Building Automation Appliance Replacement via Address Copying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems face challenges in efficiently reconfiguring or replacing appliances, especially in decentralized systems where central data management is not feasible, leading to cumbersome processes for adding, replacing, or recovering from defective devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where a master controller registers and scans slaves, allowing a new slave to assume the identity of an absent one by copying its address and descriptor, enabling seamless integration and configuration without additional effort from other controllers, utilizing rewritable addresses and descriptors for compatibility and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a decentralized control system is used without central data management, then system autonomy and flexibility are improved, but configuration complexity and time increase when adding or replacing appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements copying by having the master controller store configuration data (descriptor and parameters) of absent slaves in memory, and automatically copying this stored data to new slaves when they are added to the system. This eliminates manual reconfiguration and reduces configuration time while maintaining decentralized system autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller performs preliminary actions by maintaining a memory store of configuration data for absent slaves before they are removed or replaced. When new slaves are added, the pre-stored configuration data is automatically copied, eliminating the need for real-time configuration and reducing setup time.
2Reliability
If appliance replacement is performed manually with full reconfiguration, then system reliability is improved by ensuring proper setup, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome configuration processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically copying configuration data from the master controller's memory to new slaves without requiring manual intervention. The master controller autonomously identifies new slaves, retrieves pre-stored configuration data, and programs the slaves, ensuring both accuracy and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration accuracy is maintained by copying proven working parameters from the master controller's stored data to new slaves, ensuring they are properly configured without manual errors, while simultaneously simplifying the replacement process through automated data transfer.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate control systems are used without centralized management, then system modularity and flexibility are improved, but information sharing and coordination between controllers deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The master controller serves as an intermediary that maintains a central memory store of configuration data for all slaves. This intermediary structure enables information sharing between decentralized controllers while preserving system modularity, as the master controller coordinates data distribution without requiring full centralization of control.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Building automation where a new appliance may replace a lost, defective or old appliance. The automation equipment employs address and appliance descriptors to establish when a new appliance may replace an old appliance. The new appliance takes over the address of the old appliance which may be favourable in a decentral automation system and further reduces the configuration effort. Further some descriptors from the old appliance may be copied to the new appliance.