In-Wall Gateway Pairing for Virtual Amenity Control and Geolocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hospitality lodging industry faces challenges in providing enhanced convenience and safety through easy-to-use platforms that seamlessly integrate with room amenities, lacking efficient automation solutions.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device with multiple wireless transceivers, a processor, memory, and physical ports, integrated into an in-wall housing, enables pairing with proximate wireless-enabled devices for virtual remote control of amenities and incorporation into a geolocation and safety network, providing convenience and safety features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional remote control with high functionality is provided, then control capability is improved, but cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the existing simple remote control and the hotel room amenities. The gateway, installed in the room wall, receives commands from the simple remote control and translates them into appropriate control signals for various amenities (lights, TV, AC, etc.). This mediator approach allows the remote control to remain simple while achieving high functionality through the gateway's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables guests to use their own personal electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) as remote controls through wireless connectivity to the gateway. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the hotel to provide expensive high-functionality remote controls, as guests leverage their own devices' processing power and interfaces while the gateway handles the amenity control translations.
2Ease of operation
If automation features are added to enhance convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as an intelligent intermediary that handles the complexity of automation logic. It receives simple commands from the remote control or guest devices and automatically manages the coordination of multiple amenities, timing sequences, and control translations. This concentrates the automation complexity in the gateway while keeping the user interface simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple control functions and automation capabilities into a single gateway device installed in the room. The gateway integrates control for lights, temperature, entertainment, and other amenities, along with automation features like scene settings and timed operations. This consolidation places all complexity in one centralized device rather than distributing it across multiple remote controls or devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If expensive high-functionality remote controls are provided, then control capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device provides universal control capability for all room amenities through a single device. Instead of requiring separate expensive remote controls for different functions (lights, AC, TV, etc.), the gateway handles all these functions through one installation point. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized remote controls, reducing overall system cost while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows guests to use their own personal electronic devices as copies of the remote control function. Through wireless connectivity to the gateway, guests can control amenities using their smartphones, tablets, or laptops. This copying approach eliminates the need for the hotel to purchase and maintain expensive proprietary remote controls, as guests leverage their own devices' existing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway device and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within an in-wall housing, which also interconnectedly includes a processor, memory, various physical ports and wireless transceivers. To improve convenience, the gateway device may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the gateway device may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network.