Layered Building Automation Interface Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems face challenges with rigid user interfaces that make it difficult for managers to navigate and manage large numbers of devices and control points, requiring an intuitive interface for timely access to critical information.
Innovation Solution
A management system that allows for customizable and intuitive graphical user interfaces, enabling navigation and filtering through layers and depths, with automatic and user-definable viewports, and centered displays of objects or groups, to efficiently manage and monitor building automation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid user interface architecture is used to display and access data for monitoring and controlling building automation systems, then the system structure is simple and stable, but it becomes difficult and time-consuming for building managers to maneuver among displays of various elements
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical display is divided into multiple layers representing different hierarchical levels of the building automation system (e.g., building level, floor level, room level, device level). Each layer contains symbols for objects at that level, allowing users to navigate through the system by moving between layers rather than searching through a flat, complex interface. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing the complex system into manageable segments that are easy to navigate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the user interface by stacking multiple layers of graphical displays, each representing a different hierarchical level. This transforms the traditional two-dimensional flat interface into a multi-layered three-dimensional structure, allowing users to navigate through the building automation system by moving up and down through layers. This dimensional change enables easy navigation of complex systems without increasing interface complexity.
2Loss of information
If all objects and data points in a complex building automation system are displayed simultaneously, then complete information is available, but the interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments information display across multiple layers, with each layer showing only the objects and data points relevant to that hierarchical level. Users can access complete information by navigating through different layers rather than displaying everything at once. This segmentation maintains information completeness while avoiding interface clutter by presenting information in organized, level-specific groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface dynamically adjusts which objects are visible based on the current layer and zoom factor. As users navigate through layers or adjust zoom levels, the system dynamically updates the displayed objects to show only those relevant to the current view. This dynamic behavior maintains information completeness by allowing users to access all data points while keeping the interface clean by showing only relevant information at each moment.
3Ease of operation
If the user interface allows for detailed navigation and filtering through multiple layers and depths, then ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested layer structure where each layer contains symbols for objects at that hierarchical level, and clicking on a symbol can drill down to more detailed layers. This nested organization allows detailed navigation and filtering capabilities while managing software complexity through a standardized recursive structure. The nesting principle enables complex navigation features to be built upon a simple, repeating pattern of layers and symbols.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical display system uses universal, reusable components (layers, symbols, zoom factors) that can serve multiple functions. The same layer structure and symbol representation work across different hierarchical levels and device types, reducing software complexity through standardization. This multi-functionality allows the interface to provide detailed navigation capabilities while relying on a relatively simple, reusable component library rather than complex custom code for each feature.
Data Source
AI summary
Management systems, methods, and mediums. A method includes identifying a set of layers and a zoom factor based on a depth of a graphic to be displayed. The set of layers comprise symbols for objects corresponding to devices in a building managed by the management system. The method includes identifying a number of visible objects from the objects of the symbols in the identified set of layers based on the zoom factor. The method includes identifying a state of a device represented by a visual object in the number of visible objects from the management system communicably coupled with the devices. Additionally, the method includes generating a display for the depth. The display includes the identified set of layers, a symbol for each of the number of visible objects in the identified set of layers, and a graphical indication of the state of the device.