Environment controller and method for controlling an environmental characteristic in an area based on concurrent BLE requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environment control systems in buildings are not designed to manage concurrent Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) requests from multiple user devices for modifying environmental characteristics, such as temperature or humidity, leading to inefficiencies in controlling environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
An environment controller with a processing unit and communication interface that receives and processes concurrent BLE requests from multiple user devices through a BLE proxy device, generating commands for controlled appliances to adjust environmental conditions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If environment control systems use traditional wired communication or basic wireless protocols, then system reliability is maintained, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional wired mechanical connections with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. The environment controller and controlled appliances communicate via BLE protocols, eliminating the need for physical wiring infrastructure while maintaining communication reliability. This substitution reduces installation complexity and cost while preserving system functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If environment control systems accept concurrent requests from multiple BLE user devices, then user satisfaction and adaptability improve, but system complexity and request management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a request management mechanism that acts as an intermediary between multiple BLE user devices and the environment controller. This mechanism receives, queues, and processes concurrent requests systematically, resolving conflicts between competing requests and ensuring orderly execution. The intermediary layer manages request priorities and coordinates responses, reducing the complexity burden on the core control system while enabling multi-user access.
3Ease of manufacture
If wireless communication protocols are used for environment control devices, then ease of installation and device portability improve, but communication reliability and data transmission stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology which provides multi-functional capabilities including reliable data transmission, low power consumption, and wide device compatibility. BLE's universal adoption across smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices ensures stable communication while maintaining ease of wireless installation. The protocol's designed redundancy and error handling mechanisms preserve communication reliability without requiring complex additional infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Environment controller and method for controlling an environmental characteristic in an area of a building based on concurrent BLE requests. The environment controller receives a plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values originating from a plurality of BLE enabled user devices. The plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values is forwarded from the plurality of BLE enabled user devices to the environment controller via one or more BLE proxy device. The environment controller applies an algorithm to generate one or more command for controlling at least one controlled appliance based on the plurality of concurrent environmental characteristic target values. The environment controller further transmits the one or more command to the at least one controlled appliance. Examples of concurrent environmental characteristic target values include target temperatures, target humidity levels, target CO2 levels, target lightning levels, etc.