Visual Indicator Interpretation via Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home electronic devices often rely on ambiguous visual and audio indicators, such as flashing LEDs or beeps, making it difficult for users to interpret their status or identify potential malfunctions without wired or wireless connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses image and audio capture devices to monitor and interpret visual and audio indicators, sending data to a remote device for processing to determine the meaning of indicator patterns and provide users with information on device status, potential issues, and recommended actions, such as ordering replacements or scheduling repairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual indicators (LEDs) are used to communicate device status, then information transmission is achieved, but the indicators become ambiguous and difficult for users to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera and image processing system as an intermediary between the visual indicator and the user. The camera captures images of the LED patterns, and image processing algorithms analyze these patterns to determine device status. This intermediary translates ambiguous visual signals into clear, actionable information displayed on a smartphone or other user interface, resolving the contradiction between information transmission and ease of interpretation.
2Loss of information
If wired or wireless connectivity is added to devices for better status communication, then information accessibility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the device status through camera imaging. Instead of adding networking hardware to the device, the system uses a camera to capture images of existing visual indicators. The image processing system then analyzes these captured images to determine device status, effectively copying the information transmission function without requiring additional connectivity hardware in the device itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the camera and image processing system universal tools that can interpret visual indicators from multiple different devices. Rather than each device needing its own connectivity hardware, a single camera system can capture and interpret LED patterns from various devices, making the solution multi-functional and applicable across different device types without adding complexity to each individual device.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that detect and interpret the meaning of visual and/or audio indicators of devices, and provide information, solutions to potential malfunctions, and/or automatic ordering of consumable products to users. For example, sequences of visual indicators (such as LEDs) and/or audio indicators (such as speakers that output beeps) generated by home electronics and other devices may be monitored using an image capture component (such as a camera) or audio capture component (such as a microphone), and the sequences may be interpreted to provide users with information of what is wrong with a device, how to fix a device, purchase a new device, offer repair services, etc. The systems and methods may also provide users with notifications relating to such indicators when the user is away from home.