Device Data Point Association for BACnet Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of standardized description rules in BACnet communication specifications makes it difficult to automatically identify common data points across different devices, hindering easy configuration in building management systems.
Innovation Solution
An association information generation apparatus that acquires and analyzes descriptions from device communication specifications to identify and associate common data points based on similarities in names, definitions, and permissions, facilitating automatic configuration in building management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data points are freely described without standardized rules in BACnet communication specifications, then device manufacturers can use various terms and sentences depending on manufacturer and model, but it becomes difficult to automatically identify common data points across devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the unstructured text descriptions of data points into structured parameters with standardized attributes (name, description, data type, units, access permissions). This parameterization enables automated comparison and identification of common data points across different devices while preserving the flexibility of manufacturer-specific descriptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that analyzes communication specifications and generates standardized association information. This intermediary translates diverse manufacturer-specific data point descriptions into a common format that facilitates automatic identification and association, without constraining the original descriptive flexibility.
2Reliability
If manual configuration of data points is performed in building management systems, then common data points can be identified across devices, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically perform the configuration task that would otherwise require manual intervention. By extracting communication specifications and automatically generating association information, the system serves itself to identify common data points, eliminating time-consuming manual configuration while maintaining reliable identification through structured parameter comparison.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of communication specifications during the device registration phase, generating association information in advance. This preliminary action prepares the standardized data point mappings before actual building management system configuration is needed, significantly reducing the time required for subsequent configuration tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If device data points are described with various terms and sentences depending on manufacturer and model, then device-specific customization is achieved, but automatic configuration in building management systems becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device data point description into distinct standardized components (name, description, data type, units, read permission, write permission). This segmentation allows the system to handle each attribute separately with standardized processing rules, making automatic configuration feasible while still allowing manufacturer-specific customization within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal standardized format that can accommodate diverse manufacturer-specific descriptions. The association information structure serves multiple functions: it standardizes data point identification, enables automatic configuration, and preserves device-specific customization capabilities through the description fields, making the system universally applicable across different manufacturers and models.
Data Source
AI summary
An association information generation apparatus includes a controller configured to generate association information in an information building management system. The controller is configured to: acquire a description relating to a device data point of a first device from a communication specification of the first device; acquire a description relating to a device data point of a second device from a communication specification of the second device; extract a common data point common to a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices being the first device and the second device, based on whether the description of the device data point of the first device and the description of the device data point of the second device are similar to each other; and generate information that associates the device data points of the plurality of devices with each other.