Geoposition-Based Control for Delayed Heating Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Systems subject to delays, such as heating and cooling systems, struggle to immediately adjust to user needs due to physical limitations, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy consumption, as existing geo-zone based control methods poorly predict user arrival times and fail to adapt dynamically to changing needs.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines a user's geoposition and estimates their arrival time to adjust the system state, allowing the system to reach a predetermined presence state upon arrival by specifying a target state based on the system's performance and delay, using geolocation data and travel time calculations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system operates continuously at full power to ensure immediate availability upon user return, then the system is always ready to meet user needs, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by adjusting the operational state in advance based on predicted user arrival time. Instead of maintaining full power continuously, the system calculates when the user will return and pre-adjusts the state to ensure readiness exactly when needed, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during periods when full power is not required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on real-time user location data and predicted arrival time. The control parameter varies continuously as the user approaches, transitioning from low-power standby mode to higher-power pre-conditioning mode, optimizing the balance between availability and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the system adjusts state based on distance from user, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system cannot accurately predict arrival time and thus cannot optimize the timing of state changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidarrival time prediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user location data and using it to update predictions of arrival time. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust the operational state timing dynamically, ensuring that state changes occur optimally timed relative to actual user arrival rather than based solely on distance estimates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameter from static distance-based thresholds to dynamic time-based predictions. By transforming the control logic to use predicted arrival time as the primary parameter, the system can coordinate state changes with actual user needs, improving both energy efficiency and timing accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the system reacts to user presence after arrival, then the control logic is simple, but the system cannot prepare in advance and thus fails to meet user expectations for immediate availability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidsystem readiness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary state adjustments before user arrival by predicting when the user will return. This allows the system to be ready in advance rather than reacting after arrival, meeting user expectations for immediate availability upon return while maintaining reasonable control logic complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2875611B2Method and device for the geoposition-based control of systems affected by delays
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 TADO
  • EP2875611B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2875611B2 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2875611B2 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a system state of a stationary system affected by delays as a function of a variable geoposition of a person, wherein the system is intended to have a predefined presence state when the person arrives at the location of the system. The method comprises a determination of the geoposition of the person; an estimation of a time period needed by the person from the geoposition to the arrival at the location of the system; and a predefinition of a set point to change the current system state, wherein, in order to achieve the state of presence within the estimated time period, the set point is determined as a function of the predefined presence state, the performance capability of the system and the estimated time period. The device comprises analogously conceived means for determining the geoposition, for estimating the time period and for predefining the set point.