Indoor comfort control system and method with multi-party access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor comfort control systems, such as HVAC and humidity regulation systems, face complexity issues that hinder multi-party access and remote operation, requiring extensive setup and repair procedures, often necessitating professional intervention.
Innovation Solution
An indoor comfort control system with a processing unit, display device, user input device, and wireless transceiver that connects to the Internet via a cloud server system, allowing third-party access with authentication and time-limited access via an access token, enabling remote configuration and control through a third-party communication device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the indoor comfort control system uses multiple wireless communication protocols and software interfaces to enable remote access, then the system's adaptability and remote control capability are improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the indoor comfort control system and third-party devices. The gateway handles authentication, connection management, and protocol translation, allowing the thermostat to maintain simple local operation while enabling complex remote access through a standardized interface. This resolves the contradiction by isolating the complexity in the gateway rather than in the thermostat itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the thermostat (simple control device), the gateway (communication and authentication hub), and third-party devices (remote access interfaces). This segmentation allows each component to have specialized, simplified functionality while the overall system achieves high adaptability through their coordinated interaction.
2Reliability
If the system requires authentication and connection management for third-party access, then the security and reliability are improved, but the ease of operation and setup time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication setup during the initial configuration phase. The gateway pre-establishes trusted device identifiers and authentication credentials before third-party access is needed. When a third-party device attempts to connect, the authentication is automatically performed using pre-configured credentials, making the security process transparent to the end user while maintaining strong security.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway automatically manages authentication and connection establishment without requiring manual intervention for each access request. The system self-verify device credentials, manages connection states, and handles authentication tokens automatically, reducing the operational burden on users while maintaining security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the thermostat directly handles multiple connection requests from different devices, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of repair worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of managing multiple device connections, authentication protocols, and communication standards. The thermostat itself maintains simple, standardized interfaces, making it easier to repair and replace without dealing with complex multi-protocol integration issues. The gateway handles all the adaptability requirements while isolating the thermostat from complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor comfort control system for controlling an indoor comfort system includes a microprocessor, a display, wireless transceiver and a specialized control system computer program. The control is accessible over the Internet via the transceiver. The control is diagnosed and configured by a third-party operating a third-party communication device. The control communicates with the third-party communication device over the Internet. The multi-party access is granted by a principal of the control, and communicated to the third-party communication device by a cloud server system. The control receives connection requests and commands from the third-party communication device over the Internet. The control further communicates responses to the third-party communication device over the Internet. The connection can be timed out based on an access time limit set by the principal. The date and time of the multi-party access is configured by the principal via the principal communication device and the cloud server system.