Mobile Control Unit Geolocation Key Selection Home Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home automation systems lack a simple and secure method to control multiple home automation installations using a mobile control unit, such as a mobile phone or key fob, across different networks, without the need for multiple remote controls or complex key management.

Innovation Solution

A mobile control unit that successively forms part of multiple home automation installations, each with its own network, uses geolocation and automatic key selection to authenticate and control equipment, sharing a common key between the control unit and the installations, allowing secure and user-friendly operation across different networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user wants to control multiple home automation installations across different networks, then the control capability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and key management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidkey management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile control unit is designed to control multiple home automation installations across different networks by storing multiple common keys and automatically selecting the appropriate key based on geolocation. This allows a single device to perform multiple control functions for different installations without requiring separate remote controls for each network.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic key selection based on the mobile control unit's geolocation. The control unit automatically determines which common key to use by comparing its current location with stored location data of different installations, eliminating the need for manual key selection or complex user intervention in key management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If geolocation and automatic key selection are implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the use of energy and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores geolocation data and common keys for multiple installations in the mobile control unit during setup. When controlling equipment, the unit automatically compares its current location with stored location data to identify the target installation, eliminating the need for real-time complex authentication or manual key entry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual key selection and complex authentication mechanisms with automated geolocation-based key selection. The mobile control unit uses its location data to automatically determine which common key to use, substituting manual operations with automated spatial-based identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2633506B1Method of operating a mobile control unit of a home-automation installation
Publication Date: 2015.03.25 SOMFY SAS
  • EP2633506B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2633506B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP2633506B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Method of operating a mobile control unit intended to form successively and alternately part : of a first home-automation installation, and of a second home-automation installation, characterized in that it comprises: a step of locating the mobile control unit in relation to the first home-automation installation and/or in relation to the second home-automation installation, a step of automatically selecting a common key in the mobile control unit, according to the result of the locating step.