Protocol Abstraction Layer for HVAC Control Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

HVAC application engineers are burdened with needing to be protocol experts due to complex programming tools that expose underlying communication protocols, leading to inefficiencies and mistakes when creating control applications for multiple protocols like Lon and BACnet.

Innovation Solution

A Spyder programming tool generates generic control logic applications that automatically create network interface views for Lon and BACnet protocols, allowing engineers to design once and reuse across both, with automatic translation and mapping of data points to protocol objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If programming tools expose underlying communication protocols to enable precise control, then control precision is improved, but application complexity increases and requires protocol expertise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidapplication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protocol abstraction layer that acts as an intermediary between the control logic and the underlying communication protocols. This abstraction layer handles protocol-specific details (such as BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus) while presenting a unified, protocol-independent interface to the control application. The abstraction layer translates generic control commands into protocol-specific messages, thereby maintaining control precision without requiring the application developer to understand protocol complexities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If programming tools expose protocol details to enable precise communication control, then communication reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required protocol expertise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protocol abstraction layer serves as a mediator that ensures reliable communication by handling protocol-specific requirements (such as message formatting, error handling, and data encoding) while presenting a simple, uniform interface to the application. This allows the system to maintain communication reliability across different protocols without requiring operators to have protocol expertise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If control applications are developed separately for each protocol to ensure protocol-specific optimization, then adaptability to specific protocols is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to duplicate development work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol adaptabilityVSAvoiddevelopment productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control application framework that can operate across multiple communication protocols through a protocol abstraction layer. The control logic is written once in terms of generic data points and control functions, and the abstraction layer automatically adapts the application to work with different protocols (BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus, etc.). This eliminates the need to develop separate applications for each protocol while maintaining protocol-specific optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables protocol-specific optimization by allowing configuration parameters to be changed without modifying the control logic. The abstraction layer handles protocol-specific parameters (such as message formats, data types, and communication timing) while the control application remains protocol-agnostic. This allows the same control application to be deployed across different protocols with simply parameter adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If engineers develop applications for multiple protocols to meet diverse communication requirements, then adaptability across protocols is improved, but loss of time increases due to replicating applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol versatilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protocol abstraction layer enables a single control application to serve multiple communication protocols simultaneously. The application is written once using protocol-independent constructs, and the abstraction layer handles the translation to protocol-specific implementations. This eliminates the time-consuming process of replicating and adapting applications for each protocol while maintaining full protocol versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8532797B2Mechanism for constructing generic control logic including versions in various protocols

Publication Date: 2013.09.10 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A mechanism for constructing generic control logic with versions of the logic automatically generated and stored for one or more protocols. The complexity of the one or more protocols may be hidden under a hood of the mechanism from the view of engineers, programmers and users so as to improve their productivity relative to control logic designs and applications.