Wearable IoT Interface Using Directional Selection and Voice Commands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices require manual steps for pairing and command input, which can be cumbersome and ambiguous, especially for users with visual impairments, and voice control systems need explicit device identification.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing Bluetooth Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) or Angle-of-Departure technologies to detect the direction of an IoT device and interpret user commands, such as spoken words or gestures, through a wearable interface like smart glasses, minimizing power consumption and eliminating the need for manual pairing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pairing and device selection steps are implemented, then device control functionality is achieved, but user operation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting and identifying IoT devices in the environment before user interaction is needed. The wearable device continuously monitors for IoT devices using Bluetooth Low Energy, pre-establishes potential connections, and prepares device lists in advance, so when the user needs to control a device, the selection process is already prepared and minimized.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (physically pressing buttons, navigating menus, selecting devices) with acoustic field-based voice commands. The user simply speaks natural language commands, and the system interprets them to identify and control the intended IoT device, substituting complex manual interaction sequences with simple speech-based control.
2Ease of operation
If voice assistants with magic words are used, then voice control capability is achieved, but device identification complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by using Bluetooth Low Energy for basic device detection and identification, then only activating full voice processing and command interpretation when a device is selected or when necessary. This avoids continuous high-power voice processing while maintaining voice control capability, consuming energy only when needed rather than continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device uses periodic scanning with Bluetooth Low Energy to detect IoT devices at intervals rather than continuous monitoring. Voice processing is activated periodically or on-demand based on user interaction triggers, rather than running continuously, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining responsiveness.
3Measurement precision
If explicit device description is required for commands, then device control precision is achieved, but command complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically determining device identity based on contextual information such as spatial location, device type, and usage patterns. When the user says a simple command like 'turn on the light,' the system autonomously identifies which light is meant by analyzing which IoT devices are nearby, their current state, and historical usage data, eliminating the need for the user to explicitly describe the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of device identification from requiring explicit descriptive parameters (device names, locations, types) to using implicit contextual parameters (spatial proximity, device state, usage context). This transformation allows simple voice commands to achieve precise device identification by changing how the system interprets and uses identification parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a power-efficient and intuitive method for selecting and controlling IoT devices by simply directing towards the device and giving relevant commands, suitable for battery-operated systems and users with impairments, reducing the complexity of device interaction.
Implementation Method 1
technologies such as Bluetooth Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) or Angle-of-Departure may be utilized to provide a simple manner for selecting a device, that is also highly power efficient. Using such technologies it is possible to detect the angle from an antenna array of a communication interface (in e.g. a pair of glasses) to the IoT device it communicates with.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface arrangement comprising a controller, a sensor and a communication interface, wherein the sensor is arranged to receive input, and the controller is configured to: cause the user interface arrangement to operate in a first power level; receive the input; detect an indication of at least one command, and in response thereto cause the user interface arrangement to operate in a second power level, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level; determine that at least one IoT device is in front of the user interface arrangement, and in response thereto cause the user interface arrangement to operate in a second power level, wherein the third power level is higher than the second power level; extract at least one command from the input; match the extracted at least one command to the at least one IoT device, and if a match is found; execute the extracted at least one command on the matching IoT device.