Central Controller Protocol Translation for Heterogeneous Energy Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy management networks face challenges in communicating across different networks, such as proprietary protocols, varying latencies, bandwidths, and the inability to manage both residential and industrial energy loads simultaneously, leading to inefficiencies and complexities in monitoring and controlling energy load control devices from different manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A central controller system that communicates across various networks, providing geographic location data, customizable energy control strategies, and a user-friendly interface to manage both residential and industrial energy loads, allowing for seamless communication and control of energy load control devices regardless of their network type or manufacturer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary communication protocols are used to ensure compatibility between paging transmitter and energy load control devices, then communication reliability is improved, but device compatibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol translation layer or gateway that acts as an intermediary between paging networks and broadband networks. This intermediary converts proprietary paging protocols into standardized broadband protocols, enabling communication between devices from different manufacturers while maintaining reliable communication through protocol conversion rather than requiring direct proprietary protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication interface that can handle multiple protocol types (paging, broadband, AMI). The energy management system is designed to work across different network types and manufacturer protocols through a unified architecture, making the system universally compatible rather than requiring separate proprietary implementations for each device type.
2Reliability
If separate systems are used to monitor energy load control devices from different manufacturers across different networks, then communication reliability within each network is maintained, but system complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate monitoring systems into a single unified energy management platform. The system consolidates monitoring of devices from different manufacturers across paging networks, broadband networks, and AMI infrastructure into one integrated interface, reducing the number of separate systems from many to one while maintaining reliable communication through protocol translation layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified system incorporates universal communication capabilities that can interface with multiple network types (paging, broadband, AMI) and device protocols simultaneously. This multi-functional architecture allows a single system to monitor all energy load control devices regardless of manufacturer or network type, eliminating the need for multiple specialized monitoring systems.
3Quantity of substance
If messages are sent in serial fashion with time gaps in paging networks, then bandwidth constraints are respected, but communication speed and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions communication from the time dimension (serial messaging with gaps) to the parallel dimension by utilizing broadband network capabilities. Messages are transmitted simultaneously to multiple devices in parallel rather than sequentially, dramatically increasing communication speed while the system manages message volume through broadband's higher capacity in a different dimensional space (parallel vs. sequential processing).
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provides a central controller that can communicate across different types of networks to reach various energy load control devices. Energy load control devices can include, but are not limited to, thermostats, load control switches such as Digital Control Units (DCUs), and gateways or network interfaces coupled to the Internet, etc. This ability to communicate across different types of networks allows the central controller to monitor as well as issue command signals to the various energy load control devices. The central controller can provide geographic maps on displays, such as a computer display, which list the relative locations of energy load control devices with respect to their geography or physical locations. The central controller can also provide a topology that can be customized so that a user can visualize and select groups of energy load control devices according to the user's customized topology.