BACnet MS/TP Automatic MAC Addressing via GUID Mapping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual MAC address configuration in BACnet MS/TP networks is costly and prone to errors, requiring significant installation and troubleshooting efforts for field engineers, and involves unnecessary hardware costs.

Innovation Solution

An automated MAC addressing system where a MAC assigner with a pre-defined address gathers global unique identities (GUIDs) of MAC assignees and maps them to unused MAC addresses, assigning addresses automatically without human intervention, reducing the need for rotary switches and minimizing commissioning efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual MAC address configuration is used, then MAC addresses can be assigned to devices, but installation cost increases and configuration errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address configuration accuracyVSAvoidInstallation cost and effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic MAC address assignment where the network infrastructure itself performs the configuration task. A MAC address assignment server automatically discovers devices on the network, retrieves their GUIDs, and assigns appropriate MAC addresses without requiring manual intervention from technicians, thereby eliminating configuration errors and reducing installation effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

MAC addresses are assigned automatically during the device initialization phase before the device becomes operational. The system pre-assigns MAC addresses as devices join the network, ensuring proper configuration from the start and preventing the need for later troubleshooting or manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual MAC address configuration is used, then MAC addresses can be assigned to devices, but troubleshooting efforts increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address uniquenessVSAvoidTroubleshooting effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic verification and conflict detection mechanisms. The MAC address assignment server monitors the network for duplicate MAC addresses and automatically detects conflicts. When duplicates are detected, the system can automatically reassign addresses or notify administrators, significantly reducing troubleshooting effort compared to manual configuration where conflicts go undetected until field technicians discover them

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic systems. Instead of technicians manually configuring devices and then troubleshooting conflicts, an automated server performs electronic discovery, assignment, and verification, eliminating the human error component and reducing field troubleshooting requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If switches are installed for MAC address configuration, then MAC addresses can be configured, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address configuration capabilityVSAvoidHardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the MAC address configuration functionality from physical hardware switches and relocates it to a software-based MAC address assignment server. This eliminates the need for additional configuration switches or specialized hardware, using existing network infrastructure combined with software automation to provide the same configuration capability at lower hardware cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9100397B2BACnet MS/TP automatic MAC addressing

Publication Date: 2015.08.04 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A building automation and control network (BACnet) master-slave/token-passing (MS/TP) automatic media access control (MAC) addressing system having a BACnet MS/TP network, a MAC assigner on the network, and one or more MAC assignees on the network. Each assignee may have a global unique identity (GUID) and the assigner may have a pre-defined address. The assigner may gather virtually all GUIDs of the MAC assignees on the network and gather virtually all unused MAC addresses on the network. The assigner may map GUIDs to the unused MAC addresses and send a resulting map to the MAC assignees for assignment of a MAC address to each assignee. Each assignee may be assigned a MAC address according to its GUID, and the assignment of a MAC address to each assignee may occur automatically without manual intervention. In other words, the system may provide auto MAC addressing.