System and method for managing climate in premises

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional climate control systems in premises fail to automatically adjust to variations in the number of occupants or their preferred climate parameters, leading to inefficient operation and increased costs due to manual input requirements and lack of consideration for cost variations.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses sensors and electronic devices to detect and predict the presence and preferences of occupants, adjusting climate control units based on predicted occupancy and preferences, incorporating weather and cost data to optimize energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional scheduling systems are used to control climate parameters, then the system structure remains simple, but the system cannot automatically adapt to variations in occupancy or preferred climate parameters, requiring manual input and reducing operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to occupancy variationsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects occupancy through sensors and retrieves preferred climate parameters from electronic devices without requiring manual intervention. The computing device autonomously predicts occupancy and adjusts climate settings, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring human operators to continuously adjust settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives signals from detection means about occupancy and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust climate parameters. The computing device processes real-time occupancy data and preferred parameter information to automatically modify climate control settings, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If manual input of climate parameters is required for each occupancy change, then the system remains simple to implement, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to continuous manual intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of climate parameter adjustmentVSAvoidtime for manual parameter input
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects occupancy through sensors and retrieves retrieves preferred climate parameters from electronic devices without requiring manual intervention. The computing device autonomously predicts occupancy and adjusts climate settings, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring human operators to continuously adjust settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system retrieves and stores preferred climate parameters from electronic devices in advance, before occupancy changes occur. By having this information pre-loaded and available, the system can immediately adjust climate settings when occupancy changes are detected, eliminating the need for real-time manual parameter input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional scheduling systems operate climate control units, then energy consumption may be high due to continuous operation, but the reliability of climate provision remains stable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption of climate controlVSAvoidreliability of climate provision
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts climate control operation based on real-time occupancy detection and prediction. Rather than operating on fixed schedules, the climate control unit is activated or adjusted only when occupancy is detected or predicted, creating a dynamic response that reduces energy consumption while maintaining climate reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system predicts future occupancy using historical data and patterns, allowing it to pre-adjust climate parameters before occupants arrive. This preliminary action ensures climate reliability is maintained while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption by not operating the climate control when no occupants are present or expected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system continuously monitors and adjusts climate parameters based on occupancy, then climate comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to occupancy changesVSAvoidcomplexity of detection and control systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional electronic devices that serve both as occupancy detection points and as sources of preferred climate parameters. By making these devices universal - capable of both detecting presence and storing preference data - the system reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors and storage systems, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4467889B1System and method for managing climate in premises
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 CARRIER CORP
  • EP4467889B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4467889B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4467889B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system (100) and method (300) for managing climate in a premises (150) is disclosed. The method includes receiving (302) from a detection means (102, 192), during a plurality of time periods, signals indicative of persons (190) within the premises; extracting (304) from the received signals, identity of the persons within the premises; receiving (306), from the persons, respective preferred parameters for climate in the premises; predicting (308), based on the received signals during the plurality of time periods, a presence of persons in a subsequent time period, the corresponding identities of the persons, and the respective preferred parameters for climate in the premises; and operating (310) a climate control unit (120) of the premises, such that, for the subsequent time period, the climate in the premises substantially corresponds with the respective preferred parameters for climate in the premises, of the persons predicted to be in the premises.