Since its establishment in 1906, Honeywell has been granted approximately 30,000 patents to date. In 2022 alone, the company secured around 750 patents in diverse fields such as Building Technologies, Aerospace, Performance Materials ,and more.
I consider myself fortunate to have been part of a team that contributed to one of Honeywell's patents last year. Our project focused on developing digital products for efficiently managing air-conditioning systems (HVAC) in commercial spaces like malls and offices.
the problem
New air conditioning systems in the market, like VRF and VRV, are super efficient but struggle to communicate with other building systems such as fire & security systems. This is a problem because, in emergencies like fires, these systems need to work together.
what we did
We crafted an application that would help the user/electrician to create a virtual network of all the devices of the VRF system and connect it to the main gateway which worked to connect all other BMS systems of the building to a common channel.
Since we already had a similar suite mobile app called Connect Mobile, designed to connect and onboard various BMS systems in a building onto a central common channel, we took the initiative to integrate the VRF onboarding application into our main app. This integration ensures a seamless user experience and enhances the overall architecture of our solution in the market. In order to effortlessly manage both VRF and other BMS systems through a single, user-friendly platform.
The application helps the users to manually add multiple Indoor and Outdoor Units to a VRF thus creating a virtual network. The app also allows to add multiple VRF systems as to cater big buildings as well.
The user can view parameters of respective Indoor Units in order to test and can also set alarms based on certain conditions to each parameter.
how we did it
I started by learning everything about the VRF system—how it works, what keeps it running, and what issues it might face. Since our way of doing things was new, I checked out how others were doing it. Turns out, most solutions were old-fashioned computer programs that were tough to use unless you were an expert. This made things hard and time-consuming for technicians in the field. So, we set out to make something simpler and more user-friendly.
A VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system is a smart way to control a building's temperature. It uses a network of pipes with temperature-controlling liquid to keep each room just the way occupants want it—warmer or cooler. The best part is, it's energy-efficient, ensuring spaces are kept at the perfect temperature without excessive energy use.
user perspective
To gain a deeper understanding of real-world situations in the field and learn more about our products, I went on a field trip to several customer sites. My goal was to grasp the on-site requirements better. During this visit, I interviewed the field technician responsible for installing and managing the VRF system. It was an invaluable experience to witness firsthand the installation process and get insights directly from those working on the ground.
After the field trip, I compiled a comprehensive report aimed at finding key elements that would guide us in developing a user-friendly product. I gathered numerous comments and insights from visits to two sites and interviews with various individuals. To share my findings and gather feedback, I presented the report to the rest of the team. Once the action items were clear and feedback received, I delved into working on iterations and a design proposal for the product.
design and discussion
It took several rounds of design discussions and iterations to arrive at the final workflow, which was ultimately approved. The review cycle involved the design team, stakeholders, and leadership.
Since the app was going to be part of the main 'Connect Mobile' suite application, many of the workflows had to be consistent. Once the final workflow was complete, it was ready to be developed.
development and audit
At Honeywell, we follow the scrum framework for our product cycle. The entire workflow is divided into multiple rounds of PIs (Program Increments) and corresponding sprints for the development team to tackle.
While the dev team was busy creating the workflow, I was simultaneously reviewing the implemented screens to identify any issues in interactions and UI. I set up a dedicated space for these reviews to help the team efficiently manage and track each issue.
applying for patent
During all this, we had filed for the patent as well for the solution to the US Patents office on behalf of Honeywell. And after a long and tiering process, our patent was finally approved. Honeywell also awarded the Honeywell IP Patent Award for the hardwork.
As this all was new to me, I learned a lot about what goes into making a product patent ready.
Since its establishment in 1906, Honeywell has been granted approximately 30,000 patents to date. In 2022 alone, the company secured around 750 patents in diverse fields such as Building Technologies, Aerospace, Performance Materials ,and more.
I consider myself fortunate to have been part of a team that contributed to one of Honeywell's patents last year. Our project focused on developing digital products for efficiently managing air-conditioning systems (HVAC) in commercial spaces like malls and offices.
the problem
New air conditioning systems in the market, like VRF and VRV, are super efficient but struggle to communicate with other building systems such as fire & security systems. This is a problem because, in emergencies like fires, these systems need to work together.
what we did
We crafted an application that would help the user/electrician to create a virtual network of all the devices of the VRF system and connect it to the main gateway which worked to connect all other BMS systems of the building to a common channel.
Since we already had a similar suite mobile app called Connect Mobile, designed to connect and onboard various BMS systems in a building onto a central common channel, we took the initiative to integrate the VRF onboarding application into our main app. This integration ensures a seamless user experience and enhances the overall architecture of our solution in the market. In order to effortlessly manage both VRF and other BMS systems through a single, user-friendly platform.
The application helps the users to manually add multiple Indoor and Outdoor Units to a VRF thus creating a virtual network. The app also allows to add multiple VRF systems as to cater big buildings as well.
The user can view parameters of respective Indoor Units in order to test and can also set alarms based on certain conditions to each parameter.
how we did it
I started by learning everything about the VRF system—how it works, what keeps it running, and what issues it might face. Since our way of doing things was new, I checked out how others were doing it. Turns out, most solutions were old-fashioned computer programs that were tough to use unless you were an expert. This made things hard and time-consuming for technicians in the field. So, we set out to make something simpler and more user-friendly.
A VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system is a smart way to control a building's temperature. It uses a network of pipes with temperature-controlling liquid to keep each room just the way occupants want it—warmer or cooler. The best part is, it's energy-efficient, ensuring spaces are kept at the perfect temperature without excessive energy use.
user perspective
To gain a deeper understanding of real-world situations in the field and learn more about our products, I went on a field trip to several customer sites. My goal was to grasp the on-site requirements better. During this visit, I interviewed the field technician responsible for installing and managing the VRF system. It was an invaluable experience to witness firsthand the installation process and get insights directly from those working on the ground.
After the field trip, I compiled a comprehensive report aimed at finding key elements that would guide us in developing a user-friendly product. I gathered numerous comments and insights from visits to two sites and interviews with various individuals. To share my findings and gather feedback, I presented the report to the rest of the team. Once the action items were clear and feedback received, I delved into working on iterations and a design proposal for the product.
design and discussion
It took several rounds of design discussions and iterations to arrive at the final workflow, which was ultimately approved. The review cycle involved the design team, stakeholders, and leadership.
Since the app was going to be part of the main 'Connect Mobile' suite application, many of the workflows had to be consistent. Once the final workflow was complete, it was ready to be developed.
development and audit
At Honeywell, we follow the scrum framework for our product cycle. The entire workflow is divided into multiple rounds of PIs (Program Increments) and corresponding sprints for the development team to tackle.
While the dev team was busy creating the workflow, I was simultaneously reviewing the implemented screens to identify any issues in interactions and UI. I set up a dedicated space for these reviews to help the team efficiently manage and track each issue.
applying for patent
During all this, we had filed for the patent as well for the solution to the US Patents office on behalf of Honeywell. And after a long and tiering process, our patent was finally approved. Honeywell also awarded the Honeywell IP Patent Award for the hardwork.
As this all was new to me, I learned a lot about what goes into making a product patent ready.
Nov 2021 | Duration: 10 months
Since its establishment in 1906, Honeywell has been granted approximately 30,000 patents to date. In 2022 alone, the company secured around 750 patents in diverse fields such as Building Technologies, Aerospace, Performance Materials ,and more.
I consider myself fortunate to have been part of a team that contributed to one of Honeywell's patents last year. Our project focused on developing digital products for efficiently managing air-conditioning systems (HVAC) in commercial spaces like malls and offices.
the problem
New air conditioning systems in the market, like VRF and VRV, are super efficient but struggle to communicate with other building systems such as fire & security systems. This is a problem because, in emergencies like fires, these systems need to work together.
what we did
We crafted an application that would help the user/electrician to create a virtual network of all the devices of the VRF system and connect it to the main gateway which worked to connect all other BMS systems of the building to a common channel.
Since we already had a similar suite mobile app called Connect Mobile, designed to connect and onboard various BMS systems in a building onto a central common channel, we took the initiative to integrate the VRF onboarding application into our main app. This integration ensures a seamless user experience and enhances the overall architecture of our solution in the market. In order to effortlessly manage both VRF and other BMS systems through a single, user-friendly platform.
The application helps the users to manually add multiple Indoor and Outdoor Units to a VRF thus creating a virtual network. The app also allows to add multiple VRF systems as to cater big buildings as well.
The user can view parameters of respective Indoor Units in order to test and can also set alarms based on certain conditions to each parameter.
how we did it
I started by learning everything about the VRF system—how it works, what keeps it running, and what issues it might face. Since our way of doing things was new, I checked out how others were doing it. Turns out, most solutions were old-fashioned computer programs that were tough to use unless you were an expert. This made things hard and time-consuming for technicians in the field. So, we set out to make something simpler and more user-friendly.
A VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system is a smart way to control a building's temperature. It uses a network of pipes with temperature-controlling liquid to keep each room just the way occupants want it—warmer or cooler. The best part is, it's energy-efficient, ensuring spaces are kept at the perfect temperature without excessive energy use.
user perspective
To gain a deeper understanding of real-world situations in the field and learn more about our products, I went on a field trip to several customer sites. My goal was to grasp the on-site requirements better. During this visit, I interviewed the field technician responsible for installing and managing the VRF system. It was an invaluable experience to witness firsthand the installation process and get insights directly from those working on the ground.
After the field trip, I compiled a comprehensive report aimed at finding key elements that would guide us in developing a user-friendly product. I gathered numerous comments and insights from visits to two sites and interviews with various individuals. To share my findings and gather feedback, I presented the report to the rest of the team. Once the action items were clear and feedback received, I delved into working on iterations and a design proposal for the product.
design and discussion
It took several rounds of design discussions and iterations to arrive at the final workflow, which was ultimately approved. The review cycle involved the design team, stakeholders, and leadership.
Since the app was going to be part of the main 'Connect Mobile' suite application, many of the workflows had to be consistent. Once the final workflow was complete, it was ready to be developed.
development and audit
At Honeywell, we follow the scrum framework for our product cycle. The entire workflow is divided into multiple rounds of PIs (Program Increments) and corresponding sprints for the development team to tackle.
While the dev team was busy creating the workflow, I was simultaneously reviewing the implemented screens to identify any issues in interactions and UI. I set up a dedicated space for these reviews to help the team efficiently manage and track each issue.
applying for patent
During all this, we had filed for the patent as well for the solution to the US Patents office on behalf of Honeywell. And after a long and tiering process, our patent was finally approved. Honeywell also awarded the Honeywell IP Patent Award for the hardwork.
As this all was new to me, I learned a lot about what goes into making a product patent ready.
