One of Samsung's latest granted patents covers an invention that relates to using a future Galaxy Watch to control home devices with wrist gestures that could turn the channel on a user's TV, turn on a washer or dryer, raise or lower air conditioning or heater temperatures all with a simply gesture while wearing their watch.
While the focus of the patent is definitely on a future Galaxy Watch being able to interpret wrist gestures from a user, Samsung also lists other applications that could one day use the same technology, such as a smart ring, smart glove, smart bracelet or smart apparel such as a jacket.
Samsung notes when functioning in the remote mode, the wearable device will recognize the gesture needed to wirelessly transmit a signal to a specific home device to execute.
The Galaxy Watch will comprise a control unit and an acceleration measurement module on at least three different axes, the control unit being configured to identify, using the acceleration data from the acceleration measurement module, a command gesture carried out by the user carrying the portable device and obtain, from said command gesture, an order to control the device.
The control unit is additionally configured to detect a trigger signal executed by the user prior to the command gesture being carried out and, from said detection, start identification of the command gesture.
The trigger signal, preferably a gesture, may include additional information, and in particular: device selection information that serves the control unit in order to determine the device to which the order is directed; and/or device function information that serves the control unit in order to determine the function of the device to which the order is directed.
Samsung's patent FIG. 4 below shows a general diagram of the algorithm implemented in the future Galaxy Watch; FIG. 19A shows a trigger signal being carried out via a gesture to select the television as the device to be controlled. FIG. 19B shows a command gesture subsequently carried out to change the television channel.
Samsung patent FIG. 21A bellow shows a trigger signal being carried out via magnetometer to select the washing machine as the device to be controlled. FIG. 21B shows a command gesture subsequently carried out to turn on the washing machine.
Samsung notes that the trigger to execute a command could be from an arm gesture with the watch, to tap the display of the watch or to use voice commands or any combination thereof.
The Galaxy Watch could also work with custom in-air gestures such as a user drawing a circle or square in the air or drawing a letter on the display to control commands.
The Galaxy Watch will be able to work with a wide range of wireless networks including WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi direct (WFD), ultra-wideband (UWB), infrared data association (IrDA), Bluetooth low energy (BLE), and near field communication (NFC).
Samsung originally filed for this invention back on 2015 and it was granted by the U.S. Patent Office earlier this year. It's interesting to note that all of the inventors were from Samsung Madrid Spain.
Two of the inventors listed on the patent include Francisco José Calvo Fernández who works as both R&D Project Lead Manager and Bixby Lead in Madrid Spain; and Jose Francisco Sanchez, Galaxy Trainer / Samsung Mobile.
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