BMS Device Integration via Template Mapping and Protocol Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building management systems (BMS) face challenges in integrating and configuring third-party devices, as they often operate on different network protocols and do not support smart equipment features, limiting their functionality within pre-established control systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for automatic equipment discovery and model distribution, where a processing circuit in the device manager populates a template with data from third-party devices, maps them to the control network, and configures them to operate within the BMS, transforming data exchange formats as needed, allowing devices to participate in building control systems even if they were not designed for it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If third-party devices are integrated into the BMS, then device compatibility and functionality are improved, but device complexity and integration difficulty increase due to different network protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a protocol converter as an intermediary device that translates between different network protocols (BACnet, Modbus, OPC UA) and the internal data exchange format of the BMS. This mediator handles protocol conversion, data mapping, and format transformation, allowing third-party devices to integrate seamlessly without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes data parameters by transforming third-party device data into the BMS's standardized data exchange format. The protocol converter adjusts data structures, encoding schemes, and communication parameters automatically, enabling compatibility across different device types while maintaining consistent internal representation.
2Ease of operation
If automatic device discovery and configuration is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic device discovery and self-configuration capabilities where the protocol converter autonomously detects third-party devices on the network, retrieves their capability information, and configures appropriate data mappings without user intervention. The system performs automatic device enumeration, protocol identification, and parameter configuration, reducing operational burden while managing complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-defining data templates and mapping structures for common third-party devices. During device discovery, the protocol converter matches detected devices against predefined templates and automatically applies appropriate configuration parameters, reducing the need for manual setup while handling complex configuration requirements in advance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data exchange format transformation is performed, then device interoperability is improved, but loss of information may occur during format conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transformation process into distinct functional modules within the protocol converter: data reception, format parsing, template matching, parameter mapping, and output generation. Each segment handles specific aspects of format conversion, allowing comprehensive data preservation through systematic processing while enabling flexible adaptation to different data exchange formats.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for updating a device in a building management system (BMS). The system includes a third-party device and a device manager of a control network. The device manager updates the third-party device and includes a processing circuit that determines that the third-party device has been discovered on the control network. The processing circuit further populates a template with a set of received data from the third-party device and maps the third-party device with control network based on the populated template of received data. The processing circuit further configures the third-party device to operate in the control network, wherein configuring the third-party device comprises transforming a data exchange format of the third-party device.