IoT HVAC Personalization via Occupancy Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems in larger homes or commercial buildings often service the entire space regardless of occupancy, leading to inefficient heating and cooling as they do not account for personalized user preferences or varying occupancy across different areas.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses IoT devices and machine learning to track user preferences and location within a structure, optimizing environmental conditions such as temperature, lighting, and sound based on user presence and preferences, through a networked computer environment that interacts with HVAC systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HVAC systems service the entire square footage of newer homes, then the entire space is heated or cooled, but energy is wasted in unoccupied areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the home into multiple zones with individual thermostats and occupancy sensors. Each zone is controlled independently based on its own occupancy status, allowing the HVAC system to service only occupied zones rather than the entire home, thus reducing energy waste in unoccupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements different environmental conditions in different zones based on local occupancy and user preferences. Each zone can have customized temperature settings when occupied, while unoccupied zones maintain different or no conditioning, creating local quality variations that match actual usage patterns.
2Reliability
If HVAC systems service the entire space regardless of occupancy, then complete coverage is maintained, but personalized user preferences are not accounted for
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control authority to individual zones and users. Each user can set preferences for their preferred zones, and the system adapts environmental conditions according to these personalized settings when users are present, enabling both complete coverage capability and personalized adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts environmental conditions based on real-time occupancy detection and user preferences. When users are detected in occupied zones, the system activates personalized temperature control; when zones are unoccupied, different settings apply. This dynamic behavior provides both comprehensive coverage and personalization.
3Ease of operation
If environmental conditions are adjusted for every user preference, then user satisfaction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal platform that handles multiple functions through integrated components. A single HVAC system with zone controllers, occupancy sensors, and preference management software provides both comprehensive environmental control and personalized adaptation, reducing overall system complexity compared to separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects occupancy and adjusts environmental conditions based on stored user preferences without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service capability improves ease of operation by eliminating the need for users to constantly adjust settings, while the automation manages the complexity internally.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer system, and a computer program product for environment personalization is provided. The present invention may include initializing a profile of a user. The present invention may include defining a baseline within the profile of the user. The present invention may include tracking a plurality of user data. The present invention may include storing the tracked plurality of user data in a tracked user database. The present invention may lastly include optimizing an environmental condition based on the tracked plurality of user data.