Graphical Location Mapping for Building Automation Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building automation systems face challenges in intuitively assigning and managing addressable elements to locations, leading to complex relations and inconsistencies, which complicates user interaction and error tracking.
Innovation Solution
A processing unit with an interaction interface that renders a graphical map, allowing users to add, remove, and move closed contours representing locations, assign elements to locations based on graphical representation, and store data containers for location definitions and associated elements, enabling intuitive location management and error reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If addressable elements are grouped by type of element to perform simultaneous commands, then operational efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple grouping criteria increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the management of addressable elements by creating distinct grouping criteria (by type, by location, by custom groups) that can be independently managed and applied. This allows operational efficiency to be improved through type-based grouping while location-based grouping provides a separate organizational dimension without complicating the command execution logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces location as an additional organizational dimension beyond element type. The graphical map interface adds a spatial dimension to the data topology, allowing elements to be viewed and managed both by their functional type and by their physical location, thereby improving comprehensibility without sacrificing operational efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If addressable elements are assigned to locations based on graphical map representation, then user comprehension and intuitiveness are improved, but the complexity of the user interface and data topology increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a graphical copy or representation of the building's floor plan that mirrors the physical layout. This graphical map serves as an intuitive interface where users can visually locate and assign addressable elements to locations without dealing with complex underlying data structures, thereby improving ease of operation while managing interface complexity through abstraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical map acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the complex data topology. Users interact with the simplified visual representation rather than directly with the underlying data structures, allowing intuitive location assignment while the system handles the complexity of maintaining consistency between the graphical interface and the data model.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple grouping criteria are used for addressable elements, then system versatility and adaptability are improved, but error tracking and data consistency become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor and track the assignment of addressable elements to multiple grouping criteria. The graphical interface provides visual feedback to confirm correct assignment, and the system maintains data consistency by automatically updating all relevant groupings when an element's location or type changes, thereby maintaining reliability while supporting versatile grouping options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple grouping criteria (type-based grouping and location-based grouping) into a unified data structure and user interface. This integration allows the system to maintain data consistency across different grouping dimensions while providing versatile adaptability, as all groupings are managed through a single coherent system rather than separate independent systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a processing unit (100) for controlling an electrical system (1) of a building that comprises addressable elements (10,12,14). The processing unit (100) comprises an interaction interface (7) for enabling a user to interact with a graphical user interface (30). The interface (7) is adapted for rendering a graphical map (31) in the graphical user interface (30), on which the addressable elements (10,12,14) are represented. The interaction interface (7) is adapted for graphically representing a plurality of locations (LOC1,LOC2) in the building by corresponding contours (41) on the graphical map (31). The interaction interface (7) is adapted for enabling the user to add, remove and move a contour (41) representative of a location (LOC1,LOC2) on the graphical map (31). The interaction interface (31) is further adapted for assigning a location (LOC1,LOC2) to an addressable element (10,12,14). The processing unit (100) furthermore comprises a storage memory (2) for storing at least one data container comprising a definition of a location (LOC1,LOC2), of a contour (41) associated with said location (LOC1,LOC2) and of addressable elements (10,12,14) assigned to said location (LOC1,LOC2).