Alarm Template Segmentation for HVAC Notification Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for alarm and notification generation in HVAC units are inflexible, making it difficult for administrators to alter pre-configured alarm set points and threshold values without accessing and modifying the system's instructions, limiting customization and user-specific notifications.

Innovation Solution

A computing device with a processor and memory executes instructions to generate an alarm template with custom threshold values and notification settings, allowing administrators to customize alarm and notification generation by combining pre-configured and custom settings, enabling flexible threshold value adjustments and user-specific notifications without altering the system's instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-configured alarm set points are used in the system, then the system can generate notifications when devices fail or are likely to fail, but it becomes difficult for users to generate additional performance thresholds or alter existing ones without modifying system instructions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice failure detectionVSAvoidthreshold customization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm set points are segmented into two distinct groups: pre-configured alarm set points that cannot be altered, and additional alarm set points that users can generate and modify. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable pre-configured thresholds while enabling user customization through additional thresholds, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to handle multiple types of alarm set points universally - both pre-configured and user-generated additional set points serve the same notification function. The notification generation mechanism works with any alarm set point from either category, making the system multi-functional in terms of threshold sources while maintaining consistent operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If the system includes pre-configured alarm set points that are difficult to alter, then alarm notifications can be generated automatically, but user-specific customization and flexible threshold adjustments become limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic notification generationVSAvoidthreshold modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing alarm set points into pre-configured (automatic, non-alterable) and additional (user-generated, modifiable) categories, the system maintains automatic notification generation for critical thresholds while allowing easy modification of user-specific thresholds, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The additional alarm set points act as an intermediary layer between the rigid pre-configured thresholds and user customization needs. Users can add, remove, or modify additional set points without affecting the pre-configured ones, providing a buffer that enables easy operation while preserving automated functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If administrators cannot alter pre-configured alarm set points, then system stability is maintained, but the ability to tailor responses to specific user needs and system performance deviations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepre-configured settings stabilityVSAvoiduser-specific notification tailoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of alarm set points into immutable pre-configured ones and mutable additional ones allows the system to maintain stability in core functionality while enabling adaptability for user-specific needs. The pre-configured set points ensure system stability, while additional set points provide customization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different alarm set point categories have different qualities: pre-configured set points are fixed and stable, while additional set points are flexible and customizable. This local quality differentiation allows each type to serve its specific purpose - stability for critical thresholds and adaptability for user-specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11328574B2Alarm and notification generation devices, methods, and systems

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Devices, methods, and systems for alarm and notification generation are described herein. One computing device for alarm and notification generation includes a processor configured to identify a plurality of alarm set points for a system, wherein the plurality of alarm set points are threshold values for the system, generate an alarm template for the system, wherein the alarm template includes additional threshold values (e.g., special points, etc.) for the system, generate a rule data structure that includes the plurality of alarm set points for the system and the additional threshold values for the system, generate a first notification when a value for the system meets or exceeds an alarm set point of the plurality of set points, and generate a second notification when the value for the system meets or exceeds the additional threshold values of the alarm template for the system.