Vehicle-Based Home Control System Using Distance and Time Data

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional home automation systems are limited in their ability to automatically control home appliances based on the distance and time relationship between a vehicle and the home, lacking a comprehensive solution for enhancing safety and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A home control system that utilizes a vehicle-based sensor and communication system to determine the distance between the vehicle and the home, associating it with a desired change of state in home systems such as climate control, security, and lighting, using GPS or visual systems to control appliances like garage doors, and integrating a control module with a processor and memory to manage these operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional home automation systems are used to control home appliances, then basic automation functions are achieved, but the system lacks the capability to automatically control based on distance and time relationship between vehicle and home

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capability based on distance and timeVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated home control system that processes vehicle location data, calculates distance and time relationships, and automatically controls multiple home systems (climate control, security, lighting, garage door) through a unified control module, thereby achieving versatile distance-based control without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control module is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving vehicle location data, calculating distance and time, determining optimal arrival times, and controlling various home systems (climate control system, security system, lighting system, garage door operator) through a single multi-functional device, enhancing adaptability while managing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If automatic control of home systems based on distance and time is implemented, then home safety and convenience are enhanced, but the system requires integration of multiple components including sensor systems, communication systems, and control modules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehome safetyVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication system as an intermediary layer that connects the vehicle's sensor system with the home control systems. This intermediary handles data transmission and coordination, allowing the complex integration of multiple components (sensor system, communication system, control module, climate control system, security system, lighting system, garage door operator) to work together reliably while managing the complexity through standardized communication protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system controls home systems to achieve desired states when vehicle arrives, then convenience is improved, but the system needs to associate distance with time and calculate optimal arrival times

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidcalculation and coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module calculates the optimal time for the vehicle to arrive at the home location in advance, based on the current distance and desired state requirements. This preliminary calculation allows the system to proactively control home systems (such as pre-heating or pre-cooling the climate control system) before the vehicle actually arrives, enhancing convenience while managing complexity through advance planning rather than reactive control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2978165B1Home control system for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC
  • EP2978165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2978165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2978165B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A home control system and a method of home control from a vehicle includes determining a distance between the vehicle and a home, and controlling a home system of the home in response to the distance or the estimated amount of time for the vehicle to reach home.