Smartphone-Based Night Mode Control for Adaptive HVAC Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and air conditioning systems struggle to adapt night mode switching times to individual user behavior, leading to inefficient energy use and uncomfortable temperatures due to fixed schedules that do not account for variable sleep patterns.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that uses a smartphone to detect user activity and infer rest states, automatically adjusting the heating and cooling capacity of the system by sending instructions via electronic control means to reduce energy consumption during periods of inactivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed schedule is used to switch night mode, then the system operation is simple, but the switching times do not adapt to variable user sleep patterns leading to energy waste or discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
A smartphone acts as an intermediary device between the user and the heating/air conditioning system. The smartphone records user activity data and communicates this information to the control device, which then adjusts the night mode switching times accordingly. This intermediary approach enables behavioral adaptation without requiring complex sensors and processing in the HVAC system itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or fixed-program control mechanisms with electronic data processing and communication. Instead of using fixed timers or mechanical switches, the system uses a smartphone application to record activity, process this data electronically, and send control signals via communication interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM) to adjust the system operation dynamically.
2Reliability
If night mode is switched on early to ensure comfort, then user comfort is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary heating or cooling phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user activity through the smartphone and using this information to dynamically adjust night mode switching times. The control device receives activity data, analyzes it to determine when the user is likely to be at rest, and switches night mode on at these inferred times rather than using fixed early switching, thereby maintaining comfort while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If user activity monitoring is implemented to adapt switching times, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex data processing and activity monitoring functions from the HVAC control system and places them in the smartphone. The smartphone application records user activity, processes this data to infer rest periods, and sends only the necessary control commands to the HVAC system. This extraction reduces the processing burden on the HVAC controller while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention is directed to a method for switching a night mode of a heating system and/or an air-conditioning system on and off, wherein an energy consumption of the heating system and/or air-conditioning system is reduced when the night mode is switched on and is increased when the night mode is switched off. The invention provides for a smart phone to be used to detect an activity of a user of the smart phone, for program code to be used to infer an activity state of the user when an activity is ascertained and to infer a state of rest of the user when an activity is absent, wherein the program code is stored in a non-volatile data memory, and for electronic control means to switch the night mode on or off depending on whether a state of rest or an activity state of the user has been ascertained. The invention also relates to a corresponding control apparatus.