Building Management Gateway for Multi-Protocol Infrastructure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems face challenges in integrating and controlling infrastructure elements due to incompatibility arising from different communication protocols, requiring specialized software and high costs, and lack of dynamic programming capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A building management system (BMS) that utilizes a virtual machine (VM) operating on infrastructure element microcontrollers to translate communications between different protocols, enabling seamless integration and real-time programming of infrastructure elements without interrupting their operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If infrastructure elements use different communication protocols, then each element can operate independently with its own specifications, but compatibility and integration between elements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between infrastructure elements using different protocols. The gateway translates communications from one protocol to another, enabling compatibility without requiring direct integration between heterogeneous elements. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining protocol diversity while achieving interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple communication protocols simultaneously. It can receive messages from infrastructure elements using different protocols, translate them appropriately, and forward to the target elements. This universal capability allows a single device to bridge various protocol domains, improving compatibility without increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If specialized software is used for each infrastructure element, then precise control of each element is achieved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that handles protocol translation and message routing, allowing infrastructure elements to use simpler control software while maintaining precise control through the gateway's translation capabilities. The gateway absorbs the complexity of multiple protocols rather than requiring each element to have specialized software for every protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
Each infrastructure element uses its own native protocol and simple control software, serving itself without requiring external specialized software. The gateway handles the complexity of interoperability, allowing elements to maintain simple, reliable control logic while achieving system-wide integration through the gateway's translation services.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a universal management system is implemented, then integration of diverse infrastructure elements is improved, but system complexity and initial installation burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as a centralized intermediary that handles all protocol translation and integration logic in one location. This approach improves system integration by providing a universal management point while concentrating complexity in a single device rather than distributing it across all infrastructure elements, thereby reducing installation burden on individual components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes, for each respective infrastructure element of a plurality of infrastructure elements, controlling a feature of a facility environment using a set of parameters. The method further includes receiving, at a virtual machine, a request from a remote device using a first protocol and including a communication for a first infrastructure element of the plurality of infrastructure elements. The method includes generating, by the virtual machine, a translated request using a second protocol and transmitting the translated request to the first infrastructure element. The method includes receiving, at the virtual machine, from the first infrastructure element, an infrastructure element response using the second protocol and generating a translated response using the first protocol based on the infrastructure element response. The method includes transmitting, by the virtual machine, to the remote device, the translated response using the first protocol.