Time-Limited Air Conditioner Remote Access to Block Unauthorized Use
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners installed in spaces where the user and manager do not coincide, such as hotels or rental rooms, can be operated by unauthorized individuals using portable communication terminals, posing security concerns.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner is equipped with a specific information storage component, notification component, command receiving component, and actuator drive component, which stores and notifies operable period information and password information, limiting unauthorized operation by only allowing authorized users to switch the operating state within designated periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioner allows operation via portable communication terminal for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates as unauthorized individuals can operate the device
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication of the portable communication terminal before allowing operation. The control component verifies whether the terminal is authorized to operate the air conditioner, and only permits operation if authentication succeeds. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized operation while maintaining convenience for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
The control component acts as an intermediary between the portable communication terminal and the actuator drive component. It receives operation requests from the terminal, verifies authorization, and only transmits control signals to actuators when authentication succeeds. This intermediary function mediates between ease of operation and security requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioner allows remote operation via portable communication terminal, then adaptability is improved, but security deteriorates allowing operation by vacating persons
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication to verify whether the portable communication terminal belongs to an authorized user before permitting remote operation. This advance verification ensures that only authenticated users can operate the air conditioner remotely, preventing vacating persons from accessing the system while maintaining adaptability for legitimate remote operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control component provides feedback regarding authentication results to the portable communication terminal. When authentication succeeds, the system permits operation; when it fails, operation is blocked. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adaptively respond to operation requests based on security verification, maintaining both remote operation capability and security.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner is installed in a target space. An operating state is switched based on a command sent from a portable communication terminal. The air conditioner includes a specific information storage component, a specific information notification component that gives notification of the specific information to the communication terminal, a command receiving component that receives the command sent from the communication terminal, and an actuator drive component that executes a switching control that switches action of an actuator based on the command received. The specific information includes identification information and operable period information that designates an operable period during which the operating state is switchable by the communication terminal. The actuator drive component does not execute the switching control in response to the command sent from the communication terminal for which the operable period designated in the operable period information of which notification was given has expired.