Wireless Commissioning Handover for Networked Building Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commissioning and maintaining building controllers is a labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone process due to the large number of controllers that need to be individually interacted with, often requiring manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A portable handheld device forms wireless connections with building control devices, transferring information and initiating commissioning or maintenance processes seamlessly by switching to stronger signal connections without restarting procedures as the user moves, using signal strength to select and maintain communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a technician manually interacts with each building controller individually, then each controller can be commissioned and maintained, but the process becomes labor-intensive, time-consuming, and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple building controllers into a single commissioning session. The handheld device discovers multiple controllers, establishes wireless connections with them simultaneously, and performs commissioning operations across all connected controllers in parallel rather than sequentially, dramatically reducing total commissioning time while maintaining reliable commissioning completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device is designed with multi-functionality to communicate with and commission multiple different building controllers through a single unified interface. It can discover, connect to, and perform commissioning operations on various controllers sequentially or simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate manual intervention for each controller and reducing overall commissioning time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a technician moves around the facility to access different building controllers, then all controllers can be reached, but the process becomes mobile and prone to connection interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary discovery of all available building controllers before the technician begins moving. The handheld device identifies and stores information about multiple controllers in advance, so when the technician moves to different locations, the device can quickly switch connections using pre-acquired connection data, maintaining reliability without requiring real-time manual searching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches wireless connections between different building controllers as the technician moves through the facility. The handheld device monitors signal strength and automatically transitions connections to maintain optimal communication, enabling mobile access while preserving connection stability through adaptive connection management.
3Ease of operation
If wireless connections are used to improve mobility during commissioning, then technician movement is enabled, but signal strength may vary and connections may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes preliminary wireless connections with multiple building controllers before the technician begins moving. The handheld device discovers and pairs with several controllers in advance, creating a pool of available connections. This preliminary action ensures that as the technician moves, reliable connections are already available, reducing the risk of connection interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device acts as an intermediary that manages wireless connections between the technician and multiple building controllers. It monitors signal strength from various controllers and automatically switches connections to maintain the most reliable link, thereby preserving connection reliability while enabling full technician mobility throughout the facility.
4Productivity
If multiple building controllers are commissioned in parallel, then commissioning efficiency is improved, but device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the commissioning of multiple building controllers into a unified process managed by a single handheld device. The device discovers multiple controllers, establishes simultaneous wireless connections, and coordinates commissioning operations across all controllers in parallel. This merging approach improves productivity by commissioning multiple controllers concurrently while the device's integrated design manages the coordination complexity internally, preventing it from becoming a burden.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable handheld device pairs with a first building control device, to form a first wireless connection. The portable handheld device receives information about a second building control device via the first wireless connection, at least some of the information is received by the first building control device from the second building control device over a building control network before the first building control device provides at least some of the received information to the portable handheld device via the first wireless connection. The portable handheld device sends one or more messages to the first building control device via the first wireless connection, wherein the one or more messages cause the first building control device to communicate with the second building control device via the building control network to initiate a commissioning and/or maintenance process of the second building control device.