User identity in household appliances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12135535-B2
Application number	US-202117365274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

A system of household appliances is configured to provide services according to user identity. The system includes a first appliance, a server or other network device, and a second appliance. The first appliance is configured to collect sensor data associated with an identity of a user. The server or other network device is configured to receive the sensor data from the first appliance and analyze the sensor data to determine the identity of the user. The second appliance is configured to provide a device function to the user based on the identity determined from the sensor data collected by the first appliance.

First claim

We claim:

1. A network device for use in a bathroom, the network device comprising:
a data collection interface in communication with a mirror and configured to receive sensor data from the mirror, the sensor data being configured to identify a user of the mirror;
a memory unit configured to store information in a user profile to identify the user, a user configuration for a water consuming appliance, and a user configuration for an auxiliary device;
a processor in communication with the data collection interface and the memory unit, the processor configured to analyze the sensor data identifying the user received from the mirror;
the processor configured to access a user database using the identity of the user from the sensor data received from the mirror for a user configuration for the water consuming appliance, the processor configured to generate a first command for the water consuming appliance in response to the analysis of the sensor data identifying the user;
the processor configured to access the user database using the identity of the user from the sensor data received from the mirror for a user configuration for an auxiliary device, the processer configured to generate a second command for the auxiliary device in response to the analysis of the sensor data identifying the user; and
a data output interface in communication with the water consuming appliance and the auxiliary device, the data output interface configured to send the first command to the water consuming appliance and the second command to the auxiliary device.

2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the user configuration for the water consuming appliance is based on season, weather, time of day, or day of week in combination with the identity of the user.

3. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the processor instructs the memory unit to create a new user profile associated with the sensor data if the user identified is not stored in the memory unit.

4. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the water consuming appliance is a programmable shower, a bathtub level device, a toilet, or a sink faucet.

5. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the user configuration for the water consuming appliance includes a shower sequence including a sequence of predetermined intensities for a shower spray, a predetermined sequence of different shower heads, a set of temperatures, or a pattern of a spray.

6. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the bathtub level device comprises at least one of an automated drain, and an automated faucet, and
wherein the user configuration is at least one of a predetermined level or depth of water, a predetermined temperature, or a predetermined range of temperatures.

7. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the toilet provides at least one of automatic opening, closing, or flushing.

8. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the user configuration for the water consuming appliance is for at least one of lid or ring orientations.

9. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the user configuration includes at least one of a predetermined volume of water, a predetermined temperature of water, or a predetermined flow velocity of water.

10. The network device of claim 4 , wherein the data collection interface is in communication with the water consuming appliance and the processor is configured to analyze sensor data from the water consuming appliance to determine common user behaviors for the programmable shower, bathtub level device, toilet, or sink faucet; and
wherein the processor is configured to adjust the user configuration for the water consuming appliance in response to the user behaviors.

11. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device is the mirror.

12. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device is a light source, a speaker, a vibration device, or a cleaning system.

13. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data, by a data collection interface, the sensor data being received from a mirror and the sensor data being configured to identify a user of the mirror;
storing information in a user profile configured to identify the user, a user configuration for a water consuming appliance, and a user configuration for an auxiliary device in a memory unit;
analyzing the sensor data received from the mirror to identify the user by a processor in communication with the data collection interface and the memory unit;
accessing, by a processor, a memory unit using the identity of the user from the sensor data received from the mirror for a user configuration for the water consuming appliance and a user configuration for the auxiliary device;
generating, by a processor, an appliance command for the water consuming appliance and a device command for the auxiliary device; and
sending appliance commands to the water consuming appliance and device commands for the auxiliary device by a data output interface in communication with the processor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the user configuration for the water consuming appliance is based on season, weather, time of day, or day of week in combination with the identity of the user.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the water consuming appliance is a programmable shower, a bathtub level device, a toilet, or a sink faucet.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary device is a light source, a speaker, a vibration device, or a cleaning system.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the user configuration for the water consuming appliance includes a shower sequence including a sequence of predetermined intensities for a shower spray, a predetermined sequence of different shower heads, a set of temperatures, or a pattern of spray.

18. A network device for use in a bathroom, the network device comprising:
a memory unit configured to store information in a user profile to identify a user of a mirror based on sensor data collected by the mirror and the memory unit configured to store a user configuration for a water consuming appliance and a user configuration for an auxiliary device; and
a controller configured to analyze the sensor data identifying the user and to select the user configuration for the water consuming appliance and the user configuration for the auxiliary device using the identity of the user from the sensor data collected by the mirror; the controller further configured to generate and send an appliance command to the water consuming appliance in response to the user configuration for the water consuming appliance selected based on the sensor data collected by the mirror and a device command to the auxiliary device in response the user configuration for the auxiliary device selected based on the sensor data collected by the mirror.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Bradley Jonathan D
• Estiban Marwan
• Rexach Rafael
• Allis Nicole

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• A61B5/4519

  Muscles (measuring muscular strength A61B5/224; using electromyography [EMG] A61B5/389) · CPC title

• A61B5/1113

  Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home · CPC title

• A61B5/4836

  Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/1171

  based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof · CPC title