Team-oriented HVAC system

• US 9,632,666 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Goldman-Shenhar, Claudia V., Degani, Asaf, Tsimhoni, Omer, Thibodeau, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga B
• Application Number:
  US13/768,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 705 7, 705 8, 705 9, 705 713, 705 714
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0073 Control systems or circuits characterised by particular algorithms or computational models, e.g. fuzzy logic or dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00757 by the input of sound, e.g. by using a voice synthesizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

A team-oriented heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, for use in support of operations of a vehicle. The system includes instructions that cause a processor to perform operations including communicating, to a human user, via a vehicle-user interface, a request to participate regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a member of a collaborative HVAC team, to include the system, in an ongoing team relationship of cooperation regarding operating the team-oriented HVAC system over time. The operations further include providing, to the user, a commitment communication advising the user that the system will be dedicated to participating regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a team member. The operations also include receiving, from the user, an agreement communication to participate as a member of the collaborative HVAC team. And the operations include forming, responsive to receiving the agreement communication, the collaborative HVAC team including the user and team-oriented HVAC system.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, for use in a transportation vehicle having a vehicle window or sunroof and a vehicle cabin including vehicle-cabin zones, the HVAC system comprising:

one or more HVAC hardware components selected from a group consisting of;

a fan that, when actuated, blows air into the vehicle cabin;

a compressor that, when actuated, defogs or defrosts the window;

an air-source component that, when actuated, controls from which of multiple sources air flows into the HVAC system;

a zone-section component that, when actuated, controls in which vehicle zone air is provided or conditioned;

a window component that, when actuated, controls a degree by which the window or the sunroof of the transportation vehicle is open or closed to allow or block air external to the vehicle to enter/from entering the transportation vehicle;

a humidity component that, when actuated, affects an amount of moisture in cabin air;

a temperature component that, when actuated, directly affects a temperature or cabin air;

a vehicle-sensor hardware device that, when operated;

senses a physical quality indicating presence and identification of a person in the transportation vehicle; and

generates a vehicle-sensor signal based on the physical quality sensed;

a vehicle-user interface hardware device that, when operated;

publishes notifications, rendering the notifications tangibly for consumption by a person being a vehicle operator; and

receives a tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input and generate a vehicle-operator-agreement signal based on the tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input;

a processing hardware-based device comprising;

a processing unit connected in communication with the vehicle-sensor hardware device and the vehicle-user interface hardware device to perform system functions; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device being in communication with the processing unit and comprising executable code that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, performs operations including;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a vehicle-operator request notification requesting the vehicle operator to participate as a member of a collaborative heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) team, to include the HVAC system, in a relationship of cooperation regarding operating the HVAC system over time;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a commitment notification advising the vehicle operator that the HVAC system would be dedicated to participating as a team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

receiving, from the vehicle-user interface hardware device, the vehicle-operator-agreement signal by which the vehicle operator operating the transportation vehicle commits to participating as a vehicle-operator team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

establishing, responsive to receiving the vehicle-operator-agreement signal, the collaborative HVAC team;

receiving, from the vehicle-sensor hardware device, the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining presence of a person in the transportation vehicle based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining an HVAC action, to be effected by said one or more HVAC components of the system to change an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin, in response to determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member; and

physically actuating the one or more HVAC hardware components to implement the HVAC action determined, thereby changing the environmental condition within the vehicle cabin of the transportation vehicle.

2. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-operator request notification comprises a contract including multiple clauses referring to regular, active, and collaborative participation in activities of the collaborative HVAC team.

3. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein establishing the collaborative HVAC team includes establishing at least one model selected from a group consisting of:

a user model, the user model being a representation, stored at the non-transitory computer-readable storage device of the processing hardware-based device, representing the vehicle operator operating the transportation vehicle, for use by the HVAC system in performing collaborative functions of the team;

a machine model, the machine model being a representation, stored at the non-transitory computer-readable storage device of the processing hardware-based device, representing the HVAC system and its control logic, for use by the HVAC system in performing collaborative functions of the team;

an interface model, the interface model, being stored at the non-transitory computer-readable storage device of the processing hardware-based device, relating to presentation of the HVAC system to the vehicle-operator team member, for use by the HVAC system in performing collaborative functions of the team; and

a mental model, the mental model being a representation, stored at the non-transitory computer-readable storage device of the processing hardware-based device, representing a perspective of the HVAC system from a perspective of the vehicle-operator team member, for use by the HVAC system in performing collaborative functions of the team.

4. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the code, when executed, establishes, subsequent to establishing the collaborative HVAC team, data items for use as inputs to an algorithm of the HVAC system for making team-based determinations during operation of the transportation vehicle.

5. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 4, wherein the data items include vehicle-operator preferences.

6. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the vehicle-operator preferences is a communication provided expressly to the processing hardware device by the vehicle operator and at least one of the vehicle-operator preferences is derived by the processing hardware device based on vehicle operator behavior.

7. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the code, when executed, receives a trigger, following identification of the vehicle-operator team member, triggering activation of a team-based HVAC function; and

activating the team-based HVAC function is performed responsive to the trigger.

8. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 7, wherein the team-based HVAC function includes pre-action-determination processing comprising collecting relevant data needed for making a determination on what HVAC action to take and/or how to perform the HVAC action.

9. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 8, wherein:

the team-based HVAC function includes providing a pre-action-determination communication; and

the pre-action-determination communication is directed to an entity selected from a group consisting of;

the vehicle-operator team member;

a passenger of the transportation vehicle;

a remote party; and

a remote automated device.

10. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 9, wherein the processing hardware device is configured to generate the pre-action-determination communication based on at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of:

a timing at which the pre-action-determination communication is provided;

a tone in which the pre-action-determination communication is provided; and

a substance of the pre-action-determination communication.

11. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 8, wherein the team-based HVAC function includes determining the HVAC action based on data collected in the pre-action-determination processing according to a computational-decision-making algorithm embodied in computer-executable instructions stored at a non-transitory storage unit of the processing hardware device.

12. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 11, wherein:

the HVAC action comprises transferring control of an HVAC task, either from automatic system control to user manual control, or from user manual control to automatic system control; and

the processing hardware device is further configured to transfer the control in a predetermined manner based on at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting of;

a timing at which the control is transferred; and

a manner by which the control is transferred.

13. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 11, wherein:

the team-based HVAC function further includes performing post-action processing; and

the post-action processing includes establishing, in response to express or inferred concurrence to a determination basis associated with a scenario, the determination basis as a rule for automatic future use in a same or similar scenario.

14. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 11, wherein:

the team-based HVAC function further includes generating a post-action communication; and

the post-action communication is directed to an entity selected from a group consisting of;

the vehicle-operator team member;

a passenger of the transportation vehicle;

a remote party; and

a remote automated device.

15. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the processing hardware device is further configured to generate the post-action communication to have a characteristic selected from a group consisting of:

a timing at which the post-action communication is provided;

a tone in which the post-action communication is provided; and

a substance of the post-action communication.

16. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the request is a first request and the vehicle-operator-agreement signal is a first vehicle-operator-agreement signal;

the processing hardware device is further configured to;

communicate, to another entity, a second request to participate as a member of the collaborative HVAC team, to include the HVAC system and the vehicle-operator team member, in a relationship of cooperation regarding operating the HVAC system over time;

provide, to the other entity, the commitment notification advising the other entity that the HVAC system is dedicated to participating as another member of the collaborative HVAC team; and

receive, from the other entity, a second vehicle-operator-agreement signal by which the vehicle operator operating the transportation vehicle commits to participating as the other member of the collaborative HVAC team; and

establishing the collaborative HVAC team comprises establishing, responsive to receiving the second vehicle-operator-agreement signal, the other entity as the other member of the collaborative HVAC team.

17. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein:

the HVAC system maintains a pre-determined level of system control vis-à

-vis user team member control; and

the HVAC system includes or is connected in communication with a hardware-based selector device by which the user team member can control the level.

18. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the processing hardware device is further configured to publish, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a recommended HVAC-action notification indicating a proposed change to an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin.

19. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to a recommended HVAC action of the recommended HVAC-action notification to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle; and

implementing the HVAC action, to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle, is performed in response to determining that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to the recommended HVAC action.

20. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 18, wherein the processing hardware device is further configured to publish, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a recommended HVAC-action notification indicating a proposed change to an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin.

21. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 20, wherein:

the processing hardware device is further configured to determine that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to a recommended HVAC action of the recommended HVAC-action notification to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle; and

implementing the HVAC action, to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle, is performed in response to determining that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to the recommended HVAC action.

22. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the processing hardware device is further configured to publish, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a recommended HVAC-action notification indicating a proposed change to an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin.

23. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of claim 22, wherein:

the processing hardware device is further configured to determine that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to a recommended HVAC action of the recommended HVAC-action notification to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle; and

implementing the HVAC action, to change the environmental condition within the cabin of the transportation vehicle, is performed in response to determining that the vehicle-operator team member has acquiesced to the recommended HVAC action.

24. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, for use in a transportation vehicle having a vehicle cabin, the HVAC system comprising:

one or more HVAC hardware components;

a vehicle-sensor hardware device that, when operated;

senses a physical quality indicating presence and identification of a person in the transportation vehicle; and

generates a vehicle-sensor signal based on the physical quality sensed;

a vehicle-user interface hardware device that, when operated;

publishes notifications, rendering the notifications tangibly for consumption by a person being a vehicle operator; and

receives a tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input and generate a vehicle-operator-agreement signal based on the tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input;

a processing hardware-based device comprising;

a processing unit connected in communication with the vehicle-sensor hardware device and the vehicle-user interface hardware device to perform system functions, and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device being in communication with the processing unit and comprising executable code that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, performs operations including;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a vehicle-operator request notification requesting the vehicle operator to participate as a member of a collaborative heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) team, to include the HVAC system, in a relationship of cooperation regarding operating the HVAC system over time;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a commitment notification advising the vehicle operator that the HVAC system would be dedicated to participating as a team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

receiving, from the vehicle-user interface hardware device, the vehicle-operator-agreement signal by which the vehicle operator operating the transportation vehicle commits to participating as a vehicle-operator team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

establishing, responsive to receiving the vehicle-operator-agreement signal, the collaborative HVAC team;

receiving, from the vehicle-sensor hardware device, the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining presence of a person in the transportation vehicle based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining an HVAC action, to be effected by said one or more HVAC components of the system to change an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin, in response to determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member; and

physically actuating the one or more HVAC hardware components to implement the HVAC action determined, thereby changing the environmental condition within the vehicle cabin of the transportation vehicle.

25. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, for use in a transportation vehicle having a vehicle cabin, the HVAC system comprising:

one or more HVAC hardware components;

a vehicle-sensor hardware device that, when operated;

senses a physical quality indicating presence and identification of a person in the transportation vehicle; and

generates a vehicle-sensor signal based on the physical quality sensed;

a vehicle-user interface hardware device that, when operated;

publishes notifications, rendering the notifications tangibly for consumption by a person being a vehicle operator; and

receives a tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input and generate a vehicle-operator-agreement signal based on the tangible vehicle-operator-agreement input;

a processing hardware-based device comprising;

a processing unit connected in communication with the vehicle-sensor hardware device and the vehicle-user interface hardware device to perform system functions, and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device being in communication with the processing unit and comprising executable code that, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, performs operations including;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a vehicle-operator request notification requesting the vehicle operator to participate as a member of a collaborative heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) team, to include the HVAC system, in a relationship of cooperation regarding operating the HVAC system over time;

publishing, to render tangibly for vehicle operator consumption, using the vehicle-user interface hardware device, a commitment notification advising the vehicle operator that the HVAC system would be dedicated to participating as a team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

receiving, from the vehicle-user interface hardware device, the vehicle-operator-agreement signal by which the vehicle operator operating the transportation vehicle commits to participating as a vehicle-operator team member of the collaborative HVAC team;

establishing, responsive to receiving the vehicle-operator-agreement signal, the collaborative HVAC team;

determining presence of a person in the transportation vehicle based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member based on the vehicle-sensor signal indicating the physical quality;

determining an HVAC action, to be effected by said one or more HVAC components of the system to change an environmental condition within the vehicle cabin, in response to determining that the person present in the transportation vehicle is the vehicle-operator team member; and

physically actuating the one or more HVAC hardware components to implement the HVAC action determined, thereby changing the environmental condition within the vehicle cabin of the transportation vehicle.