Cloud Broker Mediation for Edge Device Schedule Conflict Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC control systems face challenges in coordinating and synchronizing schedules between independent control agents and edge devices, leading to potential conflicts and inefficient operation due to lack of centralized mediation and synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A cloud broker system that receives instructions from control agents, analyzes for conflicts, and mediates scheduling information to ensure synchronized execution of HVAC schedules across edge devices, using APIs for CRUD operations and secure communication channels to maintain coordinated control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If multiple control agents independently communicate with edge devices without centralized coordination, then system autonomy and distributed control are improved, but schedule conflicts and control reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud broker as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple control agents and edge devices. The broker receives schedule requests from control agents, analyzes them for conflicts, and coordinates execution to prevent schedule conflicts while maintaining distributed control architecture.
2Reliability
If centralized cloud broker mediates all control agent communications, then schedule conflict prevention and control coordination are improved, but system complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: control agents that generate schedules, a cloud broker that coordinates and resolves conflicts, and edge devices that execute schedules. This segmentation allows each component to have specialized functionality, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable schedule synchronization.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual trial-and-error methods are used for HVAC control setup and maintenance, then system simplicity and ease of installation are improved, but control accuracy and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service through the cloud broker's conflict analysis and mediation capabilities. The broker automatically analyzes schedule requests, identifies conflicts, and coordinates execution without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving HVAC control efficiency while maintaining ease of installation through standardized interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Example apparatus, systems and methods to communicate between a control agent and an edge device via a cloud broker are disclosed and described herein. An example apparatus includes a processor configured to receive a first instruction from a first control agent for an edge device, the first instruction associated with a first schedule of settings for a target, the target accessible via an edge device. The example processor is configured to analyze the first instruction to identify a conflict between the first instruction and a second instruction, the second instruction associated with a second control agent. When no conflict is identified, the example processor is configured to provide the first instruction to the edge device for relay to the target. When a conflict is identified between the first instruction and the second instruction, the example processor is configured to mediate the conflict and provide an outcome to the edge device.