Occupant Feedback Control for Responsive Building Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems face challenges in ensuring that environmental conditions within buildings are responsive to occupant comfort, as it is difficult to measure or simulate comfort levels accurately and occupants may lack a frictionless means to provide feedback on conditions such as temperature, humidity, and cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize internet-enabled devices, such as smartphones, to detect occupants and solicit feedback through a notification message, assign weighting factors to the feedback, and modify building conditions accordingly, allowing for real-time adjustments to improve comfort and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large building control systems (HVAC, fire detection, video surveillance) are used to control environmental conditions, then the degree of control over building conditions is improved, but the responsiveness to actual occupant environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where occupants provide environmental condition feedback through mobile devices, and this feedback is processed by the building control system to automatically adjust environmental conditions. The system solicits feedback from occupants about their comfort levels and uses this information to modify HVAC settings, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual occupant needs rather than relying solely on predetermined schedules or manual thermostat adjustments.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional building management systems are used, then system stability is maintained, but the ability to measure and respond to occupant comfort levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediaries between occupants and the building control system. These devices enable occupants to provide feedback about their comfort levels without requiring direct integration with the building's infrastructure. The mobile devices act as mediators that capture occupant preferences and transmit this information to the control system, which then processes the feedback and makes appropriate environmental adjustments.
3Loss of energy
If automated control systems are implemented, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to adapt to individual occupant preferences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control that adapts environmental conditions based on real-time occupant feedback rather than relying on static predetermined schedules. The system continuously solicits feedback from occupants and adjusts environmental conditions dynamically to match actual needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize energy efficiency by adjusting conditions based on actual occupancy and comfort requirements rather than maintaining fixed settings throughout the day.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method for controlling the environmental conditions of a building in accordance with feedback from the occupants of the building is provided. The method includes detecting, by one or more processors, an occupant within a building space, and transmitting, by the one or more processors, a notification message to an occupant device associated with the occupant. The notification message includes a request to provide occupant feedback. The method includes receiving, by the one or more processors, an occupant feedback message from the occupant device. The occupant feedback message includes one or more quality ratings associated with one or more building conditions. The method includes assigning, by the one or more processors, a weighting factor to the occupant feedback message and performing an action to modify at least one of the building conditions responsive to the weighted occupant feedback message.