Knocking-Based Device Control Using AI
Summary
The European Patent Office published patent application EP4492375A1 by Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd. and Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. for a knocking-based device control method using artificial intelligence. The invention enables users to control smart home appliances through custom knock patterns detected by audio sensors and processed by machine learning algorithms.
What changed
The EPO published patent application EP4492375A1 for an AI-powered knocking-based device control system developed by Haier. The patent covers methods and apparatus for detecting knock patterns via audio sensors, classifying them using neural network algorithms, and executing corresponding device commands for smart home applications including washing machines. The application lists IPC classifications in AI/machine learning (G06N), audio processing (G10L), and human-computer interaction (G06F), with designated states covering most EU member states plus other EPC contracting states.
This is a patent publication notice with no immediate compliance obligations for other entities. Companies developing similar gesture or knock-based control interfaces should review this patent to assess potential freedom-to-operate implications or consider whether their existing IP portfolios may conflict. No regulatory deadlines, filing requirements, or penalties are associated with this notice.
Archived snapshot
Apr 2, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
KNOCKING-BASED DEVICE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
Publication EP4492375A1 Kind: A1 Mar 25, 2026
Applicants
Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
Inventors
DING, Xiaopeng, HUANG, Zhenxing, XU, Sheng
IPC Classifications
G06F 3/01 20060101AFI20260218BHEP G06F 3/16 20060101ALI20260218BHEP G06F 18/24 20230101ALI20260218BHEP G06N 3/09 20230101ALI20260218BHEP G10L 15/26 20060101ALI20260218BHEP G10L 25/51 20130101ALI20260218BHEP G10L 25/30 20130101ALN20260218BHEP
Designated States
AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, ME, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR
Named provisions
Related changes
Get daily alerts for EPO Patent Bulletin - AI & Computing (G06N)
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from EPO.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when EPO Patent Bulletin - AI & Computing (G06N) publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.