Home Device Control Using Activity Spaces Across Multiple Rooms

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home control systems manage devices by room units, which is impractical for households where multiple rooms function as a single activity space, leading to complex manual settings and a need for automated optimal management units based on resident lifestyle.

Innovation Solution

A control system that acquires device disposition and performance records to create new activity spaces by combining rooms based on device activity patterns, generating relevance information for collective and individual device control, allowing for automatic optimization of device management according to user activity styles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If devices are managed by room units, then device control is simplified and structured, but it becomes impractical when multiple rooms function as a single activity space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management convenienceVSAvoidadaptability to user activity patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically creates activity spaces by combining multiple rooms based on device operation records and user behavior patterns. The activity space configuration is not fixed but adapts automatically according to actual usage data, allowing the management structure to evolve with changing user needs and lifestyles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device preliminarily analyzes device operation records and disposition information to identify potential activity spaces before user manual configuration is needed. By pre-processing the data and automatically proposing activity space combinations, the system prepares optimal management configurations in advance, reducing the need for complex manual settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If activity spaces are created by combining multiple rooms, then device control adapts to user lifestyle, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user activity patternsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs self-service by automatically analyzing device operation records and disposition information to create activity space configurations without requiring complex manual user input. The system autonomously identifies patterns in device usage and proposes appropriate activity space combinations, reducing the burden on users while managing system complexity internally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes feedback from device operation records to continuously refine and optimize activity space configurations. By monitoring how devices are actually used and comparing this with the current activity space structure, the control device automatically adjusts configurations to better match user behavior patterns, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual settings are used for activity spaces, then user customization is possible, but the setting process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidtime for manual configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs self-service by automatically analyzing device operation records and disposition information to create activity space configurations without requiring complex manual user input. The system autonomously identifies patterns in device usage and proposes appropriate activity space combinations, reducing the burden on users while maintaining customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control device preliminarily analyzes device operation records and disposition information to identify potential activity spaces before user manual configuration is needed. By pre-processing the data and automatically proposing activity space combinations, the system prepares optimal management configurations in advance, reducing the need for complex manual settings and saving user time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230375992A1Control system, computer-readable recording medium, and control method

Publication Date: 2023.11.23 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An acquiring part acquires disposition information and record information indicative of performance record of each of a plurality of devices. The disposition information includes a relevance between identification information of each of a plurality of rooms and identification information of each of the devices disposed in each room. A space creating part creates a new space by combining two or more of the rooms on the basis of the disposition information and the record information acquired by the acquiring part. A device control part generates relevance information indicative of a relevance between identification information of the new space and identification information of two or more devices included in the new space among the devices. A display part notifies, on the basis of the relevance information, at least one of collective control information for collectively controlling the two or more devices and individual control information for individually controlling the two or more devices.