Virtualized Building Control Panels Using Private 5G Network Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire, security, and access panels rely on hardware-centric architectures that limit scalability for control and analytics, suffer from latency and security issues due to remote network core management, and struggle to meet latency, bandwidth, and reliability requirements, especially in building control systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 5G network with on-premise deployment of the core and network slicing to create private, low-latency, high-reliability subnetworks for each critical building function, allowing virtualization of control panels and enabling edge computing, which separates and allocates resources for fire, security, and access systems, improving scalability and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hardware-centric panel architecture is used, then the system can meet latency and reliability requirements for building control functions, but the sensor network cannot scale for control and analytics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hardware-centric panel architecture with a software-based virtualized panel system running on cloud infrastructure. This substitution enables the sensor network to scale dynamically for control and analytics functions without being constrained by physical hardware limitations, while maintaining the low latency and high reliability required for building control through edge computing and 5G network slicing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the control panel system connects to the Internet for cloud functions, then expanded features are enabled, but bandwidth is reduced below effective communication thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication into multiple virtual network slices: one slice dedicated to critical building control panel functions with guaranteed bandwidth and low latency, and another slice for non-critical cloud-based expanded features. This segmentation allows the system to access cloud capabilities while ensuring that essential control communications maintain reliable bandwidth above effective thresholds.
3Productivity
If alarm and fire safety messages are delivered through a shared network, then network resource utilization is improved, but message delivery cannot meet guaranteed time bounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces 5G network slicing as an intermediary layer between the shared network infrastructure and the fire safety communication requirements. This intermediary creates a dedicated virtual network slice that guarantees message delivery time bounds for alarm and fire safety messages, while still allowing other applications to utilize the physical network resources through different slices, thus maintaining overall network resource utilization efficiency.
4Reliability
If the control panel network is isolated from other building networks, then bandwidth consistency is maintained, but the system lacks adaptability for integrated building management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal network architecture using 5G network slicing that allows a single physical network infrastructure to serve multiple functions: isolated dedicated slices for critical building control panel functions with guaranteed bandwidth consistency, and integrated slices for expanded cloud-based features and interoperability with other building management systems. This multi-functional approach maintains reliability for essential operations while enabling adaptability for integrated building management.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Devices, methods, and systems for virtualizing a security panel, fire panel, and/or access panel using 5G network slices are described herein. One on-premise virtualized building control panel system device, includes a processor, memory, having instructions stored therein that are executable by the processor to provide a fifth generation (5G) network core to a building in which the device is located, establish a first network slice that defines a first subnetwork slice, the first subnetwork slice having a defined bandwidth and only communicating data and instructions relating to building control functions, and communication connections to communicate instructions and data between the control panel system device and 5G base stations and building sensing devices within the building.