Building Controller Virtual Terminal Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional residential room master devices designed for centralized intercom systems cannot be used in distributed intercom systems due to incompatibility with building controllers designed for distributed systems, leading to increased costs and product diversity.

Innovation Solution

The intercom system includes residential room master devices, terminal devices, and a building controller that uses identification information to recognize and communicate with each other, allowing the residential room master device to function in both centralized and distributed systems by converting signals between intercom lines and networks, and recognizing the building controller as a virtual terminal device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional residential room master device designed for centralized intercom systems is used, then the device can be used in centralized systems, but it cannot be used in distributed intercom systems due to incompatibility with building controllers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different intercom systemsVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building controller acts as an intermediary device that mediates communication between the centralized building controller and the residential room master device. It translates and forwards call signals between these two incompatible systems, enabling the room master device to function in both centralized and distributed intercom system architectures without modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If building controllers are distributed among residential buildings in a distributed intercom system, then the processing power requirement of the centralized controller is reduced, but conventional residential room master devices cannot recognize the distributed building controllers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing power distributionVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The building controller is designed with multi-functionality to operate in both centralized and distributed intercom system architectures. It can function as a distributed building controller in residential buildings while simultaneously acting as a virtual terminal device that conventional room master devices can recognize and communicate with, thus achieving universal compatibility across different system types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If the number of residential buildings is increased in a centralized intercom system, then the system coverage is expanded, but the processing power of the centralized controller must be enhanced and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of residential buildingsVSAvoidcontroller processing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized intercom system is segmented into multiple distributed building controllers, each responsible for processing call signals within its own residential building. This segmentation distributes the processing power requirements across multiple independent units, allowing the system to expand to cover more residential buildings without requiring a single centralized controller to handle all processing demands, thus controlling costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3518514B1Building controller and interphone system
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 AIPHONE CO LTD
  • EP3518514B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518514B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3518514B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An interphone system for use in collective housing constituted by a plurality of residential buildings and a centralization building (5) capable of communicating with each residential building, each of the residential buildings comprising: a residential-unit master device (30) installed in each residential unit; a plurality of collective entrance devices (10A-10D) capable of communicating with the residential-unit master device (30); and a building controller communicatively connecting the residential-unit master device (30) in each residential unit with the collective entrance devices (10A-10D) in the building, wherein the building controller has: a building controller ID that, at the time of calling up the residential-unit master device (30) from the centralization building (5) via the building controller, is used for the centralization building (5) to identify the building controller; and a collective entrance device ID that, at the time of calling up the residential-unit master device (30) from the centralization building (5) via the building controller, is used for the residential-unit master device (30) to identify the building controller as a virtual collective entrance device different from the collective entrance devices (10A-10D).