Decentralized Sensor Actor Nodes for Building Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial building automation systems require centralized controllers to distribute packets, making them complex to configure and manage, as sensor and actor nodes need to know the recipients of data packets, which limits their interoperability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized automation system where sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network using the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol, and actor nodes detect and act on source addresses without needing to know the recipients, allowing for conditional logic-based control without a centralized controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized controller is used to distribute packets in building automation systems, then reliable communication between sensor and actor nodes is achieved, but the system complexity increases and configuration becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the centralized controller from the system architecture and replaces it with a decentralized peer-to-peer communication model where sensor nodes and actor nodes communicate directly through wireless networks. Each node independently processes packets containing source addresses, eliminating the need for central coordination and reducing system complexity while maintaining communication reliability through robust packet routing protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the centralized control function into distributed decision-making capabilities at each node. Actor nodes are configured with source address filters that enable them to independently determine whether to act on received packets based on the source address, rather than relying on a centralized controller to route packets. This segmentation distributes intelligence across multiple nodes, reducing overall system complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If sensor and actor nodes are configured to know recipient addresses for packet distribution, then targeted control is achieved, but interoperability is limited and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional addressing model by having nodes filter packets based on source addresses rather than destination addresses. Instead of sensor nodes needing to know which actor nodes to send packets to, actor nodes are configured with source address filters that determine which packets to respond to. This inversion enables any actor node to potentially receive and act on packets from any sensor node, significantly improving interoperability while maintaining precise control through source address matching.
3Productivity
If a centralized controller coordinates packet distribution, then systematic control is achieved, but configuration and management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service configuration where actor nodes automatically filter and respond to packets based on pre-configured source address criteria. Each actor node independently determines whether to act on received packets by checking the source address against its configured filter list, eliminating the need for centralized coordination during operation. Configuration is simplified to defining source address filters rather than managing complex routing tables, making the system easier to configure and manage.
Data Source
AI summary
An automation system that does not require any of the source node devices transmitting packets of information to have knowledge of the recipients of those packets. The automation system comprises sensor nodes and actor nodes. The sensor nodes transmit information via a wireless network based on conditions that are sensed by the sensors, such as a button being pushed, motion being detected, or the current ambient light level. The actor nodes detect the information that is transmitted over the wireless network and control their device functions, such as lighting and climate control, based on the information detected. In particular, the actor nodes monitor the network for packets that contain information that is relevant to each node, such as one or more sensor node source addresses previously configured to be of interest to each actor node and which are used in the decision-making that is performed by each actor node.