Geofence-Based Mobile Automation System for Location-Triggered Actions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automation devices and voice control systems are limited to controlling actions within a building and do not effectively manage actions associated with specific geographic areas or scheduled events, lacking the ability to facilitate convenient control and automation outside these boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A system and mobile application that allow users to set up independent geofences on a virtual map, associate actions with these geofences, and initiate voice instructions to a voice services provider when a mobile device crosses these boundaries, enabling control of actions across multiple geographic locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automation devices are limited to controlling actions within a building, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different geographic areas is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the user and the automation devices. The mobile device handles the complex geofence monitoring and location-based triggering, while the automation devices themselves remain relatively simple. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve geographic adaptability without significantly increasing the complexity of the core automation devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates geofences that can be associated with multiple independent geographic locations, allowing a single automation device or system to perform multiple functions across different locations. The geofence mechanism serves as a universal solution that can trigger different actions based on which geographic boundary is crossed, providing versatility without requiring location-specific hardware modifications.
2Ease of operation
If voice control devices are made portable, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of voice command processing is worsened due to potential connectivity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures geofences and associates them with specific actions or voice instructions before the user actually needs them. When the mobile device crosses a geofence boundary, the system automatically triggers the pre-configured action or voice instruction. This eliminates the need for real-time voice processing in potentially unreliable portable environments, as the actions are predetermined and automatically executed based on location triggers.
3Ease of operation
If continuous voice commands are required for controlling actions, then ease of operation is worsened, but productivity is improved through precise control
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the mobile device's location data to automatically trigger actions without requiring continuous user input. The geofence mechanism monitors the device's position and automatically initiates the associated action when a boundary is crossed. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous voice commands while maintaining precise control over when actions are executed, improving both ease of operation and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile application executable on at least one mobile device for associating actions with a plurality of independent geographic locations and a system for implementing the actions are provided. The system and mobile application carry out a method including the steps of configuring a graphical user interface to include a map and requesting the user to select a designated pin location. The system includes a main controller configured to communicate with the at least one mobile device and initiate the actions based on the location of the at least one mobile device relative to the plurality of independent geographic locations. At least one database is in communication with the main controller and accessible to the mobile and away services module for storing data related to the actions associated with the plurality of independent geographic locations and the at least one mobile device.