Building Control Alarm Prioritization Using Time-Based Dynamic Ranking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building control systems generate a large number of alarms, making it difficult for operators to prioritize and manage them effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically prioritizing alarms within a building control system by assigning static and dynamic priority levels based on alarm parameters and elapsed time, and displaying notifications of the highest ranked alarms prominently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all alarms are displayed with equal priority, then all alarms receive attention, but operators cannot effectively prioritize critical alarms among a large number of alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels (visual qualities) to different alarms based on their characteristics and age. Critical alarms receive prominent display with high-visibility indicators, while less critical alarms are displayed with lower priority indicators. This differential treatment allows operators to quickly identify and respond to the most important alarms without being overwhelmed by the total number of alarms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by continuously updating alarm priority levels based on elapsed time and changing conditions. Alarms that are not acknowledged or resolved automatically increase in priority over time, and the system dynamically re-ranks alarms to ensure the most time-critical alarms remain at the top of the operator's attention list. This dynamic adjustment ensures that aging alarms receive increasing attention.
2Reliability
If static priority levels are assigned based on alarm parameters, then critical alarms are identified, but aging alarms do not receive increased attention over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning static priority levels to alarms based on their parameters before they are acknowledged or resolved. This initial prioritization ensures that inherently critical alarms are immediately identified and displayed with appropriate prominence. Simultaneously, the system sets up the mechanism for automatic priority escalation, so that alarms automatically increase in priority as time elapses, ensuring that aging alarms receive increased attention without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the age of each alarm and automatically adjusting its priority level based on elapsed time. This feedback mechanism ensures that alarms which have not been acknowledged or resolved receive increasing priority, creating a self-correcting system that naturally brings aging alarms to the operator's attention. The system feedback loop continuously evaluates alarm status and adjusts display priority accordingly.
Data Source
AI summary
Each alarm received over time is associated with one or more alarm parameters that each provide a priority factor. Each of the plurality of alarms are associated with an open state until the corresponding alarm is acted upon in a predetermined manner by an operator. For each of the plurality of alarms that remain in the open state, a static priority level is based on the priority factors provided by the one or more alarm parameters associated with the corresponding alarm, and a dynamic priority level is determined that is based at least in part on the static priority level of the corresponding alarm and an amount of time that has elapsed since the corresponding alarm was reported. Open state alarms are ranked according to the dynamic priority level and a notification of a highest ranked alarm is displayed.