Remote Smart Building Agent for Secure Legacy BAS Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Building automation systems (BAS) have limited computing resources, security concerns, and are restricted from interfacing with external platforms, limiting their ability to support advanced features and complex control of building systems and equipment due to proprietary protocols and limited ecosystems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a BAS communicatively coupled to a communication network, with a processing device located remotely and configured to communicate with environmental sensors and the BAS, allowing for secure communication through a network firewall, enabling enhanced control of building systems and equipment by generating control commands based on sensor data and building operation data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a BAS is deployed in a local network with limited computing resources to maintain security, then network security is improved, but the ability to interface with external platforms and support advanced features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two segments: a secure legacy BAS remaining within the local network and a modern processing device located externally. The BAS maintains its security isolation while the external processing device provides advanced functionality and external platform integration through secure communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
A secure communication channel acts as an intermediary between the isolated BAS and the external processing device. This intermediary enables controlled data exchange and command transmission while maintaining network security boundaries and preventing unauthorized access to the internal network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a BAS is designed with greater computing capacity to support advanced features, then functionality is improved, but network security and compatibility with legacy systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates legacy BAS functionality from advanced processing requirements. The BAS maintains its original secure, resource-constrained design while the external processing device provides advanced analytics, machine learning, and external platform integration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The external processing device serves multiple functions: it interfaces with the legacy BAS, integrates with external platforms, performs advanced data processing, and supports multiple communication protocols, making the overall system versatile without compromising the BAS's security.
3Adaptability or versatility
If smart sensors are integrated with a legacy BAS through hard-wired connections, then sensor integration is achieved, but system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The external processing device acts as an intermediary that communicates with smart sensors using modern wireless protocols and with the legacy BAS using traditional hard-wired protocols. This intermediary layer eliminates the need to modify the BAS for wireless support while enabling smart sensor integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces hard-wired mechanical connections with wireless communication for smart sensors. The external processing device handles wireless communications, substituting the need for physical wiring between sensors and the BAS while maintaining compatibility with the legacy system.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device such as a server implementing smart building agent functionality is located on an external network and is configured to communicate with a BAS located on a building's internal network. Communication between the processing device and the BAS occurs over a first communications channel. The processing device can be configured to receive sensor data from various sensors that might otherwise not be supported by the existing BAS. Communication between the sensors and the processing device occurs over a second communications channel different from the first communications channel. The processing device can generate control commands based on the received sensor data that provide instructions to the BAS for adjusting an operation parameter for one or more of the building systems and/or equipment. This control command can be sent to the BAS through the first communications channel.