Intelligent Controller Time-to-Target Prediction for Smart Thermostats
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Intelligent controllers lack the ability to continuously, periodically, or intermittently calculate and display the time remaining until a control task is completed, which is essential for effective management and optimization of controlled environments, such as smart-home systems.
Innovation Solution
The development of intelligent controllers that employ multiple models to predict the time remaining until specific parameters or characteristics in a controlled region or volume reach desired values, using data collected over time to calculate and display this information, with specific examples demonstrated in the context of an intelligent thermostat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If intelligent controllers display continuously updated information about controlled regions and control tasks, then information completeness is improved, but information display capability and user awareness of task progress remain insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer (prediction algorithms and time-to-target calculations) between the raw sensor data and the user interface. This intermediary processes continuous region data and control task status to generate meaningful time projections, transforming incomplete raw information into actionable insights that enhance user awareness without requiring complete system state knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of time-to-target state before the control task actually completes. By predicting future states and calculating remaining time in advance, the system provides users with proactive information about task progress and completion estimates, improving user awareness before the actual task completion occurs.
2Measurement precision
If intelligent controllers use multiple models to predict time remaining until target state, then prediction accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the prediction problem into multiple independent models, each handling different aspects of the control task (e.g., thermal models for temperature-related tasks, kinetic models for motion-related tasks). This segmentation allows the system to apply appropriate complexity only where needed, improving overall prediction accuracy while managing computational load through modular, specialized models rather than a single complex unified model.
Data Source
AI summary
The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that continuously, periodically, or intermittently calculate and display the time remaining until a control task is projected to be completed by the intelligent controller. In general, the intelligent controller employs multiple different models for the time behavior of one or more parameters or characteristics within a region or volume affected by one or more devices, systems, or other entities controlled by the intelligent controller. The intelligent controller collects data, over time, from which the models are constructed and uses the models to predict the time remaining until one or more characteristics or parameters of the region or volume reaches one or more specified values as a result of intelligent controller control of one or more devices, systems, or other entities.