Virtual and Edge Controller Split for Fail-Safe Building Reconfiguration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building management systems require frequent and costly upgrades to adapt to changing building requirements, and modifications such as reconfiguring spaces for new tenants involve tedious and expensive processes due to the need for on-site technician visits and reprogramming of centralized and device controllers.
Innovation Solution
A distributed building management system utilizing virtual controllers and edge controllers with distributed control logic, where critical and non-critical control logic is bifurcated and assigned to respective controllers, allowing for remote configuration and resource allocation, enabling adaptive and cost-effective management of building systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional centralized building management systems are used, then system control functionality is maintained, but hardware and software upgrades require significant investment and on-site technician intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic is segmented into two distinct parts: critical control logic that remains on the edge controller for fail-safe operation, and non-critical control logic that resides on the virtual controller for flexible updates. This segmentation allows independent upgrading of non-critical functions without affecting system stability or requiring on-site technician intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a virtual controller that replicates non-critical control functions in a software-based environment. This virtual copy can be updated, modified, and upgraded remotely without touching the physical edge controller hardware, enabling cost-effective adaptation to changing building requirements.
2Ease of operation
If conventional centralized supervisory controllers are used, then building operations are controlled, but reconfiguration for new tenants requires tedious on-site technician visits and reprogramming
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a virtual controller that handles non-critical control functions, the system enables remote reconfiguration through software updates. Technicians can modify the virtual controller's control logic remotely, eliminating the need for on-site visits and manual reprogramming of physical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/physical reconfiguration process (on-site technician visits, manual wiring changes, physical controller reprogramming) with a software-based virtual controller that can be reconfigured remotely through digital updates, dramatically reducing time and effort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent hardware and software upgrades are performed on conventional systems, then building requirements are met, but significant investment and downtime are required
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic is divided into critical and non-critical portions, allowing non-critical updates to be applied independently without shutting down the entire system. The edge controller maintains critical functions locally, ensuring continuous operation during virtual controller updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual controller serves as a software-based copy of control functions that can be updated without affecting physical hardware operation. Updates can be deployed remotely and without downtime because the virtual controller operates independently from the physical edge controller that maintains critical functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed building management system includes a virtual controller and an edge controller for controlling a building control device using a distributed control logic that is distributed between the virtual controller and the edge controller. A programming tool displays a graphical representation of the distributed control logic and identifies which portions of the distributed control logic are considered critical and which portions of the distributed control logic are considered not critical to a fail-safe operation of the building control device should the edge controller stop receiving control commands from the virtual controller. The portions of the distributed control logic that are identified as being critical are assigned to the edge controller for execution and the portions of the distributed control logic that are not identified as being critical are assigned to the virtual controller for execution.