Adaptive Mobile Interface for Context-Aware HVAC Building Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building control systems, such as HVAC systems, lack a user-friendly mobile interface that adapts to user behavior and location, leading to a suboptimal remote control experience.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a mobile device with a processor and memory to store user actions and data, identifying patterns in user interactions and geo-locations to dynamically adjust the display of building control information, enhancing user experience by presenting relevant controls and information based on user behavior and location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mobile interface for building control systems is provided, then remote control capability is improved, but the interface does not adapt to user behavior and location leading to suboptimal user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidinterface adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile interface dynamically adapts its displayed controls and information based on the user's current geo-location and detected usage patterns. The system transitions from a static interface to one that automatically reconfigures itself, showing different building controls (HVAC, lighting, security) depending on where the user is located and what they have previously interacted with, thereby improving ease of operation without requiring manual customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops by continuously monitoring user actions and geo-locations, analyzing these inputs to identify patterns, and then using this analyzed information to automatically adjust the interface presentation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the interface to learn from user behavior and progressively improve its adaptability, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If building control information is displayed remotely, then accessibility is improved, but information relevance to user context is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote accessibilityVSAvoidcontextual information relevance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by tailoring the displayed building control information to the user's specific contextual needs based on their geo-location. Instead of providing a generic comprehensive interface, the system selectively presents controls and information most relevant to the user's current location (e.g., showing HVAC controls when near the building, security controls when at a remote location), thereby maintaining remote accessibility while preventing loss of contextual information relevance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively analyzing user patterns and predicting what information will be most relevant before the user even requests it. By pre-processing user behavior data and geo-location information to identify patterns, the system can anticipate user needs and prepare contextually relevant information in advance, ensuring that when the user accesses the interface remotely, they immediately see the most pertinent controls and data without having to search through irrelevant information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If user actions and geo-locations are tracked to personalize interface, then interface customization is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface customizationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically performing the customization work without requiring explicit user configuration. It autonomously tracks user actions and geo-locations, analyzes patterns itself, and generates personalized interface configurations automatically. This self-service approach enables high interface adaptability while minimizing the complexity burden on the user, as the system handles the complex pattern recognition and customization logic independently based on observed behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3240243B1Mobile device for building control with adaptive user interface
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3240243B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3240243B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3240243B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless device may be used to communicate with and control one or more components of an HVAC system from a remote location. The wireless device may be configured to display building control information on the display of the wireless device, wherein the building control information that is displayed may be adapted based, at least in part, on an identified pattern of user actions with the wireless device. The identified pattern may be at least partially based on user actions with associated geo-locations, times, and/or other conditions. The information that is to be displayed on the display of the wireless device may be determined based, at least in part, on a current time, a current geo-location of the wireless device, or other current condition in view of the identified pattern in user actions.