Mobile Floor Plan Commissioning for Building Control Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring large numbers of building control devices, such as security and HVAC systems, is a time-consuming and error-prone process that can be simplified using a mobile application to streamline the configuration process.
Innovation Solution
A mobile application that allows users to access a building floor plan, scan codes on devices, and input configuration information, which is then saved and uploaded to a remote server for system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual configuration methods are used for building control devices, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but the configuration process becomes extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive when dealing with hundreds or thousands of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated optical scanning using mobile devices. Configuration information is captured through camera-based code scanning rather than manual data entry, eliminating the need for physical interaction with each device's configuration interface and dramatically reducing configuration time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses code copies (barcodes, QR codes, or other machine-readable symbols) that contain configuration information for each building control device. Instead of manually entering configuration data, the system scans these code copies to automatically retrieve and transfer device information, streamlining the configuration process for large numbers of devices
2Reliability
If manual configuration processes are used for building control devices, then configuration completeness can be ensured through careful verification, but errors easily occur during the lengthy configuration process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces error-prone manual data entry with automated optical scanning and digital data capture. The mobile device's camera scans codes on each building control device, automatically capturing configuration information without human intervention, thereby eliminating transcription errors and improving configuration accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback through the mobile device interface, displaying scanned code information and configuration status in real-time. This allows operators to verify that the correct device is being configured and that data has been successfully captured, enabling error detection and correction during the configuration process
3Reliability
If detailed configuration information is collected for each building control device, then system operability is ensured, but the complexity of the configuration process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple configuration data capture methods into a single integrated mobile device application. The system merges code scanning, manual input fields, and wireless communication capabilities into one unified interface, allowing all configuration information to be collected and transmitted through a single tool rather than requiring separate processes for each data type
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device application serves multiple functions simultaneously: it scans and decodes various code formats (barcodes, QR codes), provides manual configuration interfaces, communicates wirelessly with building control devices, and uploads data to servers. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple specialized tools into a single universal configuration platform
Data Source
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AI summary
An application on a mobile device is informed of a relative position of each of a plurality of security devices within a building space by placing an icon for each of the plurality of security devices at a location on a floor plan that corresponds to the physical location of the corresponding security device. A scannable code encoding configuration information for the particular security device is scanned and saved using the mobile device. Additional configuration information for the particular security device is received from a user and is saved. These steps are repeated for each of the plurality of security devices. The saved first and second configuration information for each of the plurality of security devices are uploaded to a remote server and the building control system is operated using the uploaded first and second configuration information.