Migration of settings from a non-connected building controller to another building controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HVAC controllers without network connectivity require manual setting transfer during replacement or upgrade, which is time-consuming and error-prone.

Innovation Solution

A method for encoding HVAC controller settings in a machine-readable form on a display, allowing capture and decoding via a remote device to transfer settings to a connected controller, using image processing techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual setting transfer is used for non-connected HVAC controllers, then device compatibility is maintained, but time consumption and error rate increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetting transfer accuracyVSAvoidsetting transfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by displaying controller settings in a machine-readable format (barcode or QR code) that can be captured by an imaging device. This creates a digital copy of the settings data that can be transferred automatically, eliminating manual transcription and reducing both time consumption and errors while maintaining full setting fidelity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of setting transfer with an automated optical system. Instead of manually reading and typing settings, the system uses an display interface with machine-readable encoding that can be captured by a camera or imaging device, substituting mechanical human operation with automated optical capture and digital processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If machine-readable encoding is implemented on display, then setting transfer efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetting transfer speedVSAvoidcontroller interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using a standard display interface that can serve multiple functions: displaying human-readable settings information and generating machine-readable codes. The same display hardware and control logic support both informational display and data encoding functions, avoiding the need for separate specialized components and minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3491785B1Migration of settings from a non-connected building controller to another building controller

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 RESIDEO LLC

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AI summary

A Heating, Ventilation, and/or Air Conditioning (HVAC) controller configured to control at least part of an HVAC system of a building. The HVAC controller may include a user interface and a controller. In response to a selection by a user at the user interface, the controller may assemble and present via the user interface an output that encodes settings in a machine readable form. The controller may display the encoded settings on the display with fixed segments of a fixed segment display. An application program code on a remote device may be utilized to capture the displayed fixed segments that encode the settings in an image. The captured image of fixed segments may be decoded at the remote device or may be sent to a remote computing device for processing and/or decoding.