Air conditioning system, operation terminal, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dynamic work environments like free-address offices, accurately determining the location of users for air conditioning control is cumbersome due to the inconvenience of manual input or imprecise GPS-based methods, especially in indoor settings with radio reflections.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with multiple air conditioners and an operation terminal that uses radio beacon signals to automatically determine the user's location by measuring signal intensities, allowing seamless control of nearby air conditioners based on user feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual input of location information is used, then location can be specified, but user convenience deteriorates due to troublesome input operations
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device automatically obtains location information by receiving beacon signals from air conditioners and measuring radio wave intensities, eliminating the need for manual user input. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the user's location based on environmental signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical input operations with automatic radio wave-based location detection. The terminal device uses radio communication to receive beacon signals and measure signal intensities, substituting the mechanical act of manual location entry with electromagnetic wave-based automatic detection.
2Ease of operation
If GPS-based three-point surveying is used, then location can be obtained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to multipath propagation in indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacon signals from air conditioners as intermediary objects for location determination. Instead of using GPS satellites that suffer from multipath propagation, the system uses local air conditioners as signal sources, which are positioned within the indoor environment and provide stable reference points for triangulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from satellite-based three-dimensional GPS positioning to indoor two-dimensional location determination using multiple air conditioners as reference points. By changing the dimensionality and reference framework from external satellite signals to internal environmental beacons, the system achieves better precision in indoor settings.
3Reliability
If users must confirm air conditioner settings at their location, then accurate control is possible, but productivity deteriorates due to inconvenient operation flow
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device automatically determines the user's location and identifies the relevant air conditioner before the user needs to operate it. By performing location determination and air conditioner identification in advance, the system prepares the control interface with the correct device already selected, eliminating the need for users to manually search and confirm settings.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and convenient air conditioning control by automatically identifying user locations and adjusting settings based on collective temperature preferences, enhancing user experience in flexible workspaces.
Implementation Method 1
a second radio communication unit configured to receive two or more beacon signals send by two or more air conditioners of the air conditioners
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system having a plurality of air conditioners installed in a predetermined place and an operation terminal to communicate with the air conditioners, wherein each of the air conditioners includes a first radio communication unit to send a beacon signal, the operation terminal includes a local terminal communication unit to receive two or more beacon signals send by two or more air conditioners of the air conditioners; a location presumption unit to presume a current location by using two or more radio wave intensities measured from each of the two or more beacon signals and a last location, the current location being a location in which the operation terminal is currently located, the last location being a location presumed last as a location of the operation terminal.