BMS Gateway Virtual Twin for Remote Control of Legacy Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems (BMS) face challenges in enabling remote control and management of non-Internet enabled devices, as they can only communicate over local building networks, limiting access to Internet-based networks.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device is introduced to bridge the gap between building networks and IP-based networks, allowing for remote control by maintaining a logical network representation and facilitating automatic equipment discovery and model distribution across various communication protocols, including MS/TP, BACnet, and MODbus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If building devices are made non-Internet enabled to maintain local network simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but remote control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between Internet-enabled devices and non-Internet enabled building devices. The gateway maintains a logical network representation that allows remote access to building devices without requiring the devices themselves to be Internet-enabled, thus preserving device simplicity while enabling remote control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a logical copy or representation of the building network topology and device states in the cloud-based platform. This virtual representation enables remote monitoring and control operations without physically modifying the original building devices, allowing Internet access while maintaining local network simplicity
2Adaptability or versatility
If automatic equipment discovery is implemented across multiple protocols, then system adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple communication protocols (MS/TP, BACnet, MODbus, and other IP-based protocols) simultaneously. This universal capability allows the single gateway device to adapt to various building devices and networks without requiring separate specialized devices for each protocol
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic equipment discovery functionality that enables the gateway to autonomously identify and register building devices on the network without manual configuration. The gateway automatically discovers devices, retrieves their logical network representations, and integrates them into the cloud-based platform, reducing the need for user intervention and simplifying deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A building management system (BMS) includes building equipment operable to affect a physical state or condition of a building coupled to a gateway device configured to communicate building data from the building equipment to a cloud-based platform according to a data control template configured to control a data rate between the gateway device and the cloud-based platform. The cloud-based platform includes a hub to generate a virtual device twin comprising the data control template and configured to receive the building data and represent the gateway device on the cloud-based platform, as well as plurality of cloud applications configured to provide a building data output. The cloud-based platform is configured to communicate the building data output to and receive a command from at least one of a control application, an analytic application, or a monitor application. The gateway device further configured to operate according to the command.