Method, device, and server for unlocking air conditioning unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioning units often malfunction or suffer irreversible damage due to incorrect debugging or maintenance by non-authorized operators lacking professional training, leading to quality issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that verify the identity of operators through a server-based system, ensuring only authorized personnel can unlock and maintain air conditioning units by using a communication module for data interaction between the unit, a mobile terminal, and a server, which sends unlocking instructions only after verifying the operator's identity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the air conditioning unit is unlocked for debugging and maintenance, then the unit can be serviced and adjusted, but non-authorized operators may cause malfunctions or irreversible damage due to lack of professional training

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility for maintenanceVSAvoidmaintenance quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an authorization server as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the air conditioning unit. The server verifies operator credentials and controls the unlocking process, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the unit for maintenance while maintaining a secure verification layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identity verification and authorization checks before allowing the air conditioning unit to be unlocked. The mobile terminal obtains authorization tokens from the server in advance, and the unit verifies these tokens before enabling maintenance mode, preventing unauthorized access before it can cause damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If identity verification is implemented through a server-based system, then only authorized operators can maintain the unit, but the complexity of the system increases due to additional communication modules and verification protocols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator authorizationVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal serves multiple functions: it acts as an authorization client, stores security tokens, communicates with the air conditioning unit, and manages the unlocking process. The authorization server also handles multiple tasks including credential verification, token generation, and authorization management, reducing the need for separate dedicated components

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the air conditioning unit reports its status and verification results to the mobile terminal and server. The server provides feedback on authorization status, and the unit provides feedback on whether the operator is authorized, creating a closed-loop verification system that enhances reliability without requiring proportional increases in complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3531664B1Method, device, and server for unlocking air conditioning unit
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3531664B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3531664B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3531664B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method for unlocking an air conditioning unit, including: when a server receives first identity information and unit information from a mobile terminal, performing a verification of the first identity information based on the unit information; and sending an unlocking instruction to the air conditioning unit corresponding to the unit information when the first identity information is verified, such that the air conditioning unit performs an unlocking operation based on the unlocking instruction. The present disclosure also provides a device for unlocking an air conditioning unit and a server. The present disclosure realizes unlocking the air conditioning unit when the first identity information is verified, thus ensuring that the current operator (user) is an authorized operator, and thus further avoiding problems that the air conditioning unit still have malfunctions and that irreversible damages are caused to the air conditioning unit in maintenance due to the operator lacking of professional training, wrong debugging or maintenance methods, inaccurate reason analysis, and the like, and ensuring quality of the air conditioning unit.