Various IoT sensory products and cloud-purge for commercial building solutions utilizing LoRa to BACnet conversion for efficient data management and monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Facility managers face challenges in efficiently monitoring and managing data from restroom fixtures in commercial buildings, such as water usage and operational alerts, due to the lack of effective integration with building management systems (BMS) and remote control capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an IoT architecture that converts fixture data from LoRa WAN RF communication protocols to BACnet protocols, enabling integration with BMS and providing cloud-purge functionality for real-time user interface control and alert generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixture data is collected and transmitted to BMS using traditional protocols, then integration with building management systems is achieved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase due to protocol conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A gateway device is introduced as an intermediary between the fixture and BMS. The gateway receives data from the fixture using simple protocols and automatically converts it to BACnet protocol for transmission to the building management system, eliminating the need for complex protocol conversion at the fixture level while maintaining integration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/electrical protocol conversion mechanisms with software-based solution. The gateway device uses firmware to handle protocol translation, substituting physical conversion hardware with programmable logic that achieves the same result with greater flexibility and lower complexity.
2Productivity
If real-time monitoring and control of fixtures is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where fixtures automatically transmit their status data to the gateway, which then forwards it to the BMS without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-reporting mechanism improves operational efficiency while keeping the system infrastructure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed to work with multiple types of fixtures (toilets, urinals, sinks, showers) using a universal communication interface. This multi-functional capability allows real-time monitoring of diverse fixtures through a single platform, improving operational efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If remote control capabilities are added to fixtures, then user flexibility is enhanced, but reliability and potential for system errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the gateway continuously monitors fixture status and transmits this information to the BMS. Before executing remote control commands, the system verifies the current state through feedback data, reducing the risk of errors by ensuring commands are appropriate for the actual fixture condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of remote control commands before execution. The BMS verifies command parameters, checks fixture availability, and confirms proper communication channels are established before sending control signals to fixtures, thereby preventing erroneous operations and enhancing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems of monitoring and managing a facility including a plurality of end point devices. One system includes a first gateway device. The first gateway device includes a first electronic processor configured to receive fixture data from at least one electro-mechanical element of a fixture associated with the facility, the fixture data related to an operation of the fixture, and enable transmission of the fixture data to a remote device for virtual processing. The system also includes a second gateway device communicatively coupled with the first gateway device. The second gateway device includes a second electronic processor configured to receive, from the first gateway device, the processed fixture data. The second electronic processor configured to convert the processed fixture data pursuant to a networking protocol associated with a building management system and transmit the converted fixture data for display via a visual dashboard associated with the building management system.