Architectural Covering Proximity Detection for Accurate Remote Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In structures with multiple architectural structure coverings, users face difficulty in determining the target covering for remote control due to the challenge of identifying correct pairings between user devices and coverings, leading to inefficient interaction and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a user device to detect nearby coverings based on signal strength, generating and displaying an ordered list of user interface elements for operational control, allowing users to directly interact with and control coverings without needing to move between them, thereby reducing trial and error and overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually identify and pair user devices with architectural structure coverings in structures with multiple coverings, then control functionality is achieved, but user interaction becomes difficult and inefficient due to the challenge of determining the target covering
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines proximity between the user device and architectural structure coverings using signal strength measurements, eliminating the need for manual pairing or identification. The coverings self-identify their proximity status to the user device, and the system automatically generates the ordered list based on this information, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring active user intervention for pairing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors signal strength between the user device and coverings, providing real-time feedback about proximity. This feedback is used to dynamically generate and update the ordered list of coverings, allowing users to see which coverings are currently nearest and adjust the list accordingly. The feedback loop ensures the control interface remains synchronized with the actual spatial relationships.
2Reliability
If users move back and forth among multiple coverings to identify control pairings, then correct control associations are established, but time is lost and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and pre-organizes the ordered list of coverings based on their proximity to the user device before the user needs to control them. By determining signal strength and generating the sorted list in advance, the system eliminates the need for users to manually test and identify control pairings during the control process, saving both time and energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically moving among coverings to identify pairings with an electronic signal strength-based proximity detection system. Instead of mechanical trial-and-error interaction, the system uses wireless signal measurements to automatically determine spatial relationships and generate the appropriate control interface.
3Reliability
If users repeatedly signal between user device and coverings to identify correct pairings, then control associations are confirmed, but power consumption increases especially in battery-powered systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically maintains and updates the ordered list of coverings based on continuous proximity monitoring, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly initiate signaling to confirm pairings. The system self-manages the control associations based on signal strength measurements, reducing the frequency and intensity of communication cycles between the user device and coverings.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discrete, repeated signaling attempts to confirm pairings, the system implements continuous proximity monitoring that maintains an up-to-date ordered list. This continuous background operation is more energy-efficient than repeated active signaling cycles because it uses lower-power monitoring modes and only triggers full control sequences when actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining proximity of architectural structure coverings. A user device receives a broadcast signal from each of a plurality of architectural structure coverings. An ordered list of the plurality of the architectural structure coverings is then maintained based on the broadcast signal. At least a portion of the ordered list is displayed on a display of the user device.