Building Server Cloud Registration and Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring and controlling physical environments face challenges such as data privacy concerns, scalability issues, and the need for comprehensive strategies to accurately time-stamp and process data for energy or space usage efficiency, particularly in large buildings with diverse sensor devices generating data in various formats.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based monitoring and control system that registers building servers with a computing cloud, using a registration process involving HMAC codes and digital certificates for authentication, and includes an identity management module to manage device identities and access, enabling secure data transmission and processing while accommodating a growing number of devices and users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional monitoring systems are used to gather data from sensors in physical environments, then data collection capability is achieved, but data privacy concerns and scalability issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data processing into multiple layers: edge devices perform local processing and filtering, building servers aggregate data from multiple sensors, and cloud platforms perform high-level analytics. This segmentation allows the system to collect data from numerous sensors while maintaining privacy through localized processing and enabling scalability through distributed architecture.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive data processing is implemented to ensure accurate time-stamping and energy usage measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-synchronizing clocks across all devices using NTP before data collection begins, and by pre-configuring time-stamping mechanisms at the edge devices. This preliminary synchronization ensures accurate time-stamping without requiring complex real-time coordination during data processing, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing operational complexity.
3Reliability
If secure communication protocols and authentication mechanisms are implemented for device registration, then data security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device registration process implements self-service mechanisms where devices automatically generate cryptographic key pairs, self-register with the cloud platform using their public keys, and obtain authentication credentials without manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains strong security through cryptographic authentication while simplifying operation by eliminating manual configuration steps.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-based processing is used to handle data from diverse sensor devices, then adaptability to different device formats is improved, but loss of time in data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces building servers as intermediary components between edge devices and the cloud platform. These intermediaries perform format standardization, data validation, and preliminary aggregation locally, translating diverse sensor formats into a unified schema before cloud transmission. This intermediary layer maintains adaptability to various device formats while reducing cloud processing time by pre-processing data at the edge.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for registering and localizing a building server. A system comprises a building server communicatively coupled with a computing cloud, and configured to initiate a registration process that comprises transmitting data identifying the building server. The computing cloud comprises at least a device registration module that receives the data transmitted from the building server, authenticates the building server, and generates and transmits data such as a building server password and a digital certificate. The computing cloud also comprises an identity management module that receives a request to create a unique ID associated with the building server, and updates a memory to indicate an association between the building server and the computing cloud.