Wake-Up Voice Module for Cross-Device Smart Home Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In smart home systems, users face inconvenience when trying to control devices without carrying a terminal, as they need to physically locate the device or the terminal, limiting convenience and versatility in voice control capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A device control method and apparatus utilizing a target voice module that awakens upon receiving voice information, converts it into control instructions, and communicates with servers to control other devices, integrating Internet of Things (IoT) and voice interaction capabilities, allowing voice control of smart home devices without individual configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users control smart home devices using traditional terminal devices, then device control functionality is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates when the terminal is not carried

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of device controlVSAvoidversatility in control scenarios
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The voice module is designed to perform multiple functions: it can serve as a wake-up trigger, a voice command receiver, and a control instruction transmitter. By making the voice module universal, the system eliminates the dependency on terminal devices and enables control in various scenarios (at home, away from terminal, etc.), thus improving both ease of operation and adaptability

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

Solution Approach 2:

The voice module automatically processes voice commands and generates control instructions without requiring user intervention to operate a terminal. The system self-services by directly converting voice inputs into device control actions, removing the need for users to manually operate terminals or applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If individual configuration is implemented for each smart home device, then device control precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voice module acts as an intermediary that receives voice commands and converts them into standardized control instructions. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of individual device configurations, allowing users to issue simple voice commands without needing to understand or configure each device's specific parameters, thus maintaining control accuracy while reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the control process into two independent parts: voice recognition (handled by the voice module) and device-specific control logic (handled by the target device). This segmentation allows the voice module to focus on accurate voice-to-instruction conversion while each device maintains its own control logic, reducing overall configuration complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If physical proximity to the device is required for control, then control reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoidconvenience of control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical requirement of physical proximity with an acoustic field-based control mechanism. Voice commands can be transmitted through the air without requiring the user to be physically close to the device, substituting the mechanical constraint with an acoustic transmission method that maintains reliability while improving convenience

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

Data Source

PatentEP4346172A1Controlling devices in a network using voice information
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4346172A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4346172A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4346172A1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A device control method, includes: in response to determining a target voice module is awakened, a collected first voice information is sent to a first server, the first voice information is configured to convert the first voice information into a first control instruction by the first server and send the first control instruction to a second server, and the first voice information contains information for controlling a second target device (S11); the first control instruction fed back by the second server is received(S12); and the second target device is controlled by using the target voice module or a processor according to the first control instruction, and the target voice module and the processor are equipped in a first target device(S13).