Blockchain Alarm Ledger for Building Automation Auditing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems face inefficiencies in maintenance and auditing processes, particularly in accessing and recording transactions, which leads to high costs and inefficiencies in managing alarm management systems, and there is a lack of trust among parties participating in the building management system environment.
Innovation Solution
A blockchain-based alarm information management system that allows multiple parties to participate by using a decentralized ledger for secure and transparent recording of transactions, enabling all participants to access and contribute to the blockchain network, facilitating efficient management and auditing of alarm occurrences and service records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centralized operator station is used for managing alarm transactions, then all users can access and create transactions through a central interface, but the system becomes inefficient due to manual handoffs and limited participation to only management station users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized alarm management system into distributed autonomous nodes (building automation systems, service providers, auditors) that can independently access and contribute to the blockchain ledger. Each node operates autonomously without requiring manual handoffs through a central operator station, thereby improving both accessibility and efficiency simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blockchain ledger as an intermediary that enables direct peer-to-peer communication and transaction recording between different parties (building operators, service providers, auditors). This eliminates the need for a centralized operator station while maintaining secure and transparent transaction management, resolving the contradiction between centralization benefits and operational efficiency.
2Reliability
If manual processes are used for auditing and accessing alarm records, then system security and control are maintained, but significant time and effort are required for investigators to gather information and verify compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a blockchain ledger that automatically records, validates, and stores all alarm transactions and compliance actions in real-time as they occur. This preliminary automatic recording eliminates the need for manual data gathering during audits, as all required information is already captured and organized in the distributed ledger, significantly reducing audit time while maintaining security through cryptographic verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a transparent feedback mechanism where all parties (building operators, service providers, auditors) can access and verify transaction records on the blockchain in real-time. This continuous feedback loop allows auditors to immediately verify compliance without manual investigation, while the immutable nature of blockchain records maintains system security and reliability.
3Loss of information
If historical records of service provider actions are maintained in traditional systems, then service delivery can be tracked, but the records are difficult to collate and present in an organized manner, especially when trust is lacking among parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the record-keeping functions of all parties (building operators, service providers, auditors) into a single shared blockchain ledger. All service actions, alarm transactions, and compliance records are combined into one organized, time-stamped sequence that is accessible to all authorized parties. This unified record system eliminates the fragmentation and trust issues associated with separate local records, as the immutable blockchain structure ensures all parties view the same organized information.
Data Source
AI summary
Alarm issue management for a building automation system comprising a decentralized ledger as well as first, second, and third systems. The decentralized ledger has immutable transaction records validated and secured by a network of peer-to-peer nodes, and the ledger utilizes proof of work to synchronize the nodes. The first, second, and third systems access the transaction records of the ledger relating to a remediation type of a building automation system. The first system provides a first transaction record to the ledger relating to the remediation type. The second system reads the first transaction record of the ledger and provides a second transaction record to the ledger relating to the remediation type based on the first transaction record. The third system reads the first and second transaction records of the ledger and performs an audit of the first and second transaction records of the ledger relating to the remediation type.