Building automation system data management

• US 20070055698A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Richards, David, McCoy, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A building automation system (BAS). In one embodiment, the BAS comprises a database and a relational directory. The database is adapted to store data definitions. The relational directory includes data definitions for the BAS, stored in the database, and includes a site level, a system level, a device level, and an extension level organized in a hierarchical relationship in the database. In another embodiment, the BAS comprises a database, a relational directory of data definitions for the BAS, and a server engine.

Claims

1. A building automation system (BAS) comprising:

a database adapted to store data definitions; and

a relational directory of data definitions for the BAS stored in the database, the directory including;

a site level comprising at least one site definition, the site definition including a site description and a site management description, wherein the site description relates a site with at least one portion of the BAS, and wherein the site management description defines at least one site operation;

a system level comprising at least one system definition, wherein the system definition describes an association of a system with a site and an interaction of the system with at least one device comprising a portion of the BAS;

a device level comprising at least one device definition, wherein the device definition relates a device with at least one site recognized by the BAS; and

an extension level comprising at least one extension definition, wherein each extension definition is associated with a device and defines an association of a device with at least one of a system, a site, or another device,

such that the site level, the system level, the device level, and the extension level are organized in a hierarchical relationship in the database.

2. The BAS of claim 1, wherein the device level further comprises a communication description, wherein the communication description defines a communication protocol compatible with the device to support device interaction with the BAS.

3. The BAS of claim 1, wherein at least one extension is associated with a device, wherein the device comprises at least a portion of a system, and wherein the system comprises at least a portion of a site.

4. The BAS of claim 1, wherein the device definition further comprises a device behavior and functionality description.

5. The BAS of claim 1, further comprising a server engine communicatively coupled to the database and adapted to manage the relational directory.

6. The BAS of claim 5, wherein the device level comprises at least one general device definition, and wherein the server engine is adapted to customize the general device definition for a particular device.

7. The BAS of claim 6, wherein the server engine is adapted to customize the general device definition for a particular device based on a non-general device definition in the relational directory.

8. The BAS of claim 7, wherein the non-general device definition relates to a device having at least one characteristic in common with the particular device.

9. The BAS of claim 8, wherein the at least one characteristic is identified by the server engine.

10. The BAS of claim 1, wherein the at least one site operation is selected from the set consisting of a site start-up operation and a site addition operation.

11. The BAS of claim 1, wherein the site description defines an interaction between a site and at least one device.

12. The BAS of claim 1, wherein the system definition identifies a device comprising at least a portion of a system.

13. A building automation system (BAS) comprising:

a database adapted to store data definitions; and

a relational directory of data definitions for the BAS stored in the database, the directory including;

at least one site definition comprising a description of a site, the site comprising at least a portion of the BAS; and

at least one device definition describing an association of a device with the site, the at least one device comprising at least a portion of the BAS; and

a server engine communicatively coupled to the database and adapted to manage the relational directory by hierarchically organizing the at least one site definition and the at least one device definition within the relational directory.

14. The BAS of claim 13, wherein the hierarchical organization within the relational directory corresponds to a hierarchy of the BAS.

15. The BAS of claim 13, wherein the hierarchical organization within the relational directory further comprises:

a site level comprising the at least one site definition, wherein the site level further comprises a site management description defining at least one operation of the site; and

a device level comprising the at least one device definition.

16. The BAS of claim 15, wherein the at least one site operation is selected from the set consisting of a site start-up operation and a site addition operation.

17. The BAS of claim 13, wherein the relational directory further comprises:

at least one system definition comprising at least one device included in the system,

wherein the server engine is further adapted to hierarchically organize the at least one system definition relative to the at least one site definition and the at least on device definition.

18. The BAS of claim 17, wherein the hierarchical organization within the relational directory further comprises:

a site level comprising the at least one site definition, wherein the site level further comprises a site management description defining at least one operation of the site;

a system level comprising the at least one system definition; and

a device level comprising the at least one device definition.

19. The BAS of claim 18, wherein the at least one site operation is selected from the set consisting of a site start-up operation and a site addition operation.

20. The BAS of claim 17, wherein the relational directory further comprises:

at least one extension definition describing an operation of a device defined by a device definition,

wherein the server engine is further adapted to hierarchically organize the at least one extension definition relative to the at least one site definition, the at least one system definition, and the at least on device definition.

21. The BAS of claim 20, wherein the hierarchical organization within the relational directory further comprises:

an extension level comprising the at least one extension definition.