Voice-Controlled Air Conditioning Device Selection for Shared Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioning systems require additional time and effort for voice control, especially when multiple devices need to be controlled, as users need to specify each device by voice, leading to increased verbosity.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioning system that automatically selects between first and second air conditioning devices based on predetermined conditions or device specifying information, allowing for voice control without specifying the device, thereby reducing the number of words needed in voice inputs and enhancing user convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice control is used to control multiple air conditioning devices, then the system can be operated without physical contact and with greater flexibility, but the number of words required in voice input increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice control operationVSAvoidtime and effort for voice input
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines which air conditioning device should receive the voice command by using sensor information to identify the user's location and the operational status of multiple devices. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually specify device identifiers in their voice commands, allowing them to simply say natural language instructions like 'turn on the air conditioner' without needing to say 'turn on air conditioner device 1' or 'turn on air conditioner device 2'.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring sensor data to detect user presence and device status before voice commands are given. This allows the system to pre-determine the target device for upcoming voice commands, so when the user speaks, the system is already prepared to execute the command on the correct device without requiring additional specification from the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If multiple air conditioning devices are controlled through voice commands with device specification, then each device can be precisely controlled, but the complexity of voice commands increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidvoice command structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensor information to automatically identify and select the appropriate air conditioning device based on user location and device status, eliminating the need for users to include device identifiers in their voice commands. This maintains precise device control while keeping voice commands simple and natural.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces sensor information as an intermediary between the user and the air conditioning devices. This intermediary automatically translates user location and device status into device selection, allowing users to give simple voice commands while the system handles the complex task of determining which specific device should be controlled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If users must specify each device by voice, then the system can ensure the correct device is controlled, but the number of words in voice input increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrect device controlVSAvoidvoice input brevity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines the correct device to control by analyzing sensor information about user location and device operational status. This self-service approach ensures reliable device control while eliminating the need for users to verbally specify device identifiers, thereby reducing the amount of information users need to provide through voice input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to pre-determine the target device before receiving voice commands. This preliminary action ensures that when users give voice commands, the system already knows which device should be controlled, maintaining reliability while allowing users to use brief, natural language commands without needing to specify device details.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3919831B1Air conditioning system
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3919831B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3919831B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3919831B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air conditioning system configured to input a direction by voice improves the user convenience. An air conditioning system (10) includes an air conditioner (21) and an air cleaner (22). The air conditioner (21) is a first air conditioning device that is installed for a first room (RM1) as a predetermined space and is configured to change an air state in the first room (RM1) in accordance with a direction inputted by voice to an input-output device (200) configured to be voice-operated. The air cleaner (22) is a second air conditioning device that is installed for the first room (RM1) and is configured to change the air state in the first room (RM1) in accordance with the direction inputted by voice to the input-output device (200). Upon acquisition of direction information indicating a direction not specifying a device, the air conditioning system (10) performs processing in response to the direction with use of an air conditioning device selected from the air conditioner (21) and the air cleaner (22) in accordance with a predetermined condition set in advance.