Building management system with point virtualization for online meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building management systems (BMS) face limitations due to low-cost meters that provide only one or two points, restricting the use of advanced analytics and features, as they lack the necessary data points to effectively monitor and manage building operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a BMS that utilizes point virtualization by creating virtual points not measured by the meter, allowing the system to calculate metrics based on real and virtual points, and control building equipment accordingly, using an analytics circuit to store and update point objects and calculate values through formulas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If low-cost meters providing only one or two points are used, then the system cost is reduced, but the capability to perform advanced analytics and building management is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of meter points through software-based virtualization. Virtual point objects are generated that replicate the functionality of physical meter points, allowing multiple virtual points to be derived from a single physical meter. This enables advanced analytics and building management capabilities without requiring additional physical meters, thus maintaining low system cost while improving analytics capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional physical metering system to a multi-dimensional system by creating virtual point objects that exist in the digital domain. These virtual points can be combined, aggregated, and manipulated in ways that physical meters cannot, enabling complex analytics and building management functions while keeping the physical infrastructure minimal and cost-effective.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional physical meters are installed to provide more data points, then the analytics capability is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single physical meter universal by creating multiple virtual point objects from it. The virtualization layer allows one physical meter to serve multiple analytical purposes simultaneously - it can provide basic metering functions while also enabling advanced analytics, building management, and various reporting functions through virtual point aggregation and manipulation, eliminating the need for multiple specialized meters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical meter and the building management system. This intermediary creates virtual point objects that bridge the gap between limited physical measurements and the diverse data requirements of advanced analytics, allowing the system to achieve high analytics capability without the complexity of installing and integrating multiple physical meters.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual points are created to supplement meter data, then the analytics capability is improved without additional physical meters, but the system requires complex virtualization logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the state of meter points from fixed physical measurements to flexible virtual constructs. By creating virtual point objects with configurable parameters such as aggregation rules, calculation methods, and data source mappings, the system can adapt to different analytics requirements through parameter configuration rather than through complex hard-coded virtualization logic, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining high analytics capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A building management system includes a meter configured to provide data samples of a real point. The real point corresponds to a first physical parameter measured by the meter. The building management system also includes an analytics circuit configured to store a real point object representing the real point and store a meter object representing the meter. The meter object includes a points attribute that lists one or more point objects associated with the meter object including at least the real point object. The analytics circuit is also configured to store a virtual point object representing a virtual point. The virtual point corresponds to a second physical parameter not measured by the meter. The analytics circuit is also configured to update the points attribute in the meter object to list the virtual point object as one of the point objects associated with the meter object.