MSIB Server Architecture for Fault-Tolerant BAS Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy building automation systems (BAS) face limitations in communication capabilities, processing power, bandwidth, and memory, leading to potential failures under stress, and often lack internet access, making it difficult to collect and share data effectively with external devices.
Innovation Solution
A Multiple Services for Integrated Building (MSIB) server is introduced, which communicates directly with equipment, panels, and points of a BAS, creating fault-tolerant virtual nodes that enable communication using standard interfaces, reducing the load on the BAS gateway and providing data access via modern protocols, allowing data consumers to access data without directly interacting with the BAS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data consumers directly access the BAS gateway or management device, then data can be retrieved, but the BAS experiences increased loading and potential failure under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server acting as an intermediary between data consumers and the BAS gateway. This server receives data from the BAS via a data collector and makes it available to data consumers through standard interfaces, thereby mediating the communication load and preventing direct stress on the BAS gateway while maintaining data accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data storage and distribution function from the BAS gateway by implementing a separate server that collects and stores BAS data. This separation removes the burden of serving multiple data consumers directly from the gateway, reducing its loading and improving system reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If legacy BAS equipment is used, then existing building automation functions are maintained, but communication capabilities are limited and processing power is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to the system architecture by introducing an external server that operates independently from the legacy BAS equipment. This server provides enhanced processing power, modern communication capabilities, and internet access, effectively adding computational resources in a different dimension without modifying the original legacy equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The server implements universal data access capabilities by providing multiple interfaces (RESTful API, MQTT, WebSocket) and supporting various communication protocols. This allows diverse data consumers with different requirements to access BAS data through a single multi-functional platform, enhancing adaptability without requiring changes to legacy equipment.
3Productivity
If the BAS gateway serves multiple data consumers directly, then data sharing is enabled, but bandwidth limitations and memory constraints cause failures under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the data collector continuously gather and pre-process BAS data, storing it in a database on the server before any data consumer requests it. This pre-positioning of data eliminates the need for the gateway to process multiple simultaneous data requests, thereby maintaining high data sharing efficiency while preventing system failures under load.
Data Source
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AI summary
A service accesses one or more building automation systems elements directly to collect data and provides the data to data consumers.