Methods and systems for controlling appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Building Management Systems (BMS) face issues with poor sensor placement, inaccurate feedback, lack of flexibility to accommodate individual preferences, and inability to adapt to dynamic changes in sensor and actuator deployments, especially in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) environment.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system and method that detects climate parameter values from multiple sensors, analyzes these values to determine a subset of sensors influenced by the climate control device, and adjusts its operation accordingly, using unsupervised machine learning to identify suitable pairings and implement self-defining policies without centralized coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional centralized BMS is used to control climate infrastructure, then the system can orchestrate operation of sensors and actuators according to predefined policies, but the system suffers from poor sensor placement mapping, inability to adapt to dynamic changes, and high infrastructure costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized BMS into multiple independent smart appliances, each capable of autonomous decision-making. Each appliance segments the control function and operates independently based on its own sensors and predefined policies, eliminating the need for a complex centralized control infrastructure while maintaining coordinated climate control across the building.
Solution Approach 2:
Each smart appliance serves itself by autonomously monitoring its local environment through integrated sensors and adjusting its operation based on predefined policies. The appliances self-organize into a decentralized network, eliminating dependency on centralized coordination and enabling automatic adaptation to dynamic changes in the building environment.
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are placed remotely from climate control devices to monitor broader areas, then coverage is improved, but the mapping between sensors and actuators becomes poor leading to incorrect control decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor and climate control appliance into a single integrated unit. The temperature sensor is placed within or adjacent to the climate control device, ensuring that the sensor monitors the immediate environment where the appliance has direct influence. This merging eliminates the mapping problem between remote sensors and actuators while maintaining adequate coverage through the distributed network of appliances.
Solution Approach 2:
Each smart appliance focuses on controlling its local environment rather than attempting to control distant areas. The sensor monitors temperature in the immediate vicinity of the appliance, and the appliance adjusts operation based on this local feedback. This local quality approach ensures accurate measurement-actuation pairing while the collective distribution of appliances provides broader overall coverage.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized BMS maintains uniform temperature across all zones, then climate control is simplified, but individual occupant preferences are not accommodated leading to wasted energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building into multiple independent climate zones, each controlled by its own smart appliance. Each appliance independently monitors its local temperature and adjusts operation based on its own sensors and predefined policies, allowing different zones to operate at different temperatures according to local needs rather than enforcing uniform temperature across the entire building.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to changing local conditions in each zone. Each smart appliance continuously monitors its environment and adjusts operation in real-time based on current temperature, occupancy patterns, and predefined policies. This dynamic local control allows the system to respond to individual zone requirements while maintaining overall building climate management.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to improve monitoring coverage, then measurement accuracy improves, but the system becomes less flexible in adapting to new sensors and actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal platform where each smart appliance can work with multiple types of sensors and actuators through standardized communication protocols and interfaces. The appliances are designed to be agnostic to specific sensor types, allowing new sensors and actuators to be integrated into the system without requiring changes to the core control logic or infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each smart appliance autonomously discovers and adapts to the sensors and actuators in its local environment. The appliances self-configure based on available components and continuously learn from sensor data to optimize operation. This self-service capability enables the system to automatically adapt to new sensors and actuators as they are added to the building.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to methods and systems for controlling appliances, particularly climate control appliances such as air conditioning units used in buildings. Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems which provide a framework of semi-autonomous sensors and actuators which can achieve climate control without the need for centralised or explicit coordination. In certain embodiments, the climate control system is capable of identifying suitable pairings of sensors and actuators and taking into account actions of other actuators. The embodiments have particular application in buildings where large numbers of individual sensors and actuators are deployed in an ad-hoc or unplanned manner over time, but can communicate with each other. The embodiments of the invention can provide improved efficiency, reduced infrastructure costs, improved flexibility and can be deployed across multiple sites.