Home Energy Controller for User-Specific Appliance Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home energy management systems fail to properly control apparatuses based on the activities and presence of individual users, as they do not effectively associate users with the apparatuses they primarily use.

Innovation Solution

An energy management controller that includes a table storage for pre-storing apparatus-room and room-user association tables, a determiner to assess user presence, and an apparatus controller to execute processes based on these associations, allowing for user-specific control of home appliances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the system controls apparatus based on general room occupancy, then energy management is simplified, but user-specific control requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy management operationVSAvoiduser-specific control adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the determination unit continuously monitors user presence status and automatically adjusts apparatus control based on whether the main user is at home or away. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt control strategies to individual user needs while maintaining automated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the apparatus control dynamic by linking it to real-time user presence status. Instead of static control rules, the system dynamically adjusts apparatus operation based on the determined user status, allowing flexible adaptation to changing conditions while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system monitors user presence status continuously, then user-specific control is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser presence-based controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the user presence determination function as a separate determination unit that operates independently from the apparatus control logic. This extraction simplifies the overall system architecture by separating concerns: the determination unit handles status monitoring while the control unit handles apparatus management based on the determined status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the determination unit as an intermediary between user presence monitoring and apparatus control. This intermediary processes the raw presence status information and translates it into meaningful control decisions, reducing the complexity burden on both the monitoring and control components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10838379B2Home energy management and control system, controller, and method based on user occupancy and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A controller stores an apparatus-room association table in which an apparatus installed in a home is associated with a room in the home, and stores a room-user association table in which the room in the home is associated with the user. The controller determines whether the user is inside the home, and updates a user status. When the user status changes, the controller determines the apparatus corresponding to the user whose user status has changed, and controls the determined apparatus to execute a predetermined process based on the apparatus-room association table and the room-user association table.