Voice Recognition Remote Control for Cost-Effective Home Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current voice recognition techniques require equipment to have microphones for voice acquisition, limiting control over multiple devices in a home environment without increasing production and consumer costs, and are not convenient for users who need to learn multiple control methods.

Innovation Solution

A voice recognition method and system that allows voice control over equipment without a voice acquisition capability by publishing lists of supported voices and instructions, enabling users to control devices in a simpler and more natural manner through a voice recognition device that can be integrated into any conventional equipment, even without a microphone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice recognition techniques require equipment to have microphones for voice acquisition, then voice control capability is achieved, but production cost and consumer cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice control capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a remote control device as an intermediary that contains the microphone and voice recognition capabilities. This mediator captures voices from the user and transmits them to the target equipment, allowing voice control without requiring microphones in each controlled device. This resolves the contradiction by separating the voice acquisition function from the equipment being controlled, thereby maintaining voice control capability while reducing production costs of the controlled equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote control device serves multiple functions: it acts as a voice acquisition device, a communication bridge, and a control interface. By making the remote control universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for each piece of equipment to have its own microphone and voice recognition system, thereby reducing both production costs and consumer costs while maintaining ease of operation through voice control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If each equipment has a respective remote controller, then control capability is achieved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to multiple control tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidnumber of remote controllers
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the remote control device universal by enabling it to control multiple different pieces of equipment through network connectivity. The remote control can discover and communicate with various devices (TVs, set-top boxes, sound systems) on the network, providing a single unified control interface. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability to control multiple equipment types while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate remote controllers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of multiple equipment-specific remote controllers into a single networked remote control device. By combining control capabilities for TV, set-top box, sound system, and other devices into one unified remote, the system maintains comprehensive control capability while significantly reducing the number of separate control tools users must manage, thereby reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users operate pad and mobile phone to control equipment, then network control is achieved, but ease of operation worsens due to requiring computer operation skills

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork control capabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical interface of traditional remote controls with voice-based acoustic control. Instead of requiring users to press buttons, navigate menus, or type on a pad/mobile phone, the system allows users to simply speak commands. The remote control device captures the voice, processes it, and translates it into control signals for the target equipment. This substitution dramatically improves ease of operation while maintaining network control capability, making the system accessible to users regardless of their computer operation skills.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If voice recognition is implemented on each equipment, then voice control precision is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice recognition accuracyVSAvoidmicrophone requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control device serves as an intermediary that centralizes the voice recognition functionality. Instead of distributing microphones and voice recognition systems across multiple pieces of equipment, the mediator (remote control) performs all voice acquisition and recognition tasks. This allows high-precision voice recognition to be achieved while avoiding the need to add microphones and complex voice recognition systems to each controlled device, thereby reducing device complexity and production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3139376B1Voice recognition method and device
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 ZTE CORP
  • EP3139376B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3139376B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5a
  • EP3139376B1 patent drawingFigure 5b~6

AI summary

Disclosed are a voice recognition method, device, and system, and a computer storage medium. One voice recognition method comprises: a voice recognition device releases a list of supported voices and/or a list of instructions corresponding to the supported voices. Another voice recognition method comprises: a voice recognition control device acquires a list of supported voices and/or a list of instructions corresponding to the voices supported by the voice recognition device.