Building Management System Equipment Model Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration of building management systems (BMS) is complex and often loses contextual information about equipment, leading to issues with system adaptability and application complexity, particularly in HVAC systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize equipment model standards to describe categories of equipment, data points, and relationships, allowing for automated visualization and integration with facility models to provide a domain-aware BMS that retains contextual data and simplifies system understanding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional BMS configuration methods are used, then the system can be implemented, but contextual information about equipment is lost and system adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining equipment model standards that include contextual information about equipment categories, data points, roles, and relationships before the actual BMS configuration. This allows the system to automatically retrieve and use this contextual information during configuration, preventing information loss and maintaining adaptability without requiring manual entry during the configuration process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If detailed equipment modeling is implemented, then system adaptability improves, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating standardized equipment model templates that can be reused across multiple pieces of equipment. Instead of manually configuring each piece of equipment from scratch, the system copies pre-defined equipment models and their associated contextual information, significantly reducing configuration complexity while maintaining high system adaptability through the detailed modeling capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If automated visualization is implemented, then operator understanding improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the BMS to automatically generate visualizations of equipment locations and relationships without requiring manual intervention. The system uses the equipment model standards and contextual information to self-configure the visualization, improving operator understanding while avoiding the complexity of manual visualization setup and maintenance.
4Loss of information
If equipment model standards are used, then information retention improves, but initial setup effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing equipment model standards that serve multiple functions: they define equipment categories, data points, roles, relationships, and visualization parameters all in one standardized framework. This multi-functional approach allows the same standards to be used across different equipment types and configuration scenarios, reducing the need for separate setup processes and justifying the initial setup effort through long-term time savings.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods for configuring a BMS. In general terms, the present technology is focused on approaches for arranging and modeling building information data, particularly in terms of equipment categories and relationships between pieces of equipment, for example in the context of an HVAC system. This is advantageous in the sense that the likes of visualization, application creation, and reporting are able to be significantly streamlined. Various embodiments make use of an “equipment model”, being a model which defines items for each piece of equipment in a building system based on predefined standards, thus allowing for predictable descriptions (for example in terms of data points and relationships). Some embodiments combine this with a facility model, which describes a building in spatial terms.