Building Management Cellular Modem Aggregation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and repair of cellular modems in building management systems are hindered by varying cellular network coverage maps and protocols among different service providers, leading to increased costs and time due to the need for multiple equipment products and outdated coverage information.
Innovation Solution
An aggregation system that collects network connectivity information from building management control panels and stores it in a customer management server for analysis, creating accurate cellular coverage maps and identifying potential outages and equipment failures, thereby guiding equipment decisions and reducing installation and repair time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If installers use multiple service equipment products for different wireless protocols and cellular service providers, then compatibility with various cellular networks is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal service equipment platform that supports multiple wireless protocols (CDMA, GSM, LTE, 5G) and multiple cellular service providers through a single integrated device. The system uses standardized interfaces and modular components that can be configured for different network types, eliminating the need for separate equipment for each protocol or provider while maintaining full compatibility across all cellular networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as frequency bands, modulation schemes, and transmission power based on the detected cellular network type and service provider. By changing these parameters rather than using different hardware equipment, the system achieves adaptability across multiple networks while maintaining a single unified device architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If installers carry multiple service equipment products for different cellular service providers, then coverage compatibility is improved, but installation time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The universal service equipment automatically detects the local cellular network environment and configures itself to work with the available service providers. Installers only need to carry this single multi-functional device, which adapts to the local coverage area without requiring pre-configuration or multiple provider-specific equipment sets, thereby dramatically reducing installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The service equipment performs self-configuration and self-diagnosis upon installation. It automatically identifies the local cellular network type, selects appropriate service providers, and configures optimal parameters without requiring installer intervention or reference to multiple coverage maps, enabling rapid deployment across different geographic areas.
3Loss of information
If coverage maps from different cellular service providers are used, then network coverage information is obtained, but measurement precision and reliability decrease due to outdated information
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects real-time signal strength, quality, and connectivity data from the installed cellular modems across the building management system network. This feedback is aggregated and used to dynamically update coverage maps, ensuring they reflect current network conditions rather than relying on static, potentially outdated provider-provided maps. The updated coverage information is then used to guide future installations and troubleshooting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent aggregates coverage data from multiple sources including multiple cellular service providers, real-time modem performance data, and historical installation information into a single unified coverage map. This merged dataset provides more accurate and comprehensive coverage information than any single provider's map alone, as it combines proprietary data with actual field performance measurements from numerous installed systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A network data aggregation system and method for connected building management systems are disclosed. The aggregation system assesses network connectivity for the building management system. For this purpose, the aggregation system includes building management control panels including modems for reporting to monitoring stations, and a customer management server (CMS). The control panels collect network connectivity information of the modems, and the CMS receives the network connectivity information. In one example, the CMS analyzes the network connectivity information to identify issues in service provider networks that provide connections between the modems of the building management control panels and the service provider networks.