LU103407B1 - Method and control unit for operating a household appliance and household device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for operating a household appliance (100) comprises a step of receiving sensor data via an interface to a sensor unit (102) of the household appliance (100), wherein the sensor data represent a movement of a user (104) in a defined environment (106) of the household appliance (100) and a distance (108) between the user (104) and the household appliance (100); a further step of transitioning the household appliance (100) from a sleep state to an active state in response to the sensor data; a step of receiving a wireless signal (112) representing a signal emitted by a mobile device (114) in the environment (106) of the household appliance (100); and a step of setting a user profile assigned to a known user (104) in response to the wireless signal (112), if the wireless signal (112) is a signal emitted by a mobile device (114) known to the household appliance (100). The emitted signal represents the user (104) that is associated with the known user.

Description

'LU103407

Description

Method and control unit for operating a household appliance and household appliance

The invention relates to a method and a control unit for operating a

household appliance as well as a household appliance.

For several years now, a strong trend towards personalization has been evident, which also affects the

It awakens a desire for personalization of the user interface on household appliances.

Currently, different profiles can be stored on the device and selected by the user. In the future, personalization should happen automatically, but for that to happen, the

The device identifies the user standing in front of the device.

The approach presented here aims to provide an improved method and control unit for operating a household appliance, as well as an improved

to create a household appliance.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a method and a control unit for

The invention is solved by operating a household appliance and by a household appliance with the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set out in the following dependent claims.

The presented approach provides a way to reliably identify a user and thereby automatically configure a household appliance, particularly using Bluetooth. This approach advantageously allows for implementation with low error rates.

A method for operating a household appliance is presented, comprising a receiving step, a transfer step, a further receiving step, and a setting step. In the receiving step, sensor data is received via an interface to a sensor unit of the household appliance, wherein the

Sensor data represents the movement of a user within a defined area of the household appliance and the distance between the user and the appliance. In the transition step, the household appliance is switched from a standby state to an active state in response to the sensor data. In the subsequent receiving step, a

Receive a wireless signal from a mobile device in the vicinity of

The signal emitted by the household appliance is represented. During the setup step, a user profile assigned to a known user is configured to respond to the wireless signal when the wireless signal is a mobile device known to the household appliance.

The signal emitted by the terminal device represents the signal that is assigned to the known user.

The appliance could, for example, be a hot beverage vending machine. Alternatively, the method can also be used for other household appliances.

The sensor unit can, for example, include at least one distance sensor or camera, or be designed as such. Advantageously, the environment can correlate with a field of view of the sensor unit. Advantageously, a detected

Movement within the appliance's field of view switches it from, for example, standby mode to active mode, thus waking it up. The wireless signal can advantageously be a Bluetooth signal, but alternatively a Wi-Fi signal is also acceptable. The mobile device can preferably be a smartphone or a tablet. The mobile device, as a known device, may have previously been paired with the appliance, so that, for example, a

Device identification can be stored in the household appliance, thus simplifying the identification of the mobile device. The user profile can also be advantageously stored or saved in the household appliance, so that a correlation of the data allows for easier user recognition. This can advantageously increase user convenience while simultaneously saving costs and installation space, as the household appliance does not require any additional components to perform the procedure. Advantageously, the procedure can be implemented as a function within

This will be implemented in the form of a software update on the household appliance. Using Bluetooth technology in combination with sensor data can advantageously save costs.

According to one embodiment, a greeting can be displayed on a

The display settings of the household appliance will be shown. This allows for automated personalization and thus improved user comfort.

Furthermore, during the setup step, a message can be sent to the known user.

A greeting will be displayed on the display device once the user has been identified. Additionally or alternatively, a general greeting can be displayed on the display device during the setup step if the user has not been identified.

By identifying the user, it is advantageous to also set their taste preferences and, for example, prepare a hot beverage accordingly. This can be done automatically without the user having to actively configure their user profile.

Furthermore, during the receiving step, another wireless signal can be received, which is transmitted by another mobile device in the vicinity of the household appliance.

This can represent a signal. During the setup step, a known additional signal can be selected.

The additional user profile assigned to a user can be configured to respond to the additional wireless signal if that additional wireless signal represents a signal emitted by another mobile device known to the appliance and assigned to that known user, and if the additional wireless signal has a higher signal strength and additionally or alternatively exhibits different patterns than the wireless signal. This means that the appliance can advantageously identify all users who are in its vicinity, provided they are carrying a mobile device. Advantageously, the proximity of the user to the appliance can be used to determine which user is about to operate it.

According to one embodiment, the method can include a step of comparing the

Signal strengths and, additionally or alternatively, the change patterns of the wireless signals are taken into account. This means that, advantageously, the stronger of the signals can be selected. More precisely, a weak signal can be used for a greater

A stronger signal can represent a shorter distance to the appliance. Conversely, a stronger signal can represent a shorter distance to the appliance.

Furthermore, the procedure can include a step of capturing the sensor data under

Use of the sensor unit includes an optical sensor, a time-of-flight sensor, and a time-of-flight sensor.

It can be a sensor or a radar unit. For example, the optical

The sensor could be designed as a camera, which can advantageously already be used in the household appliance for other functions, for example. This would advantageously avoid increased costs and save on the required installation space.

Device components are kept compact.

In the receiving step, a wireless signal can be used to...

A Bluetooth connection can be established between the mobile device and the household appliance if the wireless signal is emitted by the known mobile device.

The signal is represented. This can advantageously reduce costs, since

Bluetooth is a common pairing method between devices.

Furthermore, the procedure can be a step in reading device data from the mobile device.

The device responds to the wireless signal. Furthermore, the method can include a

The step of comparing the device data with the sensor data includes, in order to...

To be able to compare the user's movement patterns. Advantageously, this allows...

Comparing the data allows for a correlation of the data, which can advantageously provide double assurance that the correct user has been identified.

Furthermore, the approach presented here creates a control unit that is designed to...

To carry out, control, or implement the steps of a variant of the procedure presented here in appropriate facilities. This variant also allows for the implementation of...

An invention in the form of a device can solve the problem underlying the invention quickly and efficiently.

The control unit can be configured to read input signals and process them under

Using the input signals to determine and provide output signals.

An input signal can, for example, be a sensor signal readable via an input interface of the control unit. An output signal can be a control signal or a

Represent a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control unit. The control unit can be configured to process the output signals under

To determine the use of a processing instruction implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control unit may comprise a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and may be implemented as a discrete component or comprised of a discrete component.

A computer program product or computer program with i5 program code that is on a machine-readable medium or storage medium such as a is also advantageous.

It can be stored in semiconductor memory, a hard disk storage device, or optical storage. If the program product or program is stored on a computer or a

Control unit executed, so the program product or program for execution,

Implementation and/or control of the steps of the procedure according to one of the embodiments described here may be used.

Furthermore, a household appliance is presented, in particular a hot beverage vending machine, which has a sensor unit for capturing sensor data representing the movement of a user in a defined environment of the household appliance and a distance between the user and the household appliance, as well as a receiver unit for receiving a

wireless signal, which represents a signal emitted by a mobile device in the vicinity of the household appliance, and a control unit in a previously mentioned

Variant.

Although the described approach is based on a household appliance, the approach described here can be used accordingly in connection with a commercial or professional device.

According to one embodiment, the household appliance can have a display device for

Display a greeting message. The display device can advantageously be configured as a

The display could, for example, be designed as a touch-sensitive display.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a

household appliance; 5 Figure 2 a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for

Operating a household appliance; and

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a control unit.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a

Household appliance 100. Household appliance 100 is designed as a beverage dispenser. Household appliance 100 has a sensor unit 102 for detecting

Sensor data. The sensor unit 102 is designed to detect the movement of a user 104 in a defined environment 106 of the household appliance 100 and the distance 108 between the user 104 and the household appliance 100, and to express this data in the form of

to provide sensor data. Furthermore, the household appliance 100 has a receiver unit ı5 110, which is designed to receive a wireless signal 112 from a mobile device.

The terminal device 114 emits a signal in the vicinity 106 of the household appliance 100. Furthermore, the household appliance 100 has a control unit 116, which is configured to execute a procedure for

To control and/or carry out the operation of the household appliance 100 in corresponding units, as is described in more detail, for example, with reference to Figure 2.

For example, the household appliance 100 also has a display unit 116 for

Displaying a greeting. The display unit 118 is implemented, for example, as a touch-sensitive display.

According to this embodiment, another user 120 is shown, who also has another mobile device 122. According to this, the other user 120 is

In this embodiment, the mobile device 122 is arranged outside the area 106 sensed by the sensor unit 102. However, the additional mobile device 122 transmits another wireless signal 124, which can be received by the receiver unit 110 of the household appliance 100 when the additional user 120 is detected in the area 106. According to this

In this embodiment, a further distance 126 between the additional user 120 and the household appliance 100 is greater than the distance 108 between the user 104 and the

Household appliance 100.

In other words, the described approach provides a robust

User identification (104) enables automatic personalization of display content based on the fusion of sensor and wireless standard data. This involves sensor fusion of data from the wireless standard (BLE) and distance data from the devices. Therefore, suitable sensors in the devices are required. User 104 is identified if they are carrying the mobile device 114, for example, their mobile phone, and if this device has previously been paired with the household appliance 100, preferably via Bluetooth bonding.

Robust identification, enabled by sensor data fusion from device data

This improves this condition and thus enables automatic personalization of the devices.

According to this embodiment, it is possible for the user 104 to already be using the

When the household appliance 100 is woken from standby, it is identified. This directly sets a stored user profile for user 104, and the user is optionally identified by name.

And personal settings are welcomed. For this purpose, user 104, for example, moves towards the household appliance 100, which is in standby mode. Even at a distance, the

The movement of user 104 is detected by the distance sensor, described here as sensor unit 102, of the household appliance 100, for example, using motion react. At this point, the household appliance 100 searches for known Bluetooth devices 114, 122 belonging to users 104, 120 in the immediate vicinity. Using Bluetooth bonding technology, known devices 114, 122 should automatically establish a connection when they are nearby. If multiple users 104, 120 are detected, the household appliance 100 attempts to identify the correct device based on signal strength and change patterns.

Signal strength is used to establish a correlation between the Bluetooth data and the distance data. If the distance data and the data history match one of the users (104, 120), this user is identified by their Bluetooth ID, greeted, and their profile is displayed.

User 104 selected household appliance 100. If no user 104, 120 should be selected.

If the data history matches, a general greeting is displayed and no user profile is selected, for example because the user 104 is known to the device 100, but does not have a mobile device 114 with them at that time.

In principle, this approach can also be extended to other wireless standards, such as WLAN. Additionally or alternatively, the approach can also be used during normal operation of the

Household appliance 100 conceivable. Furthermore, optionally, to further increase the

Robustness of sensor data in the mobile device 114, 122, which, for example, is generated by a

The data recorded by the accelerometer can also be read out via the active Bluetooth connection and correlated with the movement pattern from the distance data.

Typically, only one of the users (114, 120) is in the room and in the Bluetooth-

Range, so that the differentiation or identification of user 114 is relatively easy

If, for example, one of the users 104 or 120 is incorrectly identified because several users are in the same room, user 104 can directly change their user profile. Furthermore, this approach is not limited to optical time-of-flight sensors but can also be used with other sensor technologies, such as...

Radar, implement.

Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 200 for

Operating a household appliance, as described, for example, in Figure 1.

Procedure 200 comprises a step 202 of receiving, a step 204 of the

Transferring, a further step 206 of receiving and a step 208 of the

Setting. In step 202 of the receiving process, sensor data is received via an interface to a sensor unit of the household appliance, whereby the sensor data represents the movement of a user in a defined area of the household appliance and a distance between the user and the household appliance. In step 204 of the transfer process, the

Household appliance switching from a standby to an active state, responding to the user's response

Sensor data is transferred. This allows the household appliance 100, for example, to be converted from a

The appliance is woken from standby mode. In the next step, 206, the receiving process, a wireless signal is received, representing a signal emitted by a mobile device in the vicinity of the appliance. This wireless signal could be, for example, a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signal. In step 208, the setting process, a user profile assigned to a known user is configured to respond to the wireless signal, if the

A wireless signal represents a signal emitted by a mobile device known to the household appliance, which is assigned to the known user.

For example, in step 208 of the setup process, a greeting is displayed on a

The appliance's display is shown. This greeting is addressed to the known user, for example, and is therefore personalized if the user has been identified.

If, on the other hand, the user was not identified, a general

A greeting is displayed on the screen.

According to this embodiment, the method 200 also includes a step 210 of the

Acquisition of sensor data using the sensor unit, which acts as an optical sensor.

The sensor is designed as a time-of-flight sensor or as a radar unit.

For example, in step 206 of the receiving process, a Bluetooth connection is established between the mobile device and the household appliance using the wireless signal if the wireless signal represents a signal transmitted by the known mobile device. In the further step 206 of the receiving process, for example, in addition to the wireless signal, another wireless signal is received, which is transmitted by another mobile device in the vicinity of the household appliance.

Signal represented. Consequently, optionally in step 208 of the setup, an additional user profile assigned to a known user is selected, responding to the further

Wireless signal is disabled if the additional wireless signal represents a signal emitted by another mobile device known to the household appliance and assigned to that known additional user, and if the additional wireless signal is a larger

The procedure 200 optionally includes a step 212 comparing the signal strengths and/or change patterns of the wireless signals. This means, for example, that the stronger signal is selected, as it is assumed to be closer to the household appliance. The procedure 200 optionally includes a step 212 comparing the signal strengths and/or change patterns of the wireless signals.

Method 200 further includes a step 214 of reading device data from the mobile 11 terminal responding to the wireless signal, as well as a step 216 of comparing the

Device data is combined with sensor data to reconcile the user's movement history.

This allows, for example, checking for a correlation of the data, so that also a

Signal stability and reliability are improved, ensuring that the correct user is actually identified. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit 116, as described, for example, in Figure 1. The control unit 116 is designed to control and/or execute a method for operating the household appliance, as described, for example, in Figure 2. The control unit 116 comprises a

The receiver unit 110, a transfer unit 300, and a setting unit 302 are installed.

Receiver unit 110 is designed to transmit sensor data 304 via an interface to a

to receive sensor unit 102 of the household appliance, whereby the sensor data 304 a

Movement of a user in a defined environment of the household appliance and a

The distance between the user and the household appliance is represented. The receiving unit 110 is further configured to receive a wireless signal 112, which represents a signal emitted by a mobile device 114 in the vicinity of the household appliance.

Furthermore, the control unit 116 includes the transfer unit 300, which is designed to transfer the household appliance from a standby state to an active state in response to sensor data 304. The setting unit 302 is designed to select a user profile assigned to a known user in response to the

To set wireless signal 112, if wireless signal 112 is from one of the

Household appliance known mobile device 114 emitted signal represents the signal assigned to the known user.

Claims (11)

Patent claims 1. Method (200) for operating a household appliance (100), wherein the method (200) comprises the following steps: receiving (202) sensor data (304) via an interface to a sensor unit (102) of the household appliance (100), wherein the sensor data (304) represent a movement of a user (104) in a defined environment (106) of the household appliance (100) and a distance (108) between the user (104) and the household appliance (100); transitioning (204) the household appliance from a sleep state to an active state in response to the sensor data; receiving (206) a wireless signal (112) representing a signal emitted by a mobile terminal (114) in the environment (106) of the household appliance (100); Setting (208) a user profile assigned to a known user (104) responsively to the wireless signal (112) when the wireless signal (112) represents a signal emitted by a mobile device (114) known to the household appliance (100) and assigned to the known user (104). 2. Method (200) according to claim 1, wherein in step (208) of setting a greeting is displayed on a display device (118) of the household appliance (100). 3. Method (200) according to claim 2, wherein in step (208) of setting up a greeting directed to the known user (104) is displayed on the display device (118) if the user (104) has been identified, and/or wherein in step (208) of setting up a general greeting is displayed on the display device (118) if the user (104) has not been identified. 4. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (206) of receiving a further wireless signal (124) is received, which represents a signal transmitted by a further mobile device (122) in the vicinity of the household appliance (100), wherein in step (208) of setting a further user profile assigned to a known further user (120) is set responsively to the further wireless signal (124), if the further wireless signal (124) represents a signal transmitted by a further mobile device (122) known to the household appliance (100), which is associated with the known further user (120). is assigned, and if the additional wireless signal (124) has a greater signal strength and/or change pattern than the wireless signal (112). 5. Method (200) according to claim 4, comprising a step (212) of comparing the signal strengths and/or change patterns of the wireless signals (112, 124) with each other. 6. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (210) of acquiring the sensor data (304) using the sensor unit (102) which is configured as an optical sensor, as a time-of-flight sensor or as a radar unit. 7. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (206) of receiving, a Bluetooth connection is established between the mobile device (114) and the household appliance (100) using the wireless signal (112), if the wireless signal (112) represents a signal transmitted by the known mobile device (114). ı5 8. Method (200) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (214) of reading device data from the mobile device (114) responding to the wireless signal (112), comprising a step (216) of comparing the device data with the sensor data (304) to compare a movement history of the user (104). 9. Control unit (116) configured to perform and/or control the steps (202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216) of the method (200) according to any of the preceding claims in corresponding units. 10. Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, when the computer program product is executed on a control unit (116) according to claim 9. 11. Household appliance (100), in particular a hot beverage vending machine, comprising the following features: a sensor unit (102) for acquiring sensor data (304) representing a movement of a user (104) in a defined environment (106) of the household appliance (100) and a distance between the user (104) and the household appliance (100); a receiving unit (110) for receiving a wireless signal (112) representing a signal emitted by a mobile terminal (114) in the environment (106) of the household appliance (100); and a control unit (116) according to claim 9.