Vehicle Home Device Control via Image Segmentation

The patent uses an imaging device as an intermediary to capture images of home devices, and a controller that processes these images to identify and control home devices. This intermediary approach allows the vehicle system to control home devices without direct physical connection, simplifying the user interface while managing system complexity through automated image processing and device identification algorithms.

The system creates a visual copy of the home environment by capturing images with an imaging device and displaying them on the vehicle's display unit. This visual representation allows users to control home devices by seeing their actual appearance and position, making the control interface intuitive and familiar while the backend handles complex device identification and communication protocols.

The patent divides the full space image into multiple candidate regions based on detected edges or features. Instead of processing the entire image, the system segments it into smaller portions that are more likely to contain home devices. This segmentation reduces the computational burden and processing time while maintaining identification accuracy by focusing resources on relevant areas.

The system performs partial image processing by first identifying potential device regions through edge detection or feature matching, then applying more intensive analysis only to these specific areas. This partial action approach processes less data overall compared to analyzing the complete image, reducing time loss while achieving sufficient identification accuracy for controlling home devices.