Multi-User Air Conditioner Interface for Coordinated Setting Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning system remote control systems face issues where earlier operation settings are easily overwritten by later settings, leading to unintended changes, such as children altering parent-set settings without permission.
Innovation Solution
An interface apparatus that communicates with multiple portable terminals and an air conditioner, capable of managing operation settings by selecting one setting change command over others, and requesting justification for changes to ensure coordinated user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple users can remotely control air conditioner settings via portable terminals, then ease of operation and user convenience are improved, but settings made by one user are easily overwritten by another user without permission
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by notifying users of conflicting settings and requiring acknowledgment. When a setting change command is received, the system checks for conflicts with existing settings, notifies the user, and requires user confirmation before applying changes. This feedback loop prevents unintended overwrites while maintaining remote control accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioner acts as an intermediary between multiple portable terminals and the setting control process. It receives setting change commands from multiple users, manages conflicts between different settings, and determines which settings to apply based on predefined rules and user permissions. This intermediary role prevents direct overwriting and ensures controlled setting changes.
2Speed
If later setting commands automatically overwrite earlier settings, then operation responsiveness is improved, but unintended changes by unauthorized users occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively checking setting change commands against existing settings before applying them. It identifies potential conflicts in advance, notifies users of these conflicts, and requires user authorization before allowing changes that would overwrite existing settings. This prevents unauthorized modifications while maintaining responsive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users when their setting change command conflicts with existing settings. It notifies users of the conflict and requires user confirmation or correction before applying the change. This feedback mechanism ensures that setting changes are intentional and authorized, preventing harmful unauthorized modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all setting change commands from multiple portable terminals are accepted, then adaptability and user flexibility are improved, but coordination between users becomes difficult and settings become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner serves as a mediator that coordinates setting changes from multiple portable terminals. It receives setting change commands from different users, checks for conflicts, manages user permissions, and determines which settings to apply. This coordination maintains setting consistency while allowing flexible multi-user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by notifying users when their setting changes conflict with existing or pending settings. It provides information about the conflict and requires user acknowledgment or correction. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated user input while maintaining setting stability and consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
When a first setting change command differs in content from a second setting change command, the first setting change command being acquired from a first portable terminal at a first time point, the second setting change command being acquired from a second portable terminal at a second time point preceding the first time point, an operation setting management unit of an interface apparatus performs: transmitting a request message to the first portable terminal; acquiring a response message from the first portable terminal and transferring the response message to the second portable terminal; and control for acquiring acceptability result information from the second portable terminal and selecting between the first setting change command and the second setting change command as a setting change command to be reflected in an air conditioner based on the acceptability result information.