Method and apparatus for adjusting the timing of a heating system and/or a home automation timing system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern heating and home automation systems that rely on presence detection often result in a cold apartment upon arrival, as they only heat the space after the occupant arrives, leading to inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A method that predicts the expected arrival time and destination by analyzing historical travel data and intermediate destinations, allowing for the adjustment of the heating system's time program to ensure the space is heated before the occupant arrives, using a mobile computing device to determine the expected trip and set the time program accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the heating system is activated only after presence detection (smartphone WiFi connection or GPS proximity), then energy consumption is reduced by heating only when occupants are present, but the apartment arrives cold and comfort is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating by predicting the occupant's return time based on historical travel data and smartphone location information. The heating system is activated in advance of the predicted arrival time, ensuring the apartment is warm when the occupant returns, while avoiding continuous heating to reduce energy consumption.
2Ease of operation
If the heating system is activated in advance based on predicted arrival time, then comfort upon arrival is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary heating
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating schedule based on real-time smartphone location data and predicted arrival time. The time program is automatically modified to activate heating only when needed, balancing comfort requirements with energy efficiency by making the heating control adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from smartphone location tracking and historical travel patterns to continuously refine arrival time predictions. This feedback loop allows the heating system to be activated at optimally timed intervals, ensuring comfort while minimizing energy waste from premature or excessive heating.
3Ease of operation
If continuous heating is provided to ensure warmth, then comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system implements periodic heating cycles based on predicted occupancy patterns. The heating is activated in periodic intervals aligned with predicted arrival times and deactivated during confirmed absence periods, maintaining comfort during occupancy while significantly reducing energy consumption during unoccupied periods.
Data Source
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Figure 2b~3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (10) for setting a time program (12) of a heating system (14) and/or a time program (12) of a home automation system - for example, a smart home system - by predicting an expected arrival time (24) and an expected destination depending on a next intermediate destination, in particular by means of a mobile computing device.The invention also relates to a computer program configured to perform all steps of a method (10) according to the present invention, a machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to the present invention is stored, and a mobile computing device, in particular a smartphone (18), with a transmitter for sending data to a heating system (14) and/or to a home automation system - for example, a mobile communication modem (50), wherein the mobile computing device is configured by a corresponding integrated circuit and/or a computer program stored in a memory according to the present invention to perform a method according to the present invention.