Gateway-Based Integration for Unified Multi-System Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in interacting with and controlling multiple load control systems in a single environment, such as lighting, HVAC, and window treatments, as they need to manage each system individually, lacking a unified interface.
Innovation Solution
An integrated load control system with a processor and memory device that communicates through a uniform resource identifier (URI) to unify control messages across different load control systems, allowing users to interact with them as a single system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple load control systems are integrated through URI modification and message routing, then user convenience and ease of operation improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway server acts as an intermediary between the web application and multiple load control systems. It receives control messages from the web application, modifies URIs by adding its own URI component, and routes messages to the appropriate load control systems. This mediator approach allows users to interact with a unified interface while the gateway handles the complexity of communicating with multiple separate systems behind the scenes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the communication function into distinct components: the web application provides the user interface, the gateway server handles message routing and URI modification, and individual load control systems manage their specific devices. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function, improving ease of operation for users while distributing system complexity across multiple manageable parts.
2Ease of operation
If a unified interface for controlling multiple load control systems is provided, then ease of operation improves, but the complexity of message routing and URI management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway server serves as a mediator that simplifies message routing by automatically modifying URIs to include its own URI component and forwarding messages to the appropriate load control systems. Users interact with a single unified web application interface without needing to understand the underlying routing complexity, as the gateway handles URI transformation and message distribution transparently.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway server dynamically changes URI parameters by adding its own URI component to the original URI received from the web application. This parameter modification allows the same unified interface to route messages to different load control systems based on the target device's URI, simplifying user interaction while managing routing complexity through automated URI transformation.
3Device complexity
If multiple load control systems are managed individually, then device complexity remains low, but user convenience and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway server merges multiple load control systems into a unified interface through the web application. Users can control lighting, HVAC, window treatments, and other devices across different load control systems through a single web interface, improving productivity by eliminating the need to switch between multiple separate control systems while the gateway handles the complexity of integrating these systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The web application provides universal control functionality for multiple types of load control systems through a single interface. The gateway server enables this multi-functionality by routing messages from the unified web application to the appropriate specialized load control systems, allowing users to control diverse devices (lights, thermostats, shades, etc.) through one universal interface, thereby improving user efficiency without requiring separate control mechanisms for each system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for using one or more gateway systems for integrating multiple load control systems such that the load control systems may appear to a user and be controlled by the user as a unified load control system.