Building AI Chatbot Interface for Complex BMS Queries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Building management systems are complex and require operators to navigate intricate menus and perform multiple steps to issue commands or access information, which is time-consuming and inefficient, especially for novice operators.

Innovation Solution

A chatbot system that processes natural language queries to identify appropriate tools and arguments for data collection from building management systems, using a Large Language Model to generate responses, thereby simplifying interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional building management system interfaces are used, then comprehensive control and information access are achieved, but operator efficiency deteriorates due to intricate menus and multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidoperator efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A chatbot intermediary is introduced between the operator and the building management system. The chatbot processes natural language queries, translates them into system commands, and retrieves information, eliminating the need for operators to navigate complex menus. This mediator handles the complexity internally while presenting a simple conversational interface to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional mechanical interaction model (clicking through menus and navigating interfaces) is replaced with a natural language processing system. The chatbot uses AI to understand and interpret human language, substituting the manual navigation process with automated language-based interaction that directly translates user intent into system actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of time

If traditional building management system interfaces are used, then full system functionality is accessed, but time consumption increases due to multiple navigation steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime consumptionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The chatbot is pre-configured with knowledge of the building management system's structure, available commands, and data sources. It has preliminary understanding of how to translate various user intents into appropriate system calls, eliminating the need for operators to learn complex navigation paths during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The chatbot intermediary consolidates multiple navigation steps into a single natural language request. It handles the complexity of translating user intent into sequential system commands internally, presenting a simplified one-step interface to operators while maintaining full system functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250216826A1Artificial intelligence chatbot for buildings

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A method and system for interacting with a building management system via a chatbot includes receiving a natural language query and processing it to identify tools and arguments needed to collect information from data sources associated with the building management system. The identified tools are executed with corresponding arguments to collect information from the data sources. The collected information and natural language query are submitted to a Large Language Model, which generates a natural language response based on the query and collected information.