Heterogeneous Display Interface Mechanism for NiagaraAX
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Tridium NiagaraAX framework lacks a means to construct user interfaces for embedded displays that are not implemented using Niagara thick client (PX) or Niagara thin client (HX) technologies, limiting the range and richness of user interface experiences for Niagara-based systems.
Innovation Solution
The approach provides a mechanism to define and construct embedded display content and navigation for NiagaraAX-based solutions by leveraging existing NiagaraAX Workbench tooling, using a combination of software components on the NiagaraAX side and the embedded display side, along with a workflow for screen definition and navigation, allowing user interfaces to be rendered on heterogeneous technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If NiagaraAX framework uses only native thick client (PX) or thin client (HX) technologies for display construction, then the system maintains simplicity and reliability, but the adaptability and versatility of user interface rendering are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal display construction mechanism that can render user interfaces on multiple display technologies (thick client PX, thin client HX, and heterogeneous embedded displays) through a common framework. The NiagaraAX Workbench tooling generates display content that can be rendered across different platforms, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to various display devices without requiring separate development workflows for each technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary display construction mechanism that sits between the NiagaraAX framework and the display device. This intermediary layer handles the rendering of user interfaces on heterogeneous embedded displays by translating high-level NiagaraAX definitions into device-specific rendering instructions, thereby enabling adaptability without directly coupling the framework to each display technology.
2Adaptability or versatility
If NiagaraAX framework extends support to heterogeneous embedded display technologies, then the versatility and range of user interface experiences are improved, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display construction functionality into distinct modular components: the NiagaraAX Workbench tooling for definition, the display construction mechanism for rendering, and device-specific adapters for heterogeneous displays. This segmentation allows the core framework to remain simple while extending versatility through pluggable components, making integration easier through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing pre-configured display construction mechanisms and Workbench tooling that can be integrated into NiagaraAX systems. The framework includes ready-made rendering engines and definition languages that are prepared in advance, reducing integration effort when adding support for new heterogeneous display technologies.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for constructing embedded display content and navigation where a computing platform is based on one technology and the embedded display content is based on another technology. For instance, the one technology may be NiagaraAX and the other technology may be non-Niagara. The system may, for instance, leverage NiagaraAX Workbench tooling to generate displays rendered in heterogeneous technologies, i.e., non-Niagara, to extend the range and application of user interfaces for Niagara-based technologies.