Voice-Controlled IoT Network Setup via Smartphone Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices without a dedicated input device or display face challenges in connecting to a router, particularly in selecting a router or performing authentication, due to the lack of a user interface for inputting account information.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a network interface, wireless communication circuit, processor, and memory that allows for speech input and output, enabling it to receive an SSID, connect to a wireless network, transmit user account information, and receive setup utterances, facilitating network setup through voice commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an IoT device without a dedicated input device or display is used, then device simplicity and cost are reduced, but the ease of operation for network setup deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device that mediates between the user and the IoT device. The smartphone displays router information and receives user input, then transmits this information to the IoT device via wireless communication, enabling the IoT device to perform network setup without having its own display or input interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical input interface (display screen and physical buttons) with a wireless communication-based input method. The IoT device receives setup information wirelessly from the smartphone, eliminating the need for traditional mechanical input components while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated input device or display is added to an IoT device, then the ease of operation for network setup is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the smartphone serve multiple functions: it acts as a display device showing router information, an input device receiving user credentials, and a communication bridge transmitting data to the IoT device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for the IoT device to have separate display and input components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the display and input functions from the IoT device and places them in the smartphone. By separating these functions, the IoT device remains simple while the smartphone handles the complex user interaction tasks.
3Reliability
If a user manually inputs account information for router connection, then authentication accuracy is improved, but the time required for network setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the user pre-register their account information in the smartphone application before the network setup process. When setting up the IoT device, the pre-registered information is automatically retrieved and transmitted, eliminating the need for manual re-entry while ensuring authentication accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic device for setting up a network of an external device by using a voice input and a method for operating the same. An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises: a network interface; a wireless communication circuit configured to provide at least one wireless network; a processor operatively connected to the network interface and to the wireless communication circuit; and a memory operatively connected to the processor. The memory is configured to store a selected SSID and at least one piece of user account information. The memory may store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive the selected SSID from a first external device comprising a speaker and a microphone through the wireless communication circuit; to receive first device information of the first external device from the first external device through the wireless communication circuit; to connect the first external device to the wireless network at least temporarily; to transmit the first device information and the user account information to an external server through the network interface; to receive first data including information regarding a setup utterance related to the user account information from the external server through the network interface; and to transmit at least a part of the first data to the first external device through the wireless communication circuit. Various other embodiments are also possible.