Environment Controller for Concurrent BLE Climate Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing environment control systems struggle to manage concurrent Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) requests from multiple user devices for modifying the same environmental characteristic, leading to inefficiencies and disruptions.

Innovation Solution

An environment controller with a processing unit that receives and processes concurrent BLE requests from multiple user devices through BLE proxy devices, generating commands for controlled appliances to manage these requests effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the environment control system receives multiple concurrent BLE requests from multiple user devices, then the system responsiveness and user interaction capability are improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of managing concurrent requests increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a request management module as an intermediary component that receives, queues, and processes concurrent BLE requests from multiple user devices. This mediator handles the complexity of concurrent request management centrally, allowing the environment controller to maintain simple individual request processing logic while supporting multiple simultaneous users without increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic request prioritization and processing mechanisms that adapt to the current system state and request characteristics. The request management module dynamically adjusts processing order based on request type, urgency, and current environmental conditions, enabling the system to efficiently handle varying numbers of concurrent requests without fixed complex routing logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system processes multiple concurrent BLE requests simultaneously, then the user interaction capability is improved, but the risk of conflicts and operational disruptions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidoperational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The request management module performs preliminary validation, conflict detection, and resolution before requests are executed. It pre-processes concurrent requests to identify potential conflicts in environmental parameter adjustments and resolves them according to predefined rules, preventing operational disruptions before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the request management module continuously monitors the execution state of environmental control commands and adjusts pending requests accordingly. When conflicts are detected during execution, the system provides feedback to requeue or modify conflicting requests, maintaining operational reliability while supporting multiple user interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If wireless communication protocols are used instead of wired connections, then the ease of deployment and installation is improved, but the reliability and stability of communication may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of deploymentVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The environment controller is designed with multi-functional communication capabilities, supporting both wired and wireless communication protocols. This universality allows the system to deploy wireless BLE communication for ease of installation while maintaining the option to use more reliable wired connections when needed, without requiring separate system designs for each communication type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12520382B2Environment controller and method for controlling an environmental characteristic in an area based on concurrent BLE requests

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 DISTECH CONTROLS

AI summary

Environment controller and method for controlling an environmental characteristic in an area of a building based on concurrent BLE interactions. The environment controller receives a plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values originating from a plurality of BLE enabled user devices. At least one of the plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values is forwarded from one of the BLE enabled user devices to the environment controller via a BLE enabled proxy device. At least one of the plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values is received by the environment controller directly from one of the BLE enabled user devices. The environment controller applies an algorithm to generate one or more command for controlling at least one controlled appliance based on the plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values. Examples of concurrent environmental characteristic target values include target temperatures, target humidity levels, target CO2 levels, target lightning levels, etc.