Systems and methods for managing allotment of rooms based on indoor air quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current room management systems do not consider indoor air quality (IAQ) when allotting rooms, leading to potential health risks for customers due to issues like mold growth and harmful gas concentrations.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize IAQ sensors to detect air quality parameters, trigger control actions such as ventilation or door locking, and generate signals to prevent room allotment until IAQ meets predetermined thresholds, and display time durations for improvement, ensuring safe air quality before allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rooms are cleaned based on pre-set maintenance schedules, then cleaning operations are standardized and manageable, but indoor air quality cannot be ensured and customer health may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindoor air qualityVSAvoidroom management system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of indoor air quality parameters (formaldehyde, TVOC, temperature, humidity) before room allotment to customers. By detecting and evaluating IAQ in advance and blocking room allocation when parameters exceed thresholds, the system ensures air quality safety before customers occupy the room, resolving the contradiction between standardized cleaning and reliable air quality assurance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If IAQ monitoring is implemented for all rooms, then customer health is protected, but system complexity and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharmful gas concentrationVSAvoidroom management operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The room management system automatically performs IAQ detection, evaluation, and room status management without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously compares detected parameters against thresholds, determines room availability, and updates allotment status, enabling the system to protect customer health while maintaining ease of operation through automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors IAQ parameters and provides real-time feedback on room air quality status. By establishing a feedback loop where detection results directly influence room allotment decisions, the system automatically adjusts room availability based on current air quality conditions, protecting customers from harmful exposures while simplifying operational decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual IAQ checking is performed, then system simplicity is maintained, but detection precision and response time are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIAQ parameter detectionVSAvoidroom allotment management
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual IAQ checking with automated electronic detection using sensors that continuously measure formaldehyde, TVOC, temperature, and humidity parameters. This substitution of mechanical/manual inspection with electronic sensing and automated processing achieves high measurement precision and rapid response times while managing room allotment automatically, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and automation level.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4471680A1Systems and methods for managing allotment of rooms based on indoor air quality
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 CARRIER CORP
  • EP4471680A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4471680A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4471680A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure describe systems (150) and methods (300, 400, 500, 600A, 600B, 600C) for managing the allotment of rooms (120) based on indoor air quality (IAQ). The method comprises detecting, based on an IAQ sensor (122) located within a room of a plurality of rooms (120), a current IAQ of the room. The method further comprises determining whether the current IAQ of the room exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The method further comprises, in response to the determination that the current IAQ exceeds the predetermined threshold value, performing at least one of triggering a control action for the room, and generating and sending a room status change signal to an allotment module (160) configured for allocating the room.