Inter-Panel Alarm Relay for Building Management Communication Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building management systems face issues with unreliable communication of alarms from local control panels to remote or cloud devices, leading to delayed reporting of critical alerts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secondary communication pathway through inter-panel communication within the building management system to relay alarms from an off-line remote connection to another control panel, which then transmits the alarm to the remote cloud server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single remote communication path is used for alarm transmission, then the system structure is simple, but the reliability of alarm reporting deteriorates when the communication path fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary intermediary communication path through local control panels. When the primary remote communication path fails, alarms are relayed through intermediate control panels via local communication paths, which then forward the alarms to the remote server through alternative remote paths. This mediator approach maintains reliability without requiring each panel to have direct redundant remote connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to communication by utilizing local area communication paths between neighboring control panels as an alternative to direct wide-area remote communication. This creates a multi-dimensional communication architecture where alarms can travel through different spatial routes (direct remote path vs. local relay path), improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If automatic alarm transmission is implemented, then the response time is reduced, but the system cannot handle communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where control panels continuously monitor the operational status of their assigned remote communication paths. When a failure is detected, the system automatically triggers an alternative transmission route through local relay panels. This feedback-driven approach ensures reliable alarm delivery without requiring complex manual intervention or centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
Each control panel is equipped with the capability to independently detect communication failures and autonomously select alternative transmission paths through local relay panels. This self-service approach allows the system to handle communication failures automatically without requiring complex centralized management or manual intervention, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An alarm may be raised by a first control panel at a local site. A current operational status of a remote communication path assigned to the first control panel is determined. When the current operational status of the remote communication path assigned to the first control panel is determined to be on-line, the alarm is sent to a remote cloud server via the remote communication path assigned the first control panel. When the current operational status of the remote communication path assigned to the first control panel is determined to be off-line, the alarm is sent to a second control panel at the local site via one or more local communication paths. The second control panel then sends the first alarm to the remote cloud server via a remote communication path that is assigned the second control panel.