Gateway Control Device for Multi-Room Activity Space Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home controllers manage devices by room units, which is impractical when multiple rooms are used as a single activity space, leading to complex manual settings and a need for automatic management solutions that optimize device control based on the position of the control device.
Innovation Solution
A control device that acquires disposition and position information, including gateway-adaptation details, to create a second space by combining multiple first spaces and generate relevance information for collective or individual device control, improving user usability by allowing collective or individual control of devices within the combined space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If devices are managed by room units, then device control is simplified within individual rooms, but it becomes impractical when multiple rooms are used as a single activity space
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments device management into two levels: room-level (first space) for individual device control and activity space-level (second space) for collective control. The control device can selectively manage devices based on whether the user wants room-specific or activity space-wide control, resolving the contradiction between simplified control and versatile adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimension to space management by creating a virtual second space that combines multiple physical rooms. This dimensional transition from physical room boundaries to virtual activity space boundaries enables flexible management of multi-room activity spaces while preserving individual room control capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual settings are used for combining multiple rooms, then precise control over activity spaces is achieved, but the complexity of settings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically detects and combines multiple rooms into activity spaces based on sensor data and usage patterns without requiring manual user configuration. This self-service approach reduces setting complexity while maintaining precise adaptability for different activity space configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures activity spaces by automatically combining rooms before user interaction. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to manually configure complex room combinations, reducing operational complexity while preserving adaptability through automatic detection and configuration.
3Measurement precision
If a control device manages only its local room, then control precision is maintained, but it cannot provide overall display and control for the entire activity space
Solution Approach 1:
The control device merges control capabilities across multiple rooms by creating a virtual activity space that encompasses several first spaces. This merging enables the control device to display and control all devices within the activity space collectively while preserving the ability to maintain precise control for individual rooms when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device causes, when being adapted to a gateway, a space creating part to create a second space by combining two or more first spaces on the basis of position information acquired by an acquiring part, a device control part to generate relevance information indicative of a relevance between identification information of the second space and identification information of two or more devices included in the second space among the devices, and a notification part to notify, on the basis of the relevance information generated by the device control part, at least one of collective control information for collectively controlling the two or more devices included in the second space and individual control information for individually controlling the two or more devices included in the second space.