Methods of integrating multiple management domains

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy management domains operate independently, leading to inefficiencies, waste, and increased costs due to lack of integration and standardization, preventing comprehensive energy management and wasting valuable information about energy consumption within facilities.

Innovation Solution

An integrated solution that seamlessly integrates multiple management domains using a standardized approach, enabling centralized data collection and analysis, and providing a unified control platform for enhanced automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring across various systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple management domains operate independently with custom-optimized solutions, then each domain achieves optimization within its own scope, but integration complexity increases and valuable cross-domain information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedomain optimizationVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a common data model and standardized interface that enables different management domains (power, building, security, etc.) to operate independently while being integrable. The unified data model serves multiple domains simultaneously, allowing each domain to maintain its custom optimizations while participating in cross-domain integration through standard protocols and interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If custom-optimized systems are deployed in each management domain, then system performance is optimized for specific domain requirements, but deployment time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem performanceVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the overall management system into independent domain-specific modules that can be deployed separately. Each domain (power management, building management, security management) can be implemented and optimized independently, then integrated through the common data model. This segmentation allows parallel development and deployment, reducing total deployment time while maintaining domain-specific optimizations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a preliminary common data model and standardized interface framework before deploying domain-specific systems. This preliminary action creates a ready-to-use integration foundation that accelerates subsequent domain deployments, as each domain can be configured to work with the pre-established standards rather than creating integration solutions from scratch for each deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If domain-specific protocols and communication standards are used, then intra-domain compatibility is achieved, but cross-domain integration becomes difficult and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintra-domain compatibilityVSAvoidintegration cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a common data model as an intermediary layer between different domain-specific protocols. Each domain can continue using its native protocols and communication standards for intra-domain compatibility, while the common data model serves as a mediator that translates and integrates data across domains. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for expensive custom integration solutions while preserving domain-specific adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If separate management systems are used for different domains, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but operator training requirements increase and external coordination is needed for problem diagnosis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidoperator training

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple domain-specific management systems into a unified interface that presents a consistent user experience. Operators interact with a single integrated system that combines power management, building management, security management, and other domains, rather than switching between separate systems. This merging reduces training requirements by providing uniform operation procedures while maintaining functional optimizations through the underlying domain-specific modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10429804B2Methods of integrating multiple management domains

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA INC

AI summary

An integrated solution strategy that integrates multiple domains together in a seamless and standardized way for increasing a users control over facilities and equipment. This integrated approach can lead to a reduction of energy usage, more efficient energy usage, increased safety, health, and security of a facility and its occupants, optimized production in industrial settings, and associated and other economic advantages. Accurate, reliable information about a facility or equipment is essential to making timely, informed decisions. Enhanced automation provides a reliable means of collecting and assembling a variety of operating data and archiving that data into a central database for evaluation, reporting, forecasting, and negotiation with resource marketers.