Building Network Switch for Space Use Case Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building systems are siloed across domains, requiring domain-specific expertise and focusing on granular implementation details, which hinders the ability to create environments that effectively support human tasks and goals.
Innovation Solution
A network switch and building management system that facilitates communication and control of building devices through a network switch with a device interface, network routing circuitry, and a control circuit, allowing for prioritization and management of space use cases to optimize network parameters such as quality of service and bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If building systems are organized by domain-specific silos (HVAC, fire, access, security, lighting), then domain-specific control and expertise are maintained, but the ability to support human tasks and goals effectively is hindered due to disjointed operation and loss of high-level design intent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces space use cases as an intermediary layer between domain-specific building systems and human tasks/goals. These use cases act as mediators that translate high-level human objectives into coordinated actions across multiple domain silos, enabling effective task support while preserving domain-specific control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The space use case framework provides a universal layer that can coordinate multiple domain-specific systems (HVAC, lighting, security, etc.) to achieve diverse human tasks and goals. This multi-functional approach allows the same framework to support various occupancy scenarios and task types without requiring domain-specific customization for each task.
2Ease of manufacture
If building system design and operation focus on granular domain-specific implementation details, then domain expertise is utilized, but high-level design intent is obscured or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building system control architecture into distinct layers: high-level space use cases that capture design intent and human goals, and lower-level domain-specific systems that handle implementation details. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently while maintaining their relationships, preventing loss of high-level intent in the granularity of domain implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimensional layer (space use cases) above the traditional domain-specific organization. This vertical dimensionality change creates a hierarchical structure where high-level intent can be maintained separately from granular implementation, allowing both to coexist without interference or information loss.
3Stability of the object's composition
If network resources are allocated statically without considering space use cases, then network stability is maintained, but the ability to prioritize and optimize for different occupancy scenarios and tasks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes network resource allocation dynamic by linking it to space use cases and their associated priorities. Network parameters such as bandwidth and quality of service are adjusted dynamically based on which space use cases are active, allowing the system to adapt to different occupancy scenarios and task requirements while maintaining stability through structured priority-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
A network switch includes a device interface configured to facilitate communication between the network switch and a plurality of building devices that serve a space, network routing circuitry configured to route network communications associated with the building devices in accordance with one or more network parameters, a control circuit configured to control the plurality of devices via the network communications to provide a plurality of space use cases for the space. and a network manager circuit configured to determine values for the one or more network parameters based on the plurality of space use cases for the space.