Collective Device Control Suggestions for High-Cost Facility Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when individually operating multiple devices due to high operation costs, such as time and effort, especially when frequent or repetitive operations are required, and existing solutions do not provide effective collective control for purposes other than energy saving.
Innovation Solution
A control method that acquires operation information on groups of operations performed on multiple devices, calculates an operation cost based on factors like time, labor, and movement distance, and generates suggestion information for collective control when the cost exceeds a predetermined value, allowing users to opt for simultaneous control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual control of multiple devices is performed using respective switches, then device control functionality is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates due to high operation cost including time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual device operations into a single collective control operation. The control device groups multiple devices and allows users to control them simultaneously through one operation, merging what would otherwise require multiple separate switch operations into a single action, thereby reducing operation time and improving convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The control device provides universal control capability across multiple different devices. Instead of requiring device-specific switches, a single control device can operate multiple devices with different functions, making the control system multi-functional and reducing the need for multiple specialized control elements
2Ease of operation
If individual control of multiple devices is performed using respective switches, then device control functionality is achieved, but operation complexity increases due to multiple operation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control operations into a single collective control command. By grouping devices and enabling simultaneous control through one operation, the system reduces the number of operation steps from multiple individual switch operations to a single unified action, simplifying the control process
3Use of energy by moving object
If collective control suggestion is provided based on electric power saving advice, then energy efficiency is improved, but applicability to other purposes deteriorates due to limited scope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the collective control suggestion system beyond energy saving to multiple purposes including convenience improvement and operation simplification. The system evaluates operation costs based on multiple criteria such as time, effort, and frequency, enabling collective control suggestions for various scenarios not limited to power consumption optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters from solely energy consumption to multiple parameters including operation time, effort, and frequency. This parameter expansion allows the system to provide collective control suggestions based on diverse criteria, making the system adaptable to different application scenarios beyond just energy efficiency
4Productivity
If frequent operations are performed on multiple devices, then device functionality is utilized, but operation cost increases due to repetitive actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges repetitive individual operations into collective control actions. When multiple devices require frequent operations, the system groups them and enables simultaneous control, reducing the total operation time from multiple separate actions to fewer unified operations, thereby improving productivity without increasing time cost
Data Source
AI summary
A control method by an information processing apparatus includes: acquiring operation information on a group of operations continuously performed to a plurality of devices disposed in a facility; calculating an operation cost required to perform the group of operations indicated by the operation information; generating, in a case that the operation cost is larger than a predetermined value, suggestion information indicative of a suggestion for performing collective control of the group of operations indicated by the operation information to the devices; and outputting the suggestion information.