Virtual Assistant Home Control Using Natural Language Device Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and controlling a large number of remotely connected home electronic devices becomes complex due to the need to remember unique identifiers and use multiple software applications from different manufacturers, leading to increased difficulty and time consumption.
Innovation Solution
A virtual assistant system that allows users to control electronic devices using natural language processing, where speech inputs are converted into textual representations to identify devices and execute commands, simplifying the control process by integrating with various devices through a client-server model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users control each device through separate software applications with unique identifiers, then each device can be precisely controlled, but the complexity of managing multiple devices increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary tool between the user and the electronic devices. The camera captures images of devices, and image recognition technology automatically identifies the target device, replacing the traditional method of manually selecting from identifier lists. This intermediary system bridges the gap between simple user interaction and complex device identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of manually navigating through software menus and typing identifiers with an optical system. Users simply point the camera at the device, and the system automatically processes the visual information to identify and control the target device, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated optical recognition.
2Productivity
If users manually locate and select device identifiers from lists, then precise device selection is achieved, but the time required to control devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary device identification through image capture and recognition before the user needs to control the device. By pre-processing the identification task through automated image analysis, the system eliminates the time-consuming manual search process, allowing users to quickly control devices after simply pointing the camera.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual copying of the device's physical appearance through camera imaging to identify and select the device. Instead of requiring users to match abstract identifiers with physical devices, the system creates a visual copy (image) of the device and uses this copy for automatic identification, making the selection process intuitive and rapid.
3Measurement precision
If the system provides detailed unique identifiers for each device, then device identification precision is improved, but the difficulty of remembering and locating identifiers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the identification parameter from text-based unique identifiers (which require memorization) to image-based visual identification. The system processes visual parameters from camera images to identify devices, transforming the identification method from requiring human memory to requiring only visual pointing, thereby maintaining identification accuracy while eliminating memory burden.
Data Source
AI summary
This relates to systems and processes for using a virtual assistant to control electronic devices. In one example process, a user can speak an input in natural language form to a user device to control one or more electronic devices. The user device can transmit the user speech to a server to be converted into a textual representation. The server can identify the one or more electronic devices and appropriate commands to be performed by the one or more electronic devices based on the textual representation. The identified one or more devices and commands to be performed can be transmitted back to the user device, which can forward the commands to the appropriate one or more electronic devices for execution. In response to receiving the commands, the one or more electronic devices can perform the commands and transmit their current states to the user device.