Environmental condition-based workspace assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current HVAC management systems do not adequately address user preferences for environmental conditions such as temperature when assigning workspaces, leading to suboptimal user experiences and inefficient energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize machine learning models to generate user and building profiles, allowing for temperature preference-based workspace assignment and ambient temperature adjustments within a building management system, optimizing workspace assignments based on user preferences and building usage patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If HVAC management systems assign workspaces without considering user temperature preferences, then workspace assignment is simple and fast, but user satisfaction and thermal comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkspace assignment processVSAvoiduser satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system collects and stores user temperature preferences in advance during workspace booking requests. This preliminary action allows the system to have user preference data ready before workspace assignment occurs, enabling personalized temperature control without adding complexity to the assignment process itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses building management system data to monitor actual workspace temperatures and compares them with user preferences. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from discrepancies and improve future workspace assignments to better match user thermal comfort requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If HVAC management systems adjust ambient temperature to match individual user preferences, then user thermal comfort improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser thermal comfortVSAvoidHVAC energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts temperature settings locally in specific workspaces based on individual user preferences rather than uniformly across the entire building. This localized approach allows temperature customization only where needed, minimizing overall energy consumption while still providing personalized thermal comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes temperature parameters in workspaces based on real-time factors including user preferences, current ambient conditions, occupancy status, and time of day. This flexible parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize energy usage by heating or cooling only when and where necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the system considers natural conditions and usage patterns for temperature optimization, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHVAC energy efficiencyVSAvoidbuilding management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically collects data from building management systems about natural conditions (sunlight, outdoor temperature) and usage patterns, then uses this information autonomously to optimize temperature settings. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual intervention while achieving energy efficiency through data-driven decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240392994A1Environmental condition-based workspace assignment

Publication Date: 2024.11.28 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A workspace is assigned according to a temperature preference, for a time period. The temperature preference and the time period are specified in a workspace booking request. Using a building management system, an ambient temperature of the workspace is adjusted during the time period. The adjusting results in the ambient temperature matching, within a threshold amount, the temperature preference.