Building Automation Coverage Area Interface for Device Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems face challenges in managing vast numbers of devices and control points due to rigid user interfaces, making it difficult for building managers to navigate and access timely information, especially since these systems are unique to each building's layout and design.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface is developed that allows users to define a coverage area associated with monitoring devices within a building, enabling the identification and display of related items by generating a coverage area graphic relative to the building layout, and automatically associating related items with devices within that area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid user interface architecture is used to display and access building automation system data, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but it becomes difficult and time-consuming for building managers to navigate and access timely information
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface transitions from a rigid, static architecture to a dynamic, flexible architecture that adapts to user needs and building layouts. The interface dynamically generates displays based on selected building devices, automatically determining relevant related items and spatial relationships without requiring manual configuration of navigation paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-configuration by automatically identifying and displaying related items when a building device is selected. The interface autonomously determines spatial relationships, generates appropriate displays, and navigates to relevant information without requiring manual setup or complex user navigation procedures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual pre-configuration or dynamic discovery is used to identify related items for building devices, then the system can provide relevant information, but the process remains limited and rigid requiring additional configuration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically configures itself by determining spatial relationships between building devices and monitoring devices. When a building device is selected, the system autonomously identifies related monitoring devices based on coverage area analysis and automatically generates appropriate displays without requiring manual pre-configuration or complex discovery procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual configuration mechanisms with automated spatial analysis. Instead of requiring users to manually configure related items or rely on complex dynamic discovery algorithms, the system uses automatic geometric analysis of coverage areas and spatial relationships to determine and display relevant monitoring devices.
3Quantity of substance
If vast numbers of devices and control points are managed in a building automation system, then comprehensive monitoring coverage is achieved, but navigation and information access become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the large number of building devices into manageable groups based on spatial relationships and functional associations. By organizing devices according to their physical locations and coverage areas, the interface presents information in concentrated, relevant groups rather than requiring users to search through all devices in the building, significantly reducing information access time.
Data Source
AI summary
Management systems, methods and mediums are provided. A method includes displaying a building layout graphic, receiving a request to generate a coverage area graphic associated with a monitoring device, generating the coverage area graphic, and displaying the coverage area graphic relative to the building layout graphic. The method also identifies a device having a data point to be monitored by the data processing system, and determines whether the identified device is in the coverage area represented by the coverage area graphic. In response to determining that the identified device is in the coverage area, the method further includes storing a related item identifier associated with the one or more monitoring devices in association with an object corresponding to the identified device. The method receives a selection for the identified device and, in response, displays one or more related item identifiers associated with the one or more monitoring devices.