BAS Microservice Architecture for Multi-Node Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems (BAS) face scalability and fault-tolerance issues due to the reliance on single server applications, which can lead to costly hardware upgrades and increased risk of system failures when handling high demands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a microservices architecture with a server platform that decomposes server functionality into separate services, using containerization technology, orchestration networks, and a common data model to manage communication and data storage, allowing for independent deployment and fault monitoring across multiple nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single server application is used to control and monitor BAS equipment, then the system structure is simple and ease of operation is maintained, but scalability deteriorates and fault tolerance decreases when usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single server application into multiple independent microservice nodes that can operate separately. Each node handles specific BAS functions, allowing the system to scale by adding more nodes without complicating the overall operation. The segmentation enables independent deployment and management of different service components.
Solution Approach 2:
The microservice architecture creates universal service components that can perform multiple functions across different BAS operations. Each microservice node is designed to be multi-functional, handling various monitoring and control tasks, which improves scalability while maintaining ease of operation through standardized interfaces.
2Device complexity
If a single server application is used for BAS monitoring and control, then device complexity is low, but reliability deteriorates due to decreased fault tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the single server into multiple microservice nodes, the patent distributes system functions across independent units. This segmentation improves reliability through fault isolation - if one node fails, others continue operating - while keeping individual node complexity low and managing overall system complexity through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameter from a monolithic server to a distributed multi-node architecture. This parameter change transforms the system from single-point-failure to multi-point-redundancy, significantly improving fault tolerance while maintaining manageable complexity through consistent service interfaces and containerization standards.
3Ease of manufacture
If server functionality is consolidated in a single application, then ease of manufacture and deployment is high, but adaptability deteriorates when accommodating more users and field controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments server functionality into independent microservices that can be manufactured and deployed separately using containerization technology. This approach maintains ease of deployment through automated container orchestration while dramatically improving adaptability - new microservices can be added to accommodate additional users and field controllers without redeploying the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The microservice architecture introduces dynamic scalability to the system. New service nodes can be dynamically added or removed based on user and controller requirements. The container orchestration platform automatically manages resource allocation and service registration, maintaining ease of deployment while providing flexible adaptability to changing system capacity needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A building automation system (BAS) with microservice architecture. The system includes a server platform configured to perform various operations within the building automation system. The server platform includes a microservices platform configured to execute various processes within the BAS. The microservices platform includes a plurality of nodes where each node is configured to run one or more services as separate processes. The microservices platform further includes a message bus configured to control communication between processes and an orchestration network configured to control communication between the plurality of nodes. The server platform further includes a common data model (CDM) shared between the plurality of nodes where the CDM consists of metadata of the BAS. The server platform further includes a container orchestration platform configured to manage and control the plurality of nodes.