Load Controller Association Management for Mixed Pairing Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load control systems face challenges in convenient system configuration and association of control devices using different association procedures, leading to loss of previously stored associations and inefficient control of electrical loads due to delays in message reception.
Innovation Solution
A load control system that integrates a system controller to maintain associations between control-source and control-target devices, allowing for various association procedures and sending digital messages in series to ensure higher success rates and preemptive control of electrical loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control devices are associated using different association procedures, then the system configuration becomes more flexible and adaptable, but previously stored associations are lost and system reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system controller serves as an intermediary that receives association information from control devices and maintains it in its memory. This allows control devices to be associated using different procedures (direct device-to-device or through the controller) while the controller preserves all associations centrally, preventing loss of previously stored associations when different association methods are used.
2Reliability
If digital messages are sent in series to ensure higher success rates, then the reliability of control signal transmission is improved, but the time delay in load control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system controller pre-processes and queues control messages before forwarding them to control devices. By preparing messages in advance and managing their transmission sequence, the controller ensures that messages are sent in a reliable series while minimizing overall delay through efficient message management and parallel processing where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where control devices confirm receipt of messages to the system controller. This allows the controller to track message delivery status and implement retransmission only when necessary, rather than always sending complete series, thus improving reliability without excessive time delay.
3Reliability
If the system controller maintains all association information centrally, then association data is preserved across different procedures, but the system complexity and information storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a central association manager and as a regular control device. It can operate in different modes (association mode and control mode), allowing it to handle diverse association procedures while maintaining a unified association database, thereby managing complexity through role integration rather than separate dedicated components.
Data Source
AI summary
A load control system may include control-target devices, control-source devices, and a system controller. The control-target devices may enter an association mode to associate with control-source devices. The control-target device may receive an identifier from the control-source device and store the identifier in memory when the control-target device to associate the control-target device and the control-source device. The system controller may retrieve the association information from the control-target device after integration into the load control system. The system controller may receive association information that is defined using other association procedures, such as an association procedure performed on a network device and uploaded to the system controller. The system controller may maintain the association information defined using the different association procedures after the system controller is integrated into the load control system. The system controller may also maintain control configuration information configured prior to integration of the system controller.