Building Management Bus Discovery With Automatic Equipment Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems (BMS) face challenges in efficiently discovering and managing equipment across multiple communication buses and protocols without user intervention, particularly when devices do not provide their own equipment models.
Innovation Solution
A system architecture in the BMS that utilizes active node tables to monitor communication buses for new devices, automatically generates device lists, and creates equipment models for devices that do not provide their own, enabling seamless integration and control without requiring devices to be placed in discovery mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic equipment discovery is implemented without user intervention, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for active node table monitoring and automatic model generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring active node tables for new devices before user intervention is needed. The system proactively detects new equipment, retrieves their models, and integrates them into the device tree automatically, eliminating the need for users to manually add devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (active node table monitoring system) that acts as a mediator between new equipment joining the network and the BMS integration process. This intermediary automatically manages the discovery and integration workflow, reducing the apparent complexity for end users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system automatically generates equipment models for devices that do not provide their own, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information increases due to automatic model generation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing equipment that does not provide their own models to receive automatically generated models. The BMS system serves itself by detecting missing models and creating appropriate equipment models based on available device information, ensuring comprehensive system coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating equipment models as representations of physical devices. When a device does not provide its own model, the system creates a copied model structure based on standard equipment templates and available device data, maintaining information integrity while enabling system integration.
3Productivity
If the system monitors active node tables for new devices across multiple buses, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and communication
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by monitoring active node tables at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic monitoring approach maintains system awareness of new devices while reducing energy consumption compared to constant monitoring, balancing productivity with energy efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A building management system including a system manager, a zone coordinator, and one or more zone controllers configured to monitor and control building zones. The system manager includes a system bus datalink having an active node table stored therein. The zone coordinator includes a second system bus datalink and a zone bus datalink. A system bus connects the first system bus datalink to the second system bus datalink. A zone bus connects the zone bus datalink to the one or more zone controllers. The active node table includes a plurality of nodes, each node representing a system bus device communicating on the system bus. The system manager is configured to monitor the active node table for new nodes and to identify a new system bus device communicating on the system bus in response to a determination that the active node table includes a new node.