Building Automation Actor Grouping with Dynamic Master Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems lack a technology-independent grouping mechanism for controlling and monitoring multiple actuators, such as lamps or blinds, which can lead to issues like no feedback from actuators to the control element and loss of control when a group master is defective.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically selects a group master object based on attributes like status flags, reliability, and priority, allowing for technology-independent operation and monitoring of a group of physically independent actors using a single control element, with automatic selection of a new master if the current one fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single control element is used to control a group of actuators, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates when the group master is defective
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects a group master object from multiple candidates based on real-time attributes such as status flags, reliability, and priority. This dynamic selection ensures that if the current group master fails, another suitable object can take over, maintaining control continuity while preserving ease of operation through a single control element interface.
2Ease of manufacture
If technology-specific grouping mechanisms are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal grouping mechanism that works across different building automation technologies (KNX, DALI, BACnet, etc.) by defining a technology-independent group master object concept. The mechanism uses standardized attributes (status flags, reliability, priority) that can be applied to any actuator type, making the system both easy to manufacture with existing protocols and highly adaptable to different technologies.
3Reliability
If feedback mechanism is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having group member objects report their status to the group master object, which then makes informed decisions about group control based on this feedback. The feedback mechanism uses existing communication protocols and standardized attributes, avoiding additional complex communication infrastructure while ensuring reliable actuator status monitoring and control continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method and system for providing an operating and monitoring mechanism for a group of actors in a building automation system, wherein an actor is represented by a building automation object (BA object), wherein a building automation object (BA object) comprises semantic tags, characterizing an actor in each case, wherein a dereferencing module provides the building automation objects (BA objects) of the respective actors of the group by dereferencing the respective semantic tags of the building automation objects (BA objects); wherein a selection module selects a group master object from the provided building automation objects (BA objects) by analyzing attributes of the building automation objects (BA objects); wherein an assigning module assigns a user interface (e.g. a widget) to the selected group master object adapted to operate and monitor the selected group master object.