Multi-User Air Conditioner Control Using Personal Terminal Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-user environments, it is challenging to simultaneously optimize the comfort level for all users in a room using a single remote controller for an air conditioner, as individual temperature preferences often lead to conflicting settings, resulting in discomfort for some users.
Innovation Solution
A control device system that allows multiple users to set personal temperatures through connected terminal devices, which a setting control device optimizes by determining the optimal air conditioner settings based on individual preferences and positions within the room, using a temperature estimation model to minimize the difference between personal set temperatures and estimated zone temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single remote controller is used to control the air conditioner, then the device complexity is reduced, but the comfort level for multiple users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into multiple independent terminal devices, each associated with a specific user. Each terminal can independently set temperature preferences, and the control device segments the control functionality by user rather than using a single shared remote controller. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simplicity at the individual user level while achieving multi-user adaptability through system-level segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed to handle multiple terminal devices and multiple user profiles universally. It can process temperature settings from any connected terminal, store multiple user preferences, and dynamically adjust air conditioner operations to satisfy multiple users simultaneously. This universal design allows one control device to serve multiple users with different preferences, improving adaptability without requiring separate control systems for each user.
2Ease of operation
If one user adjusts the remote control to improve their comfort, then their comfort level is improved, but the comfort level for other users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring temperature settings from multiple terminals and adjusting air conditioner operations based on aggregated user preferences. When one user adjusts their terminal, the system receives feedback about this change and automatically compensates by considering other users' stored preferences, ensuring that individual comfort adjustments do not negatively impact others. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by making the system responsive to individual actions while maintaining overall multi-user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing temperature preferences for multiple users before conflicts arise. When users connect their terminals, their preferred temperatures are saved in advance. This allows the control device to proactively adjust settings based on predicted user needs rather than reactively responding to conflicts. By preparing multiple user profiles beforehand, the system can quickly resolve comfort issues without requiring users to constantly adjust the remote control, thereby improving both ease of operation and multi-user adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple terminal devices are introduced for each user, then the adaptability for multiple users is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves as an intermediary between multiple user terminals and the air conditioner. Rather than having each terminal directly control the air conditioner (which would create complexity), the intermediary control device receives commands from multiple terminals, processes them according to stored user preferences, and sends unified control signals to the air conditioner. This intermediary architecture improves multi-user adaptability while containing device complexity by centralizing the coordination logic in a single control device rather than distributing it across multiple terminals.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a control device for an air conditioner which is communicably connected to first and second terminal devices to be used by first and second users is provided. The control device includes a processor. The processor configured to receive a first personal set temperature which is a temperature set by the first user by operating the first terminal device, receive a second personal set temperature which is a temperature set by the second user by operating the second terminal device, and determine a set value of the air conditioner based on the first personal set temperature and the second personal set temperature.