Ring Network Topology for Building Technology Device Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods in networked building technology systems, such as unicast messaging, lead to latency and synchronization issues when addressing a high number of devices, particularly in lighting units, due to sequential message delivery and lack of acknowledgement, resulting in poor system performance and unreliable message reception.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a ring network topology where building technology devices exchange unicast messages to ensure reliable communication, combining multicast or broadcast messaging with local unicast communication to verify message receipt and propagate new messages, using sequence numbers to identify message age and update device states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unicast messages are used to address a high number of devices, then message delivery reliability is improved through acknowledgements, but latency increases and synchronization deteriorates due to sequential delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the message delivery process into two phases: first, a multicast message is sent to all devices simultaneously for immediate reception; second, individual unicast acknowledgements are collected from each device. This segmentation allows the initial command to reach all devices at once (reducing latency) while still obtaining individual confirmation (maintaining reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast message is sent as a preliminary action to all devices before individual acknowledgements are collected. This preliminary broadcast ensures that all devices receive the command simultaneously and can begin processing, while the subsequent unicast acknowledgements verify successful reception without causing delays in the initial message delivery.
2Reliability
If unicast messages are used to address a high number of devices, then individual message receipt can be confirmed through acknowledgements, but system performance deteriorates due to sequential processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multicast and unicast communication methods into a hybrid approach. The multicast component provides simultaneous message delivery to all devices (improving productivity), while the unicast acknowledgements provide individual receipt confirmation (maintaining reliability). This combination leverages the strengths of both communication types to achieve both high performance and reliable confirmation.
3Loss of time
If multicast or broadcast messages are used to address multiple devices simultaneously, then latency is reduced and synchronization is improved, but message receipt reliability deteriorates due to lack of acknowledgements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where devices that successfully receive the multicast message send unicast acknowledgements back to the sender. This feedback loop provides reliability by confirming which devices received the message, while the initial multicast delivery maintains low latency and good synchronization. The feedback is collected after the simultaneous delivery, so it does not degrade the timing performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling a plurality of building technology devices, in particular lighting units, by sending messages over a network, is provided, the system comprising: a plurality of building technology devices, and a network functionally connecting said building technology devices, wherein at least one of the building technology devices is a message issuing building technology device configured to send multicast or broadcast messages to a plurality of or all of the remaining building technology devices. The network is arranged such that at least three, preferably each of the remaining building technology devices form at least one ring network topology, and wherein the remaining building technology devices in such ring network topology are configured to exchange unicast messages in this at least one ring network topology.