Farm Climate Data Integration Gateway for Multi-Protocol Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional farm management devices are limited by their local usage design, failing to provide an integrated view of farm resources and unable to seamlessly connect with climate and biometric controllers from different manufacturers, leading to inefficiencies and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for automatically integrating farm climate and biometric variables by collecting data from sensors, equalizing it to standard units, and transmitting it to a remote server for analysis, allowing for remote monitoring and management across different manufacturers' systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional devices are designed for local usage only, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different manufacturers' systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between farm climate/biometric controllers from different manufacturers and the remote server. This gateway contains a protocol recognition module that automatically detects and adapts to different communication protocols, serving as a mediator that translates between various manufacturer-specific protocols and the universal protocol used by the server, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed with universal functionality to work with multiple manufacturers' controllers through automatic protocol recognition and adaptation. Instead of requiring separate integration solutions for each manufacturer, the single gateway device can handle various protocols (Modbus, BACnet, LonWorks, etc.), making the system universally compatible while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized protocol handling
2Loss of information
If data is collected without equalization, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of information increases due to inability to compare data from different sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a data equalization process that transforms raw data from various sources into a standardized format with uniform units, scales, and structures. The gateway device converts different measurement units (e.g., Celsius to Fahrenheit, different pressure units) and normalizes data ranges while preserving the original measurement precision through accurate conversion calculations, thereby enabling data comparability without losing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The data equalization is performed in advance during the data transmission process, before the data reaches the remote server for analysis. The gateway pre-processes the data by standardizing units, formats, and structures, so that when the data arrives at the server, it is already in a comparable format. This preliminary action prevents information loss and enables direct comparison without requiring complex post-processing at the server端
3Productivity
If all raw data is transmitted to remote server, then productivity is improved through comprehensive analysis, but use of energy increases due to larger data transmission volume
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device extracts and processes data locally before transmission to the remote server. Instead of transmitting all raw data from sensors, the gateway performs preliminary filtering, aggregation, and equalization of data, extracting only the essential information that needs to be analyzed remotely. This reduces the data transmission volume significantly while still providing comprehensive analysis capabilities at the server端, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The data processing function is segmented between the gateway device and the remote server. The gateway handles data collection, protocol conversion, equalization, and preliminary processing locally, while the server performs advanced analysis and long-term storage. This segmentation allows critical processing to occur locally with minimal energy consumption, while only essential processed data is transmitted remotely, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy use
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for use in the farming sector. More specifically, the invention relates to remotely obtaining farm climate and biometric variables. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for automatic integration of farm climate and/or biometric variables which comprises: obtaining data on a set of farm climate and/or biometric variables from a controller, equalizing the collected data on a set of farm climate and/or biometric variables to pre-defined units, and transmitting such equalized data to a remote server. It thus provides an automatized way of integrating in a web connected environment information from different farm climate and/or biometric controllers. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device which implements the method and which may comprise a room connection unit (104), a data processing unit (103), a non-volatile data buffering unit (102) and a remote connection unit (101).