BAS Alarm Processor Generates Remediation Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems (BAS) often fail to provide users with timely and appropriate responses to alarm conditions, leading to potential equipment damage due to user inexperience or unfamiliarity with system components.
Innovation Solution
A building automation system controller that processes alarm messages to generate assistance messages with remediation media and recipient addresses, using a configurable alarm assistance map to provide users with detailed information on resolving alarms through email, SMS, or API, enabling real-time training and minimizing support calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the BAS provides only basic alarm information to users, then the system complexity remains low, but users cannot make correct response determinations due to inexperience or unfamiliarity with system components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (alarm response system with knowledge base and natural language processing) that mediates between the basic alarm information and the user. This intermediary translates technical alarm data into user-friendly explanations and guidance, enabling users to make correct response determinations without requiring deep system knowledge, thus improving reliability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to independently resolve alarm conditions by providing them with relevant knowledge articles, troubleshooting steps, and expert contact information directly at the point of need. This self-service capability allows users to make correct responses without requiring external assistance or deep technical expertise, improving system reliability while keeping the alarm notification system itself relatively simple.
2Ease of operation
If the BAS provides detailed remediation information to users, then users can autonomously resolve issues, but the system complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information delivery system into distinct functional modules: an alarm notification module that receives basic alarm data, a knowledge base module that stores remediation information, a natural language processing module that generates user-friendly responses, and a delivery module that sends information to users. This segmentation allows detailed remediation information to be provided to users while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-populating a knowledge base with remediation information, troubleshooting steps, and expert contact information before alarm events occur. When alarms happen, the system quickly retrieves and delivers the pre-prepared information to users, enabling autonomous issue resolution without requiring complex real-time information processing or user research.
3Reliability
If the BAS waits for user action on alarm conditions, then the system remains simple, but delayed response may lead to equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors alarm conditions and user responses. When alarms are detected, the system automatically provides guidance and tracks whether users have resolved the issue. This feedback loop ensures timely equipment protection while maintaining relatively simple system architecture by using straightforward monitoring and response tracking rather than complex automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by proactively notifying users of alarm conditions and providing them with remediation information before equipment damage can occur. By alerting users in advance and guiding them through resolution steps, the system prevents harmful outcomes without requiring complex automated intervention, balancing equipment protection with system simplicity.
4Loss of time
If the BAS implements automated alarm response assistance, then user response time improves, but the device complexity and development costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal alarm response assistance system that handles multiple types of alarms, devices, and user scenarios through a single integrated platform. The knowledge base stores remediation information for various alarm conditions, and the natural language processing module generates appropriate responses for different situations. This multi-functionality reduces development complexity compared to implementing separate specialized systems for each alarm type while still achieving fast user response times.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for operating a Building Automation System (BAS) that communicates with end devices via a master-slave token passing network (MSTP), e.g., BACNet, a local operating network (LON), or any other suitable communications protocol to receive alarm messages. The BAC enables a user to rapidly and effectively respond to an alarm by providing an alarm assistance message that provides the user with detailed remediation procedures concerning the current alarm. The nature and content of the alarm assistance message and/or the attachments is determined based upon on a combination of alarm and system parameters, and may be tailored by an administrator to meet local requirements. The alarm assistance message may include one or more remedial or diagnostic attachments, such as a troubleshooting guide, user manual, a video, graphics, or a firmware update, and may include links to external media or cloud-hosted documents.