SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING BUILDING INFORMATION

• US 20130169681A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Henry, Wang, Xiaoli, Beaulieu, Conrad Bruce, Raman, Thirumal, Rasane, Shailesh, Coleman, Ben, Sankarapandia, Rajesh, Janakiraman, Kirupakar, Chinnachamy, Parthasarathy, Sundar, Naga, Sasidharan, Sarath, Mookan, Sekar, Gadde, Venu
• Granted Patent: US 9,342,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for presenting building information. In overview, the technologies described herein provide relationships between Building Information Modeling (BIM) data (which includes building schematics defined in terms of standardized three dimensional models) and Building Management System (BMS) data (which includes data indicative of the operation of building components such as HVAC components and the like). Some embodiments use relationships between these forms of data thereby to assist technicians in identifying the physical location of particular pieces of equipment, for example in the context of performing inspections and/or maintenance. In some cases this includes the provision of 2D and/or 3D maps to portable devices, these maps including the location of equipment defined both in BIM and BMS data. In some cases, augmented reality technology is applied thereby to provide richer access to positional information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting building information, the method including the steps of:

maintaining access to data indicative of building schematics;

maintaining access to data indicative of the position of a plurality of pieces of equipment relative to the building schematics;

receiving data indicative of the position of a portable device; and

providing via the portable device data indicative of the location of one or more pieces of equipment relative to the position of the portable device.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed by a machine remote of the portable device, and providing via the portable device data indicative of the location of one or more pieces of equipment relative to the position of the portable device includes providing to the portable device data for rendering on a graphical display, the data for rendering identifying the location of the one or more pieces of equipment relative to the position of the portable device.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the data for rendering includes map data.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the data for rendering includes information to be overlaid on map data.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the data for rendering includes augmented reality data.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the augmented reality data includes data for overlay on an augmented reality display.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the method includes performing a camera calibration process for the portable device thereby to spatially configure the augmented reality display.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed by the portable device, and the method includes:

receiving data indicative of the position of a portable device from an on-board positioning component;

providing to a central server data indicative of the position of the portable device;

receiving from the central server data for rendering on a display of the portable device, wherein the data for rendering is indicative of the location of one or more pieces of equipment relative to the position of the portable device.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the data for rendering includes map data.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the data for rendering includes information to be overlaid on map data.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the data for rendering includes augmented reality data.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the augmented reality data includes data for overlay on an augmented reality display.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the method includes performing a camera calibration process for the portable device thereby to spatially configure the augmented reality display.

14. A computer system configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

15. A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method according to claim 1.

16. A method for defining an augmented reality image, the method including:

receiving data indicative of an image captured at an image capture device, the image including an internal region of a building;

comparing the image with 2D virtual images representative of internal regions of the building, the 2D images being constructed from BIM data, the 2D virtual images being constructed from BIM data;

matching the captured image with a 2D virtual image, thereby to identify in the BIM data the region of the building captured; and

overlaying on the captured image data indicative of the location of at least one piece of equipment defined in the BIM data.

17. A method comprising:

determining a location of a portable device, the portable device having a display;

accessing a building information database that includes one or more building schematics as well as the location of one or more building components on the one or more building schematics;

accessing a building management database that includes data indicative of the current operation of the building components;

displaying on the display of the portable device data indicative of the location of the portable device on the one or more building schematics and in relation to the one or more building components; and

displaying on the display of the portable device data indicative of the current operation of the building components.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data indicative of the location of the portable device on the one or more building schematics and in relation to the one or more building components includes a 2D image.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the data indicative of the location of the portable device on the one or more building schematics and in relation to the one or more building components includes a 3D image.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

accepting input from a user at the portable device to change one or more parameters of one or more building components that are displayed on the display of the portable device.