Air Conditioner User Detection for Secure Voice Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioning systems lack a user-friendly method for users to easily operate and acquire information about the air conditioning equipment, especially when using voice input, as they often require additional steps to verify user identity and access operational information.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning system equipped with a detector, transmitter, and control unit that detects user actions, such as hand movements or voice commands, and transmits relevant information to a mobile terminal, allowing users to access and control the air conditioner's operation through a mobile app, while ensuring security through face recognition and terminal authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice input is used to operate air conditioning equipment, then operation simplicity is improved, but user verification and information access become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidverification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines voice recognition with camera-based face recognition and mobile terminal communication into a unified authentication and operation system. The detector captures both voice commands and facial images, the control unit processes both inputs together for verification, and the transmitter sends consolidated information to the mobile terminal, resolving the contradiction by integrating multiple functions into a cohesive system that maintains simplicity while enhancing security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary between the user and the air conditioning system. After voice and face verification, the system transmits operation information and equipment status to the mobile terminal, which then serves as the interface for the user to complete operations. This intermediary approach simplifies the direct interaction complexity while maintaining secure verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If conventional remote controller is used, then information access is improved, but operation convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides multi-functional access through the mobile terminal that combines information display (like a remote controller) with voice-based operation commands. The detector captures user actions including voice commands and gestures, the control unit interprets these diverse inputs, and the transmitter sends relevant information to the mobile terminal. This universal interface allows users to access information conveniently while operating through simple voice commands rather than manual remote controller navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical remote controller with a voice-based control system supported by mobile terminal communication. Instead of requiring physical manipulation of a remote controller, users can issue voice commands that are captured by the detector, processed by the control unit, and executed by the air conditioning system, with information feedback provided through the mobile terminal. This substitution eliminates the need for manual remote handling while maintaining full operational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If user face recognition is implemented, then security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges face recognition functionality into the existing air conditioning control system by integrating the camera detector and image recognition algorithms with the control unit. The detector captures facial images, the control unit processes these images for verification against stored user information, and the transmitter communicates verification results to the mobile terminal. This integration approach enhances security while avoiding the need for a completely separate biometric system, thereby managing complexity through consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple terminals are supported, then user accessibility is improved, but information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal accessibilityVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides universal access across multiple mobile terminals by storing user information and terminal identifiers in the control unit's storage. When a user approaches with any registered terminal, the detector captures the face, the control unit verifies against stored data, and the transmitter sends information to the appropriate terminal. This multi-functional design allows the system to handle multiple terminals and users through a unified verification and communication process, managing information complexity through centralized data management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4024332B1Air conditioning system and method for providing information using air conditioning system
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4024332B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4024332B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP4024332B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For equipment operation, voice input is an easy input method, but fails to enable input while checking operable items and equipment information like input with use of a remote controller. An air conditioning system (1) includes an indoor unit (11), a detector (2), a transmitter (3), and a control unit (4). The detector (2) detects a user action toward the indoor unit (11). The transmitter (3) transmits first information on the indoor unit (11) to a user terminal (9). When the detector (2) detects the user action, the control unit (4) causes the transmitter (3) to transmit the first information to the user terminal (9).