Intelligent user interface apparatus and control method for control of service robots

{
  "publication_number": "US8666545B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Intelligent user interface apparatus and control method for control of service robots",
  "abstract": "Disclosed herein is a user interface apparatus and control method for the control of service robots. The user interface apparatus for the control of service robots includes an interaction server, an index block, and a robot control server. The interaction server receives control commands to control a service robot from a user, analyzes the control commands, and outputs the results of the analysis to the user. The index block determines the degree of difficulty of each of the analyzed control commands. The robot control server determines the operating mode of the service robot depending on the analyzed control command and the degree of difficulty, and controls the service robot in the determined operating mode.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A user interface apparatus for control of service robots, comprising: an interaction server for receiving a control command to control a service robot from a user, analyzing the control command, and outputting a result of the analysis to the user; an index block for determining a degree of difficulty of the analyzed control command; and a robot control server for determining an operating mode of the service robot depending on the analyzed control command and the degree of difficulty, and controlling the service robot in the determined operating mode, wherein the index block comprises a degree-of-difficulty determination module for determining the degree of difficulty of the control command, requested by the user, by applying service time and a service area, required for performance of the control command input from the user, to an artificial intelligence algorithm.",
    "2. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interaction server comprises: a user command analysis unit for analyzing the control command received from the user; and a command performance result output unit for outputting results of performance of the received control command and a degree of satisfaction with the performance of the control command.",
    "3. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the user command analysis unit comprises: a voice analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a voice received from the user; a facial expression analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a facial expression or gesture received from the user in a form of an image; and a keyword analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a character string received from the user.",
    "4. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the command performance result output unit comprises: a work area output module for receiving and outputting data about a work area where the service robot has conducted a service; and a work time output module for receiving and outputting work time for which the service robot has conducted the service.",
    "5. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the robot control server comprises: an operation control unit for selecting one operating mode from among tele-operating mode in which the service robot receives the control command directly from the user and is controlled in compliance with the control command, shared control mode in which the user and the service robot collaborate with each other on work, and full autonomy mode in which the service robot conducts work using a stored program, depending on the degree of difficulty of the control command determined by the index block, and controlling the service robot in the selected operating mode; and a robot control result feedback unit for monitoring a status of the service robot.",
    "6. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the index block comprises a degree-of-user satisfaction calculation module for receiving service time and a service area from the service robot and calculating a degree of satisfaction of the control command, requested by the user, by applying the service time and service area to an artificial intelligence algorithm."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an intelligent user interface apparatus and control method for the control of service robots, and, more particularly, to an intelligent user interface apparatus for the control of service robots which includes a user request analysis module for optimizing the interaction between a robot and a user and a module for numerically analyzing the degrees of satisfaction with services provided by the robot and feeding back analysis results to the user, and an intelligent user interface control method. 2. Description of the Related Art With the progress of computing power to process a machine language and the improvement of a communication environment, research into service robot technology capable of assisting humans to do housework and improving convenience has been widely and actively carried out. Service robots are different from existing industrial robots which conduct standardized and repetitive work, in that the service robots coexist with humans in the same space and make continual relations with general users having no professional knowledge about robots. Accordingly, the importance of research into interfacing and interaction between humans and service robots has been increasing more and more.\n\nResearch into user interfacing was accelerated by an input device which appeared in the 1980s.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25J 13/00",
    "B25J 13/003",
    "G06F 13/10",
    "G06F 9/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 19/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "JEON JAE WOOK",
    "SONG TAE HOUN",
    "JUNG SOON MOOK",
    "JUNG HYUN UK",
    "KIM MYUNG JIN",
    "UNIV SUNGKYUNKWAN FOUND"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "JEON JAE WOOK",
    "SONG TAE HOUN",
    "JUNG SOON MOOK",
    "JUNG HYUN UK",
    "KIM MYUNG JIN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-09-16",
  "publication_date": "2014-03-04",
  "grant_date": "2014-03-04",
  "priority_date": "2009-09-18",
  "application_number": "US-88385010-A",
  "family_id": "43757331",
  "citations": [
    "JP2000006068A",
    "KR20090030144A",
    "US2006173577A1",
    "US2010139995A1",
    "US6076025A"
  ]
}