Floor Plan Air Conditioner Control With Touch Airflow Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control systems for home devices require complex operation steps and do not effectively allow for unique control operations of various home electric appliances, such as air conditioners, beyond simple ON/OFF or brightness adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A control method for an information apparatus that displays a floor plan with device icons overlaid, allowing users to select an air conditioner icon to access an operation screen showing air flow direction, enabling intuitive control of air flow direction by touching the screen and generating corresponding control commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing remote control systems are used to control air conditioners, then basic ON/OFF and brightness adjustments can be performed, but complex control operations become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional one-dimensional linear arrangement of control buttons into a two-dimensional floor plan display. Device icons are positioned according to their actual spatial locations in the room, allowing users to visually locate and select devices by dragging from their positional icons rather than searching through linear menus. This dimensional transformation significantly reduces the time and cognitive effort required to locate and control devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic visual feedback that changes according to user interaction. When a user hovers over or drags from a device icon, the system dynamically displays relevant control options and device status information. The floor plan view dynamically updates to show selected devices and their control interfaces, making the control process more adaptive and efficient.
2Loss of information
If device icons are displayed on a floor plan, then device location identification is improved, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor plan display serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a room layout visualization, a device location map, a device selection interface, and a control navigation system. By making the floor plan multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate interface elements, thereby managing complexity while providing comprehensive device location and control information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control interface by displaying different device types (air conditioners, illumination devices, etc.) as distinct icons at their respective locations on the floor plan. Each device icon can be independently selected and controlled, allowing users to focus on one device at a time while maintaining awareness of the overall room layout and other devices.
3Productivity
If touch-screen control is implemented, then operational speed is improved, but the risk of erroneous operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements immediate visual feedback when users interact with device icons. When a user hovers over, taps, or drags from a device icon, the system provides visual confirmation through highlighting, displaying device status indicators, and showing available control options. This feedback mechanism ensures users can verify their intended action before execution, reducing erroneous operations while maintaining fast touch-screen responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
In the case where selection of a device icon representing an air conditioner among one or more target devices is sensed in a region corresponding to one room on a floor plan, an operation screen for operating the air conditioner corresponding to the selected device icon, is displayed on a display screen. This operation screen includes an image representing an air flow direction of air output from the air conditioner.