Hierarchical Controller Logic for Incremental Building Control Updates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for configuring controllers are time-consuming, especially when making minor edits, as they require compiling and downloading the entire control program, which is inefficient over low bandwidth channels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a programming tool to build and download controller logic organized in a hierarchical tree structure, allowing for incremental updates of sub-structures without re-downloading unchanged components, thereby reducing communication time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire control program is compiled and downloaded to the controller, then the controller logic is updated completely, but the programming time is excessive and bandwidth is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The control program is divided into multiple sub-structures organized in a hierarchical tree format. Instead of downloading the entire program, only the specific sub-structure that needs modification is downloaded to the controller. This segmentation allows for partial updates, significantly reducing programming time and bandwidth usage while maintaining update completeness for the modified portions.
2Reliability
If the entire control program is downloaded, then all sub-structures are updated, but bandwidth usage is excessive for minor edits
Solution Approach 1:
The control program is segmented into hierarchical sub-structures, enabling selective downloading of only the necessary portions. This approach minimizes bandwidth consumption by transmitting only the modified sub-structure data rather than the entire program, directly addressing the bandwidth waste issue while preserving update reliability.
3Loss of time
If incremental updates are implemented, then programming time and bandwidth are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control program is organized in a hierarchical tree structure where sub-structures are nested within parent structures. This nesting provides a clear organizational framework that manages complexity by grouping related functions and data. The hierarchical organization makes incremental updates more manageable and the system more maintainable despite the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the control program into discrete, manageable sub-structures, the system handles complexity through modular organization. Each sub-structure can be independently modified, downloaded, and updated, which reduces the operational complexity of incremental updates compared to managing a monolithic program structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A controller that is configured to control operation of a building component may be programmed using a programming tool to build a controller logic that utilizes sub-structures organized within a hierarchal tree, which may then be downloaded to the controller. The controller is operated via the controller logic such that the controller controls operation of the building component. The programming tool may subsequently be used to update one or more of the sub-structures. The one or more updated sub-structures may be downloaded to the controller while not downloading one or more of the sub-structures that were not updated. The method includes continuing to control operation of the building component using the controller logic that now includes the one or more updated sub-structures.