television is stored. The usage data indicates the times of day during which the television has been operated by a user, as well as the programming channels accessed via the television at those times. This information can be used to generate a schedule (322) that indicates scheduled times of day for activating the television, as well as the channels to be accessed during the scheduled times of day, without user input. Alternatively, the predetermined schedule (322) may be randomly generated, or may be generated from the viewing habits of a number of users, or from a combination of these sources. However, the predetermined schedule is not set by the user, and also includes provision for operating the television to generate visual and sound effects simulating human activity.