Building automation system with edge device local configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building automation systems are complex and require numerous devices and protocols, leading to increased complexity and reduced interoperability between different building devices, making it difficult to integrate and maintain systems across various facilities of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A rooftop unit equipped with air conditioning components and circuitry that executes expression-based event processing logic and a machine learning algorithm, allowing for pattern recognition, fault diagnosis, and prediction, with the ability to communicate with a cloud system and adapt to remote updates, while maintaining a low memory footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional building automation systems use complex architectures with multiple devices and protocols, then system functionality is enhanced, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data model that enables different building devices (HVAC, lighting, security) to communicate through a common interface and data structure. This single unified architecture replaces the need for multiple specialized protocols and devices, achieving system versatility without increasing architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms building automation by changing the data representation parameters from protocol-specific formats to a standardized universal data model. This parameter transformation enables interoperability across diverse devices while maintaining a simple consistent architecture, resolving the contradiction between functionality and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems manually configure each building device, then system customization is improved, but installation time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic device discovery and configuration where devices self-register with the platform and automatically adopt the universal data model. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual configuration requirements while maintaining full customization capability, dramatically reducing installation time without sacrificing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal data model and integration framework are pre-established in the system architecture before deployment. This preliminary preparation allows devices to be quickly onboarded without time-consuming manual configuration, as the framework is already in place to handle device registration, data normalization, and interoperability automatically.
3Adaptability or versatility
If diverse building devices use different protocols and data formats, then device-specific functionality is optimized, but interoperability between devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal data model as an intermediary layer between diverse building devices and the control system. This mediator translates various device protocols and data formats into a common standardized format, enabling seamless interoperability while preserving the original device-specific functionalities through the translation layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a unit of building equipment serving a building and including a heating, ventilation, or cooling component and onboard circuitry configured to execute a configuration routine stored on the circuitry which automatically configures parameters of the rooftop unit based on the signals received from sensors and devices at the building. The system also includes a cloud system communicably connectable to the onboard circuitry and configured to influence the configuration routine.