Three-dimensional building management system visualization

• US 10,190,792 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, Doug, Martinez, Michael, Rabkin, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US15/139,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20170314803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 703 1, 705305, 715738, 715757, 715848, 715850, 715852, 715853
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, and modes for rendering a three-dimensional building management system visualization of a building. The method and system components may be configured for storing geometry elements defining three-dimensional geometrical representation of a building'"'"'s structure, storing spatial elements defining three-dimensional representation of spaces in the building, wherein the geometry elements are mapped to spatial elements, wherein the spatial elements are associated with respective space nodes that identify the spaces located within the building, and wherein the space nodes are associated with respective electronic devices installed within the spaces in the building. The method and system components may be further configured for receiving a selection of a status-attribute view from a list of status-attribute views, storing coloring logic defining color codes for status levels for each status-attribute view, receiving status information of at least one electronic device, applying colors to spatial elements associated with respective space nodes based on the received status information and coloring logic, and rendering a three dimensional building visualization of the building for the selected status-attribute view via a user interface.

Claims

1. A method for rendering a three-dimensional building management system visualization of a building, the method comprising:

storing geometry elements and spatial elements, wherein the geometry elements define three-dimensional geometrical representation of a building'"'"'s structure, wherein the spatial elements define three-dimensional representation of spaces in the building, wherein the geometry elements are mapped to spatial elements, wherein the spatial elements are associated with respective space nodes that identify the spaces located within the building, wherein the space nodes are associated with respective electronic devices installed within the spaces in the building;

receiving a selection of a status-attribute view from a list of status-attribute views, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises an electronic device on status-attribute view comprising logic including;

a first object property configured for indicating that an electronic device is turned on,

a second object property configured for indicating that an electronic device is off,

a third object property configured for indicating that an electronic device in an occupied space is on, and

a fourth object property configured for indicating that an electronic device in a vacant space is on;

storing logic for each status-attribute view, wherein the logic defines one or more object properties each corresponding to a status level and configured for modifying an appearance of a spatial element;

receiving status information of at least one electronic device;

filtering the received status information to select a subset of status information that corresponds to the selected status-attribute view;

determining status levels of respective space nodes based on the subset of status information;

determining object properties that apply to the determined status levels using the logic;

applying the determined object properties to respective spatial elements associated with the space nodes; and

rendering a three dimensional building visualization of the building for the selected status-attribute view via a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more object properties comprise at least one of the spatial element'"'"'s fill, volume, face, outline, shadow, color, pattern, pattern color, transparency, outline thickness, outline pattern, or any combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a default object property is applied to spatial elements for which status information of associated nodes is unknown, unavailable, or inapplicable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the logic of at least one status-attribute view comprises a first object property that indicates a first status-attribute and a second object property that indicates a second status-attribute.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises real-time status information received from the at least one electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises historic status information received from a database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises a time input field configured for allowing a user to select a time, wherein the historic status information is timestamped such that it can be recalled using the selected time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selected time comprises at least one of a particular date, a particular time, a date range, a time range, a time period, a day, a portion of a day, a week, a month, and a year.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein when the user chooses to review historic information for a time period, the status level is determined by determining average status levels of the space nodes occurring within the selected time period.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein when the user chooses to review historic information for a time period, the method further comprising:

displaying an animation of a historic state of the building that shows status levels of the space nodes throughout the selected time period.

11. The method of claim 1, where in the user interface comprises a legend configured for defining for the user the status levels indicated by the rendered object properties.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises an error alerts status-attribute view configured for indicating spaces with electronic devices reporting errors, wherein the error alerts status-attribute view comprises logic including a table that correlates colors to the type of error alerts and organizes error alerts by severity.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises an online status-attribute view configured for indicating online status of electronic devices.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a help requests status-attribute view configured for indicating status of one or more help requests.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises an occupancy status-attribute view configured for indicating occupancy status of the spaces in the building, wherein the occupancy status-attribute view comprises logic including a first object property indicating that a space is occupied, and a second object property indicating that a space is vacant.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a reserved spaces status-attribute view configured for indicating whether a space is reserved.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reserved spaces status-attribute view comprises logic including a first object property indicating that a space is reserved, and a second object property indicating that a space is vacant.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the reserved spaces status-attribute view logic further comprises a third object property indicating that a space is unreserved and occupied, and a fourth object property indicating that a space is reserved and vacant.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises an electronic device usage status-attribute view comprising logic including object properties indicating a duration the electronic device has been turned on.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a light level status-attribute view comprising logic including a light level color gradient indicating in which spaces lights are turned on and an intensity of the turned on lights.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the status information comprises light level values of lighting loads associated with the space nodes, wherein the status level is determined for each space node by calculating a weighted light level average using the received light level values, wherein each position on the light level color gradient corresponds to a particular color and a percentage value, wherein the object property is determined by determining a color in the light level color gradient corresponding to the calculated weighted light level average.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the light level color gradient comprises a gradient of a single hue or color with luminosity or brightness ranging from dark to bright to indicate a light level percentage in a space.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a daylight level status-attribute view comprising logic including a color gradient configured for indicating a daylight level of a space.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a daylight harvesting status-attribute view comprising logic including a color gradient configured for indicating how much energy is saved in a space due to daylight harvesting.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a space utilization status-attribute view comprising logic including a color gradient configured for indicating a length of time a space is utilized.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein for each space node the status level is determined by:

storing count of minutes a plurality of spaces in the building are utilized;

determining a percentage a space is utilized by comparing a utilization minutes count of the space to a total utilization minutes count of the plurality of spaces in the building.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating at least one programmed scheduled event for the at least one electronic device comprising programming rules;

receiving a selection of a fast forward view configured for providing a simulation of a programmed operational state of the building;

wherein the received status information comprises the programming rules;

wherein the determined status levels comprise programmed operational states of the space nodes.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a conflict status-attribute view configured for indicating any conflicts or errors in the programming rules of a space.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one object property in the fast forward view is configured for displaying expected occupancy of a space during a selected period of time based on occupancy pattern recognition.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the user interface comprises a time input field configured for allowing a user to select a time period, wherein the method further comprising:

displaying an animation of a programmed operational state of at least one space node throughout the selected time period.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein during the displayed animation the three dimensional building visualization is re-rendered when a programmed operational state of the building changes by changing the object properties of the respective spatial elements.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the user interface comprises a draggable time slider configured for allowing the user to navigate to a programmed operational state of the building during a particular time within the selected time period.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the user interface comprises a previous time period selection which upon being selected configured to display an animation of a programmed operational state of at least one space node throughout a time period immediately preceding the selected time period.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the user interface comprises a next time period selection which upon being selected configured to display an animation of a programmed operational state of at least one space node throughout a time period immediately succeeding the selected time period.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the database is configured for storing a geometry data file comprising the geometry elements and a separate spatial data file comprising the spatial elements;

and wherein the at least one processor is configured for selectively recalling the geometry data file and the spatial data file from the database.

36. A method for rendering a three-dimensional building management system visualization of a building, the method comprising:

storing geometry elements and spatial elements, wherein the geometry elements define three-dimensional geometrical representation of a building'"'"'s structure, wherein the spatial elements define three-dimensional representation of spaces in the building, wherein the geometry elements are mapped to spatial elements, wherein the spatial elements are associated with respective space nodes that identify the spaces located within the building, wherein the space nodes are associated with respective electronic devices installed within the spaces in the building;

receiving a selection of a status-attribute view from a list of status-attribute views, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a light level status-attribute view comprising logic including a light level color gradient indicating in which spaces lights are turned on and an intensity of the turned on lights, wherein each position on the light level color gradient corresponds to a particular color and a percentage value;

storing logic for each status-attribute view, wherein the logic defines one or more object properties each corresponding to a status level and configured for modifying an appearance of a spatial element;

receiving status information of at least one electronic device, wherein the status information comprises light level values of lighting loads associated with the space nodes;

filtering the received status information to select a subset of status information that corresponds to the selected status-attribute view;

determining status levels of respective space nodes based on the subset of status information, wherein for each space node at least one status level is determined by calculating a weighted light level average using the received light level values;

determining object properties that apply to the determined status levels using the logic, wherein at least one object property is determined by determining a color in the light level color gradient corresponding to the calculated weighted light level average;

applying the determined object properties to respective spatial elements associated with respective space nodes; and

rendering a three dimensional building visualization of the building for the selected status-attribute view via a user interface.

37. A method for rendering a three-dimensional building management system visualization of a building, the method comprising:

storing geometry elements and spatial elements, wherein the geometry elements define three-dimensional geometrical representation of a building'"'"'s structure, wherein the spatial elements define three-dimensional representation of spaces in the building, wherein the geometry elements are mapped to spatial elements, wherein the spatial elements are associated with respective space nodes that identify the spaces located within the building, wherein the space nodes are associated with respective electronic devices installed within the spaces in the building;

creating at least one programmed scheduled event for at least one electronic device comprising programming rules;

receiving a selection of a fast forward view configured for providing a simulation of a programmed operational state of the building;

receiving a selection of a status-attribute view from a list of status-attribute views;

storing logic for each status-attribute view, wherein the logic defines one or more object properties each corresponding to a status levels and configured for modifying an appearance of a spatial element;

receiving status information of at least one electronic device, wherein the received status information comprises the programming rules;

filtering the received status information to select a subset of status information that corresponds to the selected status-attribute view;

determining status levels of respective space nodes based on the subset of status information, wherein the determined status levels comprise programmed operational states of the space nodes;

determining object properties that apply to the determined status levels using the logic;

applying the determined object properties to respective spatial elements associated with the space nodes; and

rendering a three dimensional building visualization of the building for the selected status-attribute view via a user interface.

38. A method for rendering a three-dimensional building management system visualization of a building, the method comprising:

storing geometry elements and spatial elements, wherein the geometry elements define three-dimensional geometrical representation of a building'"'"'s structure, wherein the spatial elements define three-dimensional representation of spaces in the building, wherein the geometry elements are mapped to spatial elements, wherein the spatial elements are associated with respective space nodes that identify the spaces located within the building, wherein the space nodes are associated with respective electronic devices installed within the spaces in the building;

receiving a selection of a status-attribute view from a list of status-attribute views, wherein the list of status-attribute views comprises a space utilization status-attribute view comprising logic including a color gradient configured for indicating a length of time a space is utilized;

storing logic for each status-attribute view, wherein the logic defines one or more object properties each corresponding to a status levels and configured for modifying an appearance of a spatial element;

receiving status information of at least one electronic device;

filtering the received status information to select a subset of status information that corresponds to the selected status-attribute view;

determining status levels of respective space nodes based on the subset of status information, wherein for each space node at least one status level is determined by;

storing count of minutes a plurality of spaces in the building are utilized, and

determining a percentage a space is utilized by comparing a utilization minutes count of the space to a total utilization minutes count of the plurality of spaces in the building;

determining object properties that apply to the determined status level using the logic;

applying the determined object properties to respective spatial elements associated with the space nodes; and

rendering a three dimensional building visualization of the building for the selected status-attribute view via a user interface.