Cloud Building Automation With Dynamic Port Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems suffer from energy inefficiencies due to independent systems competing with each other, non-optimal designs leading to wasted energy, and high costs associated with modifying legacy systems, resulting in energy-saving projects being avoided.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based automation system integrating zone controllers and building gateways that collect and analyze sensor data to dynamically control actuators, optimizing energy efficiency by integrating with existing HVAC and lighting controls, and allowing for seamless communication across diverse protocols through universal input/output ports and cloud-based optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If independent sensor-actuator pairs are used for each building function, then each function can operate autonomously, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to systems competing with each other and non-optimal designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges independent sensor-actuator pairs into a unified cloud-based automation system that centrally coordinates control across all building functions. The cloud controller aggregates data from multiple sensors and issues coordinated commands to multiple actuators, eliminating competing independent operations and optimizing energy usage system-wide.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based automation system provides universal control capabilities across diverse building functions (lighting, HVAC, security, etc.) through a single platform. The system can adapt to control various device types using standardized protocols, replacing multiple specialized independent systems with one multi-functional controller.
2Loss of energy
If legacy building management systems are modified to improve energy efficiency, then energy savings can be achieved, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based automation system as an intermediary layer between legacy building management systems and control devices. This intermediary can optimize energy efficiency by coordinating control strategies without requiring expensive modifications to the underlying legacy systems, as it operates through existing communication interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis and optimization in the cloud before executing control actions. By pre-processing sensor data and determining optimal control strategies remotely, the system achieves energy savings without requiring costly on-site modifications to legacy infrastructure.
3Loss of energy
If a centralized building management system is implemented, then energy efficiency can be optimized, but device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based automation system acts as a remote intermediary that simplifies centralized control by eliminating the need for complex on-site integration hardware. The cloud platform handles data aggregation, analysis, and control decision-making, reducing the complexity of local system integration while maintaining centralized optimization capabilities.
4Reliability
If multiple isolated local networks are used in a building, then security and reliability are improved, but energy coordination between systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based system serves as a secure intermediary that enables energy coordination across isolated local networks without requiring them to be physically connected. The cloud platform receives data from multiple networks through standardized interfaces, performs centralized energy optimization analysis, and distributes coordinated control commands back to the respective networks, maintaining their security isolation while achieving system-wide energy efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A building automation system includes a cloud controller coupled to an external network and one or more building gateways and/or zone controllers located on-premises at a building and coupled to the cloud controller via the external network. The building gateways include a communication interface and automatically scan the communication interface in order to collect a plurality of collected data and transmit the collected data to the cloud controller via the external network. The zone controllers have a variety of ports including universal input output ports with selectable power supply options and operating modes. The cloud controller analyses the collected data to determine sensor / actuator components at the building and transmits configuration data to the building gateways and zone controllers. This configuration data is utilized to dynamically reconfigure the ports and communication interfaces thereby allowing the building gateways and zone controllers to communicate with the component types at the building.