Web-Based Building Automation Gateway Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems face challenges in providing uniform access and usability due to different access points and communication protocols, leading to varied user experiences and functionalities across different connectivity types.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a web-based interaction system where a browser on a computer interacts with a web-server to access building automation logic, using HTTP communications for IP access and reformatting requests for non-IP access, ensuring consistent look, feel, and functionality across various networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If web-application is used for IP access to building automation system, then standard web browser access is enabled, but connectivity is restricted to specific IP format and not all devices provide proper connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
A gateway device is introduced as an intermediary between the web browser and building automation devices. The gateway receives HTTP requests from the browser, translates them into appropriate communication protocols (such as BACnet, Modbus, or proprietary protocols), and forwards them to the target devices. This mediator enables universal web-based access while accommodating diverse communication protocols and connectivity types without requiring changes to the building automation devices themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes communication parameters based on the target device type. The gateway detects the communication protocol and connectivity requirements of the destination device, then adjusts the request format, data encoding, and transmission protocol accordingly. This parameter adaptation allows a single web interface to access multiple device types through different communication standards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If special purpose application is used for non-IP access, then access to non-IP controllers is enabled, but user interface and functionality vary depending on access point
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs multiple functions within a single unified platform: it acts as an HTTP server receiving web requests, a protocol translator converting between web protocols and building automation protocols, a router directing requests to appropriate devices, and a response formatter. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate special-purpose applications for different access types, providing consistent web-based interface for both IP and non-IP devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different access points are used for building automation system, then various connectivity options are supported, but look, feel, and functionality differ across access points
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as a standardized intermediary that all access points communicate through. Whether accessing IP-based devices directly or non-IP devices through serial connections, the gateway presents a uniform HTTP interface. The gateway handles protocol translation, data formatting, and response standardization, ensuring that the user experience remains consistent regardless of the underlying connectivity method or target device type.
Data Source
AI summary
Web-based interaction with building automation is provided. The interaction, regardless of the access point, is browser based. For IP access, hypertext protocol (http) communications of the browser are performed. The web-enabled controller serves responses with building automation information. For non-IP access, a web-server operating as an application in the same device as the browser intercepts the http communication and reformats the communication as appropriate for the non-IP access. Based on a response from the building automation system, the device local web-server responds to the browser. For communicating across different types of networks in the building automation system, controllers may use the embedded web-server to reformat as needed and route requests. The same look, feel, functionality, and/or usability may be provided using the browser regardless of the connectivity to the building automation network.