Gateway Protocol Translation for Building Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation devices face compatibility issues due to the complexity of supporting multiple wireless communication protocols, which complicates real-time processing and causes interference between different protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that establish communication with a building automation device using a first protocol, install executable software instructions to enable communication over a second protocol, and switch to the second protocol, simplifying deployment and reducing compatibility issues by allowing support for only one protocol at a time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless communication protocols are supported simultaneously in building automation devices, then compatibility with different devices is improved, but device complexity and real-time processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary device that handles protocol translation and conversion. Instead of requiring building automation devices to support multiple protocols directly, the gateway acts as a mediator that communicates with devices using their native protocols and translates to a standardized internal protocol, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining protocol compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the protocol support functionality into separate modular components. Each building automation device supports only its native protocol, while the gateway provides additional protocol support through separate protocol stacks. This segmentation allows protocol compatibility to be maintained without increasing individual device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are implemented in the gateway, then support for diverse building automation devices is improved, but real-time processing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring protocol stacks and communication paths in the gateway before actual data transmission occurs. The gateway pre-establishes translation rules and protocol mappings, allowing real-time data processing to proceed efficiently without dynamic protocol conversion overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gateway's protocol support dynamic and configurable. The gateway can dynamically load, unload, and activate different protocol stacks based on current communication needs, allowing real-time processing performance to be optimized by activating only the necessary protocol support at any given moment
3Reliability
If protocol interference is prevented by isolating communication protocols, then system stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to isolation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protocol isolation mechanism from the building automation devices and places it entirely in the gateway. The gateway maintains separate, isolated protocol stacks for different protocols, preventing interference at the source. This extraction approach improves reliability by isolating protocols while avoiding the complexity of implementing isolation mechanisms in each individual device
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing communication with a building automation device, the method being performed in a gateway, the method including the steps of: establishing communication with the building automation device over a first communication protocol; installing executable software instructions on the building automation device over the first communication protocol to provide a capability to communicate over a second communication protocol; and establishing communication with the building automation device over the second communication protocol.