Building Management System Social Network Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building management systems face challenges in remote alarm and event management, including high costs, inflexibility, and lack of a unified platform for notification, leading to inefficient communication and information sharing among maintenance teams.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a building management system with social network services via internet/intranet connections, allowing for automatic notification and message display on various devices, using existing IT infrastructure and eliminating the need for specific data management setups, enabling users to manage alarms and events remotely through a unified platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If email or SMS/MMS is used for remote alarm notification, then users can be notified remotely, but extra costs are incurred and there is no unified platform for community sharing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote notification capabilityVSAvoidextra costs for SMS/MMS
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using a multi-functional platform that combines alarm notification, community sharing, and collaboration tools in a single system. The social network service platform serves multiple purposes: notifying users of alarms, enabling information sharing among maintenance teams, providing collaboration tools, and reducing notification costs by replacing SMS/MMS with web-based notifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If modem, phone connection, or VPN infrastructure is set up for secured remote access, then remote alarm management is enabled, but installation and maintenance costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecured remote accessVSAvoidinfrastructure setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by leveraging existing internet infrastructure and social network services that already have built-in security and authentication mechanisms. Instead of requiring the building management system to implement its own complex security infrastructure (modems, VPNs, firewalls), the system utilizes the self-service security capabilities of established web platforms, thereby reducing both complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If local supervision tools are used for alarm management, then alarms can be managed locally, but remote management and community sharing are not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal alarm managementVSAvoidremote management capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining local alarm management capabilities with remote access and community sharing functions into a unified system. The building management system maintains its local supervision tools for immediate alarm handling while simultaneously integrating with social network services to enable remote notification and community sharing, thus merging local and remote functionalities into a cohesive solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a dedicated remote alarm management platform is developed, then unified alarm management is achieved, but development and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunified alarm management platformVSAvoidplatform development cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by using social network services as a mediator between the building management system and end users. Instead of developing a dedicated remote alarm management platform, the system leverages the existing infrastructure of social network services (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) to provide unified alarm management, community sharing, and notification capabilities, thereby avoiding high development and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3079029B1Method for remote notification of user information of a building management system
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 ABB FRANCE SAS
  • EP3079029B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention refers to a system for remote notification of user information of a home or a building management system (10), which is connected via data connection (40) to internet/intranet (20), wherein a software module (11) is integrated in the building management system (10), and the software module (11) is provided to transfer the notification of user information (12) of the building management system (10) to at least one social network service (21) and to display automatically at least one notification or message (22) of user information.