Building Commissioning Ontology for Device Pairing and Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of configuring and commissioning large buildings with multiple devices and sensors requires specialized knowledge and time, as not all controllers are compatible with all sensors, and existing methods lack efficiency in establishing relationships between devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a semantic ontology description to pair appliances, sensors, and controllers, employing a device database and an ontology database to produce descriptor data and relationship data, which are then used to configure and transmit configuration data to the devices, simplifying the process by determining compatible relationships and links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional floor plan approach is used to establish dependencies between appliances, sensors, and controllers, then the system can be configured, but the process requires extensive specialist knowledge and numerous hours of manual work
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating the floor plan and establishing device relationships during the commissioning phase before operational use. The configuration controller automatically pairs appliances with sensors and controllers based on signal analysis, eliminating the need for manual specialist configuration later.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration controller performs self-service by automatically analyzing signals between devices, determining compatibility relationships, and generating the floor plan without requiring external specialist intervention. The system configures itself by autonomously establishing which controllers can control which appliances based on sensor data.
2Reliability
If specialist knowledge is used to determine compatibility between controllers and sensors, then accurate relationships can be established, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires trained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual specialist analysis with an automated electronic system. The configuration controller automatically analyzes signals between devices using electronic processing to determine compatibility relationships, substituting human expert judgment with algorithmic signal analysis that achieves both accuracy and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring and analyzing signals between sensors, appliances, and controllers to automatically determine compatibility relationships. The configuration controller receives feedback from device interactions and uses this information to autonomously establish correct pairings without manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration methods are used to link devices in large buildings, then compatibility can be verified, but the complexity and time required increase significantly with building size
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration controller performs multiple functions: it acts as a communication hub, signal analyzer, compatibility checker, and floor plan generator all in one device. This universal approach allows the system to handle compatibility verification for any number of devices without increasing process complexity, as the same automated methods scale to any building size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimension of automated signal analysis to the configuration process. Instead of manually checking compatibility in a linear fashion, the system analyzes multiple signal dimensions simultaneously between devices, enabling scalable compatibility verification that doesn't increase complexity with building size.
Data Source
AI summary
Configuration of a building. A method of configuring a site, the site comprising a plurality of devices (11-23), the plurality of devices (11-23) comprising a plurality of site controllers and a plurality of sensors and a plurality of appliances, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first device (11-23) from the plurality of appliances and/or from the plurality of sensors; producing first descriptor data for the first device (11-23); selecting a second device (11-23) from the plurality of appliances and/or from the plurality of sensors; producing second descriptor data for the second device (11-23); loading data indicative of an ontology database (9), the ontology database comprising a set of rules; producing relationship data by applying one or more rules to the first and second descriptor data; selecting a third device (11-23) from among the controllers.