Programmable Smart Thermostat Media Sharing for Multi-Device Upload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional thermostats lack the ability to display additional information such as outside weather conditions and have a cumbersome user interface, requiring users to manually upload electronic media to multiple devices individually.

Innovation Solution

A system of programmable intelligent thermostats connected via a wireless network, allowing users to initiate an electronic media sharing application on communication devices to simultaneously upload electronic media to multiple thermostats through a touch-screen interface, including weather information and social media images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional thermostats are used to display temperature settings and time, then the basic thermostat function is achieved, but additional information such as outside weather conditions cannot be displayed and the user interface is cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoiduser interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The thermostat display is transformed into a multi-functional device that not only shows temperature settings and time but also displays outside weather conditions, electronic media images, and other information. The display screen serves multiple purposes: temperature visualization, weather information presentation, and media showcase, making the single device adaptable to various information display needs without requiring additional separate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

A remote communication device (such as a smartphone or tablet) acts as an intermediary between the user and the thermostat system. This intermediary provides an intuitive graphical user interface for uploading electronic media to multiple thermostats simultaneously, eliminating the need for users to physically interact with each thermostat device individually. The intermediary handles the complexity of multi-device communication while presenting a simple user interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually upload electronic media to multiple thermostats individually, then each thermostat can display custom content, but the process is time-consuming and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustom content displayVSAvoidmedia upload time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of uploading electronic media to multiple thermostats into a single unified operation. Through the remote communication device's graphical user interface, users can select multiple thermostats simultaneously and upload the same electronic media content to all selected devices in one action. This combining of previously separate upload operations into a single consolidated process eliminates the time loss associated with individual uploads to each thermostat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-selecting multiple thermostats and preparing the electronic media content before the actual upload operation. The user interface allows users to preview which thermostats will receive the media and to select multiple devices in advance, so that when the upload is initiated, it proceeds simultaneously to all pre-selected devices without requiring sequential individual uploads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If traditional thermostats display only temperature settings, then the device complexity is low, but the thermostat lacks additional information display capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather information displayVSAvoidthermostat functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermostat is designed with universal display capabilities that can present multiple types of information including temperature settings, outside weather conditions, and electronic media images. The display screen and processing unit are configured to handle various data formats and sources, allowing the same hardware platform to serve multiple information display functions without requiring separate specialized devices for each type of information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10599294B2System and method for transferring images to multiple programmable smart thermostats

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 LENNOX IND INC

AI summary

A system includes a plurality of programmable intelligent thermostats positioned within at least one of a first home environment and a second home environment, a plurality of communication devices configured to operate an electronic media sharing application, and at least one server configured to communicate with the plurality of programmable intelligent thermostats and the plurality of communication devices via a wireless network. A user initiates the electronic media sharing application on at least one of the plurality of communication devices. A touch-screen display of the at least one communication device demonstrates the plurality of programmable intelligent thermostats positioned within the first and second home environments and at least one user-selected electronic media is simultaneously uploaded to at least one of the plurality of programmable intelligent thermostats responsive to a user selection of a region on the touch-screen display.