Interphone Setting Apparatus for Distributed Building Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed interphone systems for apartment complexes, the process of registering control settings for new dwelling or central buildings is labor-intensive and prone to errors due to the need for manual input across multiple devices, increasing the time and effort required for setup and configuration.

Innovation Solution

An interphone system with a setting apparatus that allows access to and copying of control settings from registered devices to unregistered devices, reducing the need for manual input by utilizing accessing, display, and control units to streamline the registration process across various terminal and building controllers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual input of control settings is performed for each device, then individual device configuration can be completed, but the time and effort required increases significantly when multiple devices need to be registered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting accuracyVSAvoidregistration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by enabling the import of control settings from a reference device (another building or dwelling) to a target device. This allows the control contents registered in one device to be copied and applied to multiple devices, significantly reducing the time and effort required for registration while maintaining setting accuracy. The system reads control contents from a reference device and automatically writes them to the target device, eliminating manual re-entry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If control settings are manually input for each device, then complete device configuration is achieved, but the possibility of input errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetting process simplicityVSAvoidsetting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The copying function eliminates manual input errors by automatically transferring control settings from a reference device to the target device. The system reads the control contents from the reference device and writes them to the target device without human intervention, ensuring that the copied settings are identical and error-free.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If a distributed interphone system is used to allow individual building control, then system flexibility and autonomy are improved, but the complexity of registering new devices across multiple buildings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidregistration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a multi-functional setting apparatus that can read from, write to, and manage control settings across different types of devices (building controllers, dwelling controllers, terminal devices) in a distributed system. This universal apparatus simplifies the registration process by providing a single tool that works across the entire distributed system, regardless of device type or location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The copying capability allows control settings to be replicated across multiple buildings and devices in the distributed system. When a new building or dwelling is added to the distributed interphone system, its control settings can be copied from an existing reference device, maintaining system flexibility while simplifying the expansion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3512187B1Interphone system and setting apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 AIPHONE CO LTD
  • EP3512187B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3512187B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3512187B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a distributed interphone system capable of simplifying the setting and registration of devices involved in additional installations or the like. An interphone system (1) is provided with a residential-unit master device (30A), a terminal device, and a building control unit (40A) (devices) each having a setting file in which a control content used for controlling the corresponding device is registered. A setting apparatus (8) is provided with: connection units (81A, 82A) for connecting to at least one of registered setting files and at least one of unregistered setting files of the devices; a display unit (84A) for displaying the control contents of a plurality of setting files of connected devices; and a control unit (85A) configured to be able to copy the control content of a registered setting file displayed on the display unit (84A) to an unregistered setting file.