Frameworks and methodologies configured to assist configuring devices supported by a building management system

• US 10,514,677 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Meruva, Jayaprakash, Morrison, John David, Laycock, Graeme
• Primary Examiner(s): Huntley, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/303,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20170052529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Described herein are frameworks and methodologies configured to assist configuring devices supported by a building management system. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed to allow commissioning of devices, such as HVAC components, to be performed more efficiently in the field. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for enabling an interactive commissioning process in respect of a field device, the method including:

maintaining access to a repository of workflow sequences, wherein each workflow sequence includes;

(i) one or more user activities, which are configured to be completed by voice-delivered responses to audible prompts; and

(ii) one or more system activities, which are performed as automated processes by way of interaction with a building management system;

wherein the one or more system activities include a transition condition to be met in order to complete the execution of the system activity;

wherein at least one of the user activities or the system activities includes a tag indicating whether it is allowable to skip at least part of the workflow sequence;

executing a given one of the workflow sequences, including delivering a first audible prompt for a first user activity, and upon receiving and recording a voice-delivered response from a user to the first audible prompt, and subject to processing of the recorded response, progressing through the remainder of the workflow sequence;

wherein during at least one workflow sequence, receiving from the user a voice-based request for one or more parameter values, and in response to the voice based request, obtaining the one or more requested parameter values from the building management system, and providing a voice-based output of the obtained one or more requested parameter values; and

wherein during at least one workflow sequence, providing a voice-based instruction to the user to obtain a measure of a desired parameter value, and in response to the voice-based instruction, receiving a value for the desired parameter value, reported verbally by the user, and entering the received value for the desired parameter value into the building management system.

2. A method according to claim 1 including, for at least one system activity, providing audible voice signals representing progress of completion of the system activity.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed via a computing device, and the voice-delivered responses are transmitted via a wireless microphone device.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed via a computing device, and the voice-delivered responses are transmitted via a mobile device that is coupled to a microphone device.

5. A method according to claim 1 including operating a voice synthesizer that accesses a BMS pronunciation lexicon.

6. A method according to claim 1 including operating a voice recognition engine that is configured to recognise commissioning commands via predefined application-specific grammar.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the voice recognition engine is configured to switch between default grammar recognition and application-specific grammar recognition.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more user activities include user activities prompting the user to perform one or more of the following:

report on a state of the field device;

progress the field device into a specified mechanical state;

progress the field device into a specified software state; and

perform and report on one or more measurements made with a secondary device.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein each activity includes a success condition, exception/error condition, and a timeout period.

10. A method according to claim 1 including updating a voice synthesized that accesses a BMS pronunciation lexicon based on technical terms used in prompts and/or responses for the workflow sequence.

11. A computer implemented method for defining an interactive commissioning process in respect of a field device, the method including:

defining a workflow sequences, wherein the workflow sequence includes;

(i) one or more user activities, which are configured to be completed by voice-delivered responses to audible prompts; and

(ii) one or more system activities, which are performed as automated processes by way of interaction with a building management system;

wherein the one or more system activities include a transition condition to be met in order to complete the execution of the system activity;

wherein at least one of the user activities or the system activities includes a tag indicating whether it is allowable to skip at least part of the workflow sequence;

providing the workflow sequence to an execution module, wherein the execution module is configured to execute on a device that interacts via voice-based prompts delivered to a field technician and voice-based responses provided by the field technician;

wherein during at least one workflow sequence, receiving from the user a voice-based request for one or more parameter values, and in response to the voice based request, obtaining the one or more requested parameter values from the building management system, and providing a voice-based output of the obtained one or more requested parameter values; and

wherein during at least one workflow sequence, providing a voice-based instruction to the user to obtain a measure of a desired parameter value, and in response to the voice-based instruction, receiving a value for the desired parameter value, reported verbally by the user, and entering the received value for the desired parameter value into the building management system.

12. A method according to claim 11 including, for at least one system activity, defining a rule requiring audible voice signals representing progress of completion of the system activity.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the one or more user activities include user activities prompting the user to perform one or more of the following:

report on a state of the field device;

progress the field device into a specified mechanical state;

progress the field device into a specified software state; and

perform and report on one or more measurements made with a secondary device.

14. A device configured to enable an interactive commissioning process in respect of a field device, the device including:

a module configured to access to a repository of workflow sequences, wherein each workflow sequence includes;

(i) one or more user activities, which are configured to be completed by voice-delivered responses to audible prompts; and

(ii) one or more system activities, which are performed as automated processes by way of interaction with a building management system;

wherein the one or more system activities include a transition condition to be met in order to complete the execution of the system activity;

wherein at least one of the user activities or the system activities includes a tag indicating whether it is allowable to skip at least part of the workflow sequence;

an execution module configured to deliver each of the workflow sequences, wherein delivering a first of the workflow sequences includes delivering a first audible prompt for a first user activity, and upon receiving and recording a voice-delivered response from a user to the first audible prompt, and subject to processing of the recorded response, progressing through the remainder of the workflow sequence;

a voice command processing engine that is configured to receive from the user a voice-based request for one or more requested parameter values, and wherein the device is configured to, in response to the voice based request, obtain the one or more requested parameter values from the building management system and provide a voice-based output of the obtained one or more requested parameter values; and

wherein the device is further configured to provide a voice-based instruction to the user to obtain a measure of a desired parameter value, and in response to the voice-based instruction, receive a value for the desired parameter value, reported verbally by the user, and enter the received value for the desired parameter value into the building management system.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein delivering a given workflow sequence includes, for at least one system activity, providing audible voice signals representing progress of completion of the system activity.

16. A device according to claim 14 including a voice synthesizer that accesses a BMS pronunciation lexicon.

17. A device according to claim 14 including a voice recognition engine that is configured to recognize commissioning commands via predefined application-specific grammar.

18. A device according to claim 14 wherein the one or more user activities include user activities prompting the user to perform one or more of the following:

report on a state of the field device;

progress the field device into a specified mechanical state;

progress the field device into a specified software state; and

perform and report on one or more measurements made with a secondary device.