Building Automation Display Integration with Geographic Scale
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems (BAS) face challenges in visual monitoring and control due to the lack of scale and proportion in logical graphics displays, which hinder the clear representation of equipment location and proximity, while Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems are costly and difficult to integrate with existing facilities.
Innovation Solution
An integrated display controller synchronizes BAS logical graphics data with BIM-type geographic data, allowing users to view both simultaneously and select items for synchronized display, with options for filtering and fading to improve readability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If logical graphics displays are used to show BAS devices, then device operational information can be displayed, but scale and proportion are lost making equipment location and proximity unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines logical graphics display data with geographic display data into a single integrated display system. The controller receives both types of data and synchronizes them so that logical device icons are overlaid on a geographic map background, preserving both operational information and spatial relationships without requiring separate display systems
Solution Approach 2:
The display controller acts as an intermediary that processes and synchronizes data from both logical graphics systems and geographic information systems. It matches logical device identifiers with geographic coordinates to position device icons correctly on the map, thereby recovering location information that would otherwise be lost
2Measurement precision
If BIM systems are used to show geographic data with scale, then equipment location and proximity are clearly represented, but integration with existing BAS is costly and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display system into independent modular components: a logical graphics display module that handles device operational data, and a geographic display module that handles spatial positioning. The controller integrates these separate modules, allowing facilities to adopt geographic positioning capabilities incrementally without replacing entire BAS infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated display controller is designed to accept multiple data formats and sources, including standard BAS logical graphics protocols and geographic coordinate systems. This multi-functionality allows the system to work with existing BAS infrastructure while adding geographic positioning capabilities, reducing integration costs and complexity
3Loss of information
If both logical graphics and geographic displays are shown simultaneously, then complete information is provided, but information overload reduces readability
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adjusts its content based on user interaction. When a user hovers over or selects a logical device icon, the system highlights the corresponding geographic location and shows relevant information. Non-selected devices are displayed with reduced visual prominence, allowing complete information to be available while maintaining readability through dynamic visual prioritization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color coding and visual highlighting to differentiate between selected and non-selected devices. Selected devices appear in prominent colors with enhanced visibility, while unselected devices use muted colors. This allows all device information to be displayed simultaneously while guiding user attention to currently relevant information, preventing information overload
Data Source
AI summary
An approach for integrating logical graphics display (100) and geographic display system data (200) into building automation systems that allow users to navigate between the logical graphics displays and the geographic displays and to select the logical graphics displays and the geographic displays that are displayed on the displays to the users of the building automation systems.