EMS-SS Local Data Link for Building Energy Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy management and security systems within buildings lack direct communication capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in energy usage management and security response, particularly in situations where one system is down and cannot communicate with the other.
Innovation Solution
A local dynamic data link is established between energy management systems (EMS) and security systems (SS) using low-cost, high-performance microprocessors, enabling wireless or wired communication and allowing for mutual monitoring and control of energy loads and security alerts, including automatic backup data links for uninterrupted communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If energy management systems and security systems operate independently without direct communication, then each system can be managed separately with simpler individual architectures, but energy efficiency and security response are suboptimal due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy management system and security system into an integrated architecture where both systems share common communication infrastructure and control mechanisms. The energy management controller and security system controller are interconnected through a unified communication bus, allowing coordinated operation. This merging enables the systems to work together for optimized energy security management while sharing hardware resources, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated controller is designed to perform multiple functions - both energy management tasks and security monitoring tasks - through a single unified platform. The system can switch between different operational modes (energy optimization, security monitoring, or both simultaneously) based on priority settings and system state. This multi-functionality allows one system to serve multiple purposes, improving overall efficiency while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Reliability
If wide area data communication links are used for both energy management and security systems, then remote monitoring and control capabilities are achieved, but communication reliability deteriorates when primary links fail or systems go down
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a local communication bus between the energy management controller and security system controller before any failures occur. This preliminary setup ensures that even if wide area communication links fail, the two systems can still exchange critical data and maintain coordinated operation locally. The local bus acts as a pre-established backup pathway that is always available, improving reliability without requiring complex dynamic reconfiguration during failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The local communication bus serves as an intermediary communication channel between the energy management system and security system. Rather than relying directly on external wide area networks for all communications, the systems use this intermediate local bus for direct peer-to-peer data exchange. This intermediary layer provides an additional communication pathway that is independent of external network conditions, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manageable infrastructure complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-time communication and control between energy management and security systems is implemented, then coordinated energy security management is achieved, but system complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated system implements dynamic coordination between energy management and security functions based on real-time conditions. The controllers can adjust their operational priorities, communication frequency, and control strategies dynamically according to system state, external events, and predefined policies. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to changing requirements without requiring overly complex fixed architecture, as the system reconfigures itself based on current needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that establishes a local dynamic data link between an energy management system (EMS) and a security system (SS) within a building. A power management device, including a monitor module that directly monitors energy usage of at least one energy load to generate at least one measurement of energy usage by said at least one energy load; and a security module operatively coupled to the monitor module.