Multi-Device Voice Control Notifications in Shared Spaces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In shared spaces, users remotely controlling electronic devices through voice assistance services can lead to conflicts or inconveniences due to unregistered devices or other users being unaware of the control actions, resulting in conflicting commands or lack of awareness about device control.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device system that identifies and notifies other devices within a specified range about the control actions of a user, distinguishing between registered and unregistered devices, and providing visual or auditory notifications to ensure awareness of control states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user remotely controls an electronic device through voice assistance service, then the control operation can be performed conveniently, but other users or devices in the common space may not be aware of the control action, leading to potential conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote control operationVSAvoidawareness of control state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by notifying other electronic devices and users about the control action. When a user controls a device remotely, the controlling device receives and processes the control command, then transmits notification information to other devices in the common space, ensuring they are aware of the ongoing control operation and can avoid conflicting commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controlling electronic device acts as an intermediary between the user's remote control action and other devices in the common space. It receives the control command, identifies the target device, executes the control operation, and then communicates the control state to other devices, serving as a mediator that bridges the information gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an unregistered electronic device is present in the common space, then device compatibility and adaptability are improved, but command conflicts and control awareness issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice registration flexibilityVSAvoidcommand execution reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables unregistered devices to participate in the control network through self-service mechanisms. Devices can autonomously discover each other and establish communication without manual registration, allowing seamless integration of new devices while maintaining system-wide awareness through automatic notification protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is designed to be universal, accommodating both registered and unregistered devices. The notification mechanism works regardless of device registration status, ensuring that all devices in the common space can receive and process control state information, thereby maintaining reliability across diverse device types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple electronic devices operate in the same common space, then system functionality and versatility are enhanced, but coordination complexity and potential conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-device operation capabilityVSAvoidcoordination management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the coordination task by having each electronic device independently manage its own control state notifications. Instead of a centralized complex coordination system, each device autonomously receives control commands, executes them, and notifies others of the control state, dividing the coordination complexity into manageable individual device operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the control and notification functions into a unified process. When a control command is received and executed, the same communication channel is used to notify other devices of the control state, combining multiple operations into a single integrated flow that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12525243B2Electronic device and method for providing operating state of plurality of devices

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is an electronic device that may receive information corresponding to a user utterance from a first external electronic device, identify a second external electronic device to perform at least a part of an action corresponding to the user utterance, based on determining that the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device are not located within a specified range: determine a target external electronic device to provide a first notification and transmit a command to the target external electronic device to provide the first notification, and transmit a command to the second external electronic device to perform the part of the action corresponding to the user utterance.