Atmosphere Control Interface Access by User Role and Control Level

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current atmosphere creation systems face challenges such as complex and unreliable controller solutions, unfriendly user interfaces, high installation costs, and lack of access control, making it difficult for retailers to maintain a consistent brand image across stores.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with multiple user interfaces, each tailored to a specific control configuration, and using access control codes to restrict access based on user position, experience, and status, allowing authorized personnel to access and control atmosphere creation systems securely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive control of lighting parameters is provided to create desired atmospheres, then atmosphere creation capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatmosphere creation capabilityVSAvoidcontroller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user interface into multiple levels (basic and advanced) with different control configurations. The basic level provides simplified atmosphere selection, while the advanced level provides comprehensive parameter control. This segmentation allows the system to offer full functionality while presenting simplified interfaces to appropriate user groups, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive control capability and perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a single user interface is provided for all users, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to unauthorized access and confusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface implementation simplicityVSAvoiduser access control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic user interface configuration based on user authentication and authorization levels. The system dynamically adapts the interface complexity and available functions according to the logged-in user's role (e.g., basic user vs. administrator). This dynamic adaptation allows a single physical interface to serve multiple user needs securely, improving ease of operation without requiring multiple physical interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If remote controls are provided for different areas, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to confusion and misuse by personnel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearea-specific control accessVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms including user authentication before accessing control functions, authorization level verification, and logged access tracking. The system provides feedback to users about their access permissions and confirms actions before execution. This feedback loop prevents unauthorized access and misuse while maintaining ease of operation for authorized users, thereby improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If multiple user interfaces with different control configurations are provided, then ease of operation is improved for different user groups, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser-specific interface customizationVSAvoidinterface management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal user interface platform that can dynamically configure itself based on user authorization levels. Rather than creating separate physical interfaces for different user groups, the system uses a single multi-functional interface that adapts its configuration, available functions, and complexity based on the logged-in user's role. This universal approach provides user-specific customization while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple separate interface systems.

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

Data Source

PatentUS9959400B2Controlling the access to a user interface for atmosphere control with an atmosphere creation system
Publication Date: 2018.05.01 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • US9959400B2 patent drawing
  • US9959400B2 patent drawing
  • US9959400B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to accessing user interfaces for atmosphere controlling, particularly to comfortably accessing dedicated user interfaces of a complex atmosphere control system. A basic idea of the invention is to provide several user interfaces, each of which is provided for a certain control configuration for atmosphere control with an atmosphere creation system and to control the access to the user interfaces. In an embodiment of the invention, a system for controlling the access to a user interface for atmosphere control with an atmosphere creation system (10), which is provided to create atmospheres in an environment, is provided, wherein the user interface access control system comprises—several user interfaces (12), wherein each use interface is provided for a certain control configuration for atmosphere control with the atmosphere creation system, —several access control codes (14, 16), wherein each access control code is assigned to one of the several user interfaces, and —user interface access control means (18, 20) being adapted to receive an access control code and to access the user interface assigned to the received access control code.