Building Automation Image-to-Data Converter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems face challenges in obtaining accurate and compatible data for controlling technical devices due to issues like media breaks, data incompleteness, and incompatibility, particularly when transitioning between different software and documentation formats used by specialists during building design and commissioning phases.
Innovation Solution
A building automation system processes images related to building plans to identify device-to-zone assignments, using an image-to-data converter with recognition and mapper components to create a hierarchical data structure that re-establishes and modifies device-to-zone assignments, enhancing data accuracy and compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual device-to-zone assignment is performed using different software by consultants and integrators, then device control functionality is achieved, but data incompatibility and incorrect documentation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data exchange format that acts as a mediator between different software systems used by consultants and integrators. This standardized format enables automatic data transfer without manual re-entry, eliminating incompatibility issues while maintaining device control functionality across different phases of building automation.
2Ease of manufacture
If proprietary data formats are used in CAD systems, then system-specific functionality is optimized, but data incompatibility with BAS engineering systems occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data exchange process into distinct components: proprietary format handling within each system and a standardized intermediate format for cross-system communication. This allows each system to maintain its optimized proprietary format while the intermediate format ensures compatibility with BAS engineering systems, resolving the contradiction between system optimization and data interoperability.
3Measurement precision
If automated image processing is used to obtain device-to-zone assignment, then data accuracy and compatibility improve, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where the image processing system automatically extracts device-to-zone assignment data from building plans without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously performs image analysis, data extraction, and validation, achieving high data accuracy while the automation itself manages the processing complexity, making the overall process simpler despite the sophisticated underlying technology.
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A building automation system (BAS, 600) for a building (200) with physical separators (212, 214) that divide a particular plane (210) of the building (200) into zones (211, 213, 215) uses a data structure (500) that represents the zones and technical devices (221, 223, 225) within the building. The BAS controls the operation of the technical devices by processing the data structure. The data structure is provided by an image-to-data converter (100). In the converter, a receiver component (101) that receives an image (410) of the plane, with image lines (412, 414) and image symbols (421, 423, 425); a recognition component (102) identifies the separators and the zones by processing the image lines, the technical devices, as well as coordinates; a mapper component (103) processes the coordinates and to provides the data structure (500).