Building Event Query Platform for Context-Aware Subsystem Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building management systems lack dynamic, scalable, and adjustable solutions for holistic management of building operations, as discrete predefined systems operate independently without knowledge of the building's overall state.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based building system that enriches events with contextual data, generates enriched events, and provides them to consuming applications, utilizing schema matching, graph projections, and change feeds to facilitate holistic management and communication across building subsystems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If discrete predefined controlling systems operate each subsystem individually, then each subsystem can be controlled independently, but holistic management of the building is not achieved and systems lack knowledge of the overall building state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholistic management capabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges discrete building subsystems into a unified event-driven architecture where all subsystems (HVAC, lighting, security, etc.) are integrated through a central event bus. This allows holistic management while maintaining individual subsystem independence through event-based communication rather than tight coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The event bus serves as a universal communication infrastructure that handles multiple functions: event routing, data distribution, contextual information sharing, and coordination between different subsystems. This single universal mechanism replaces multiple dedicated communication channels.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If predefined controlling systems are used, then implementation is straightforward, but dynamic and scalable solutions cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic scalabilityVSAvoidsystem implementation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static predefined control to dynamic event-driven control where subsystems can be added, removed, or modified at runtime. Event sources and consuming applications can dynamically subscribe to or publish events without system reconfiguration, enabling flexible adaptation to changing building requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The building management system is segmented into independent event sources, event bus, and consuming applications. Each component operates autonomously and communicates through standardized events, allowing individual components to be developed, deployed, and scaled independently while maintaining ease of implementation through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If subsystems operate independently without contextual information, then system operation is simple, but contextual awareness and coordinated control are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontextual information availabilityVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The event bus acts as an intermediary that collects, standardizes, and distributes contextual information from all building subsystems. Instead of subsystems directly exchanging complex information, they publish events to the bus which handles routing and distribution, reducing information processing complexity while improving contextual awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The event-driven architecture establishes feedback loops where subsystems publish state changes as events, consuming applications process these events and generate control actions, which are published back as events to actuate subsystems. This continuous feedback enables contextual awareness and coordinated control while maintaining simple subsystem operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11991019B2Building data platform with event queries
Publication Date: 2024.05.21 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
  • US11991019B2 patent drawing
  • US11991019B2 patent drawing
  • US11991019B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A building system of a building including one or more memory devices having instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to manage a plurality of entitlements for a plurality of subscriptions of one or more buildings with a building entitlement model, receive a first request to perform a first operation for a first subscription and a second request to perform a second operation for a second subscription, and implement the first operation on first computing resources of a first zone based on the building entitlement model in response to a first determination that the first subscription has the first entitlement and implement the second operation on second computing resources of the second zone based on the building entitlement model in response to a second determination that the second subscription has the second entitlement.