Unified Mobile Interface for Multi-System Building Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current building systems present users with multiple complex and proprietary interfaces for various smart building systems, such as HVAC, lighting, and access control, making it difficult for occupants and visitors to interact with and understand the controls, especially for infrequent users.
Innovation Solution
A unified graphical user interface (GUI) for a mobile application that connects to a building server, allowing users to control multiple building systems through a single intuitive interface, including location, comfort, lighting, and access controls, with features like preferred elevator selection, biometric verification, and contextually determined location-based operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple proprietary interfaces are provided for different building systems, then each system can be controlled with specialized features, but the overall system complexity increases and user interaction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple proprietary building system interfaces (HVAC, lighting, access control, elevators) into a single unified mobile application interface. This allows users to interact with all building systems through one consistent interface rather than multiple separate interfaces, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining the specialized control capabilities of each individual system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves as a universal interface that can control multiple different types of building systems simultaneously. The single application provides multi-functional capabilities to interact with HVAC systems, lighting systems, access control systems, and elevator systems, eliminating the need for separate dedicated applications for each system type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized control features are provided for each building system, then system functionality is enhanced, but user understanding and manipulation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The unified interface is segmented into distinct functional modules or panes, each dedicated to a specific building system (HVAC pane, lighting pane, access control pane, elevator pane). This segmentation allows users to access specialized control features for each system in an organized manner, making the complex functionality more manageable and easier to understand while maintaining comprehensive system capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive control features are provided, then system capability is enhanced, but the number of interfaces and control methods increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application serves as a universal interface that can control multiple different types of building systems simultaneously. The single application provides multi-functional capabilities to interact with HVAC systems, lighting systems, access control systems, and elevator systems, eliminating the need for separate dedicated applications for each system type.
Data Source
AI summary
A building control system includes a plurality of interconnected building systems. A mobile application is configured to be installed on at least one mobile device. The mobile application is configured to cause the mobile device to interface with the building server and to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes an elevator pane configured to allow a user to interface with a building elevator control system.