Automated position detection for wireless building automation devices

• US 20060074494A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McFarland, Norman R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

In a building environment, a coordinate location or local position of various automation devices is determined. The location or position may be determined using a wireless distance measurement. Applications, associations, and utilizations for wireless building automation devices are developed according to location and/or positions of the devices. The position may be determined based on techniques for determining a relative distance of device from other devices and/or a reference point. The position may be mapped to the coordinate location within the building. Devices may be grouped, a commissioning table of binding associations between devices may be created, and addresses assigned to the building automation devices according to the location, the position and/or distances between the devices. Associations between devices may be established and updated based on proximity of the devices. Device communication also may be controlled according to position and distance information.

Claims

1. A method for locating building automation devices, the method comprising:

determining locations of a plurality of building automation devices, the locations being determined using wireless communication of distance information between the building automation devices; and

mapping the plurality of building automation devices with respect to a building according to the determined locations of the plurality of building automation devices.

2. The method of claim 1 where the locations are determined according to a distance to a reference point for at least one of the plurality of building automation devices.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a proximate building automation device of at least one building automation device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising assigning a binding association between the at least one building automation device and the proximate building automation device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising controlling wireless communication between the at least one building automation device and the proximate building automation device based on determined locations of the at least one building automation device and the proximate building automation device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising assigning a process application to a building automation device according to a binding association between the at least one building automation device and the proximate building automation device.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising assigning a network address to each of the plurality of building automation devices according to the determined locations of the plurality of building automation devices.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a process application to a building automation device according to the determined locations for the plurality of building automation devices.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a network address to a building automation device according to the determined locations for the plurality of building automation devices.

10. The method of claim 1 where the distances are determined automatically by a processor.

11. The method of claim 1 where the map a location of interest associated with at least one of the plurality of building automation devices.

12. A method for controlling building automation, the method comprising:

determining a local position for at least one building automation device, the local position being determined with respect to a reference point using wireless communication with the building automation device; and

assigning an application process to the at least one building automation device according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising mapping the local position for the at least one building automation device to a system plan.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising assigning an address to the at least one building automation device according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising controlling communication with the at least one building automation device according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining local positions for a plurality of building automation devices, the local position being determined using wireless communications; and

automatically populating the system plan with the local position for the plurality of building automation devices.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising assigning an address to the plurality of building automation devices according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising controlling communication among the plurality of building automation devices according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising assigning an association between at least two of the plurality of building automation devices according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

20. The method of claim 16 where the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices are determined according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

21. The method of claim 16 where the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices are determined according to a building reference, the system plan associating the plurality of devices with respect to the building reference.

22. The method of claim 16 where the local position is determined using wireless radio communication between building automation devices.

23. The method of claim 22 where the local position is determined as a function of a set time delay and time of transmission of radio communication signals.

24. A building automation system comprising:

at least one building automation device; and

a processor configured to determine a local position for at least one building automation device, the local position being determined using wireless communication with the at least one building automation device and to assign an application process to the at least one building automation device according to the local position for at least one building automation device.

25. The system of claim 24 where the at least one building automation device is assigned an address according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

26. The system of claim 24 where communication with the at least one building automation device is controlled according to the mapped local position for the at least one building automation device.

27. The system of claim 24 further comprising a processor configured to determine a local position for a plurality of building automation devices using wireless communications and to populate the system plan according to the local position for the plurality of building automation devices.

28. The system of claim 27 where addresses are assigned to the plurality of building automation devices according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

29. The system of claim 27 where communication among the plurality of building automation devices is controlled according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

30. The system of claim 27 where a binding association between at least two of the plurality of building automation devices is assigned according to the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices.

31. The system of claim 27 where the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices are determined according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

32. The system of claim 27 where the local positions for the plurality of building automation devices are determined accord to the building reference.

33. The system of claim 27 where the local position is determined using wireless radio communication between building automation devices.

34. The system of claim 33 where the local position is determined as a function of a set time delay and time from transmission of radio communication signals.

35. A building automation system, comprising:

at least one wireless building sensor configured to communicate over a wireless network using wireless network communication protocol; and

at least one building actuator in communication with the at least one wireless building sensor over the wireless network, the building sensor having a binding association with the building actuator according to a wireless communication distance determination.

36. The system of claim 35 where a communication signal between the building sensor and the building actuator is controlled according to a wireless communication distance determination.

37. The system of claim 35 where the distance determination includes a radio communication distance measurement between the building sensor and the building actuator.

38. The system of claim 35 where the distance determination includes a radio communication distance measurement between the building sensor and a building reference.

39. The system of claim 35 where the at least one building sensor and the at least one building actuator are assigned network addresses according to a wireless communication distance determination.

40. The system of claim 35 where the distance determination includes a radio communication distance measurement between the building actuator and a building reference.

41. The system of claim 35, comprising:

a plurality of wireless building sensors configured to communicate over the wireless network using a wireless network communication protocol; and

a plurality of building actuators configured to communicate over the wireless network using wireless network communication protocol, each of the plurality of building actuators in communication with at least one corresponding building sensor over the wireless network, the plurality of building sensors being assigned to the at least one corresponding building actuator according to a wireless communication distance determination.

42. The system of claim 41 where a communication signal between a building sensor and corresponding building actuator is controlled according to a wireless communication distance determination.

43. The system of claim 41 further comprising a display configured to illustrate a plot of the plurality of wireless building sensors with reference to building structure.

44. The system of claim 43 where the display is configured to illustrate a location of interest for at least one of the sensors.

45. The system of claim 41 further comprising a display configured to illustrate a plot of the plurality of wireless building actuators with reference to building structure.

46. The system of claim 45 where the display is configured to illustrate a location of interest for at least one of the actuators.

47. A building control network, the system comprising:

a plurality of distally located building automation devices within a building; and

a controller operable to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of distally located building automation devices, the controller determining a coordinate location for at least one of the distally located building automation devices, and mapping the coordinate location to a system plan for the building, and assigning an address to at least on,e of the distally located building automation devices according to the coordinate location of the at least one distally located building automation devices.

48. A method for controlling building automation, the method comprising:

determining a local position for at least one building automation device, the local position being determined with respect to a reference point using wireless communication with the building automation device; and

assigning an address to the at least one building automation device according to the local position for the at least one building automation device.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising mapping the local position for the at least one building automation device to a system plan.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising controlling communication with the at least one building automation device according to the address for the at least one building automation device.

51. The method of claim 48 further comprising:

determining local positions for a plurality of building automation devices, the local position being determined using wireless communications; and

assigning addresses to the plurality of building automation devices according to the determined local positions for the building automation devices.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising controlling communication among the plurality of building automation devices according to the addresses for the plurality of building automation devices.