Self-healing control network for building automation systems

• US 7,139,239 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ollnova Technologies Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: McFarland, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US10/958,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/4, 700 19- 21, 700/79, 700/82, 700/99, 700/275, 700/276, 702/33, 702/35, 702/188, 709/223, 709/238, 709/239, 714 1- 5, 714/8, 714 10- 13, 714/47, 714/100, 340/3.1, 340/539.1, 340/3.43, 340/3.44, 340/310.11, 340/2.23, 340/825, 370216-228
• US Class Current: 370/228
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2239 Reallocate, reschedule execution of controlled functions if one processor fails
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25069 Pseudo redundance, eliminate failing element and reconfigure system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

In building automation architectures, components may be associated through physical communications paths and at a different level through building automation applications. Building automation applications implement control processes for a building function. Due to changing needs, such as a failure of a physical communications path or the addition or removal of components, the building automation application may be more appropriately performed in a different device. By dynamically positioning or determining a processor for implementing a building automation application, an architecture or network may more optimally control building functions, such as by requiring less user input, more rapid response and/or avoiding building function failures.

Claims

1. A system for self-healing automating building control, the system comprising:

a first processor operable to run a control application for building automation within a building and direct a network having a plurality of processors;

a second processor in the building and remote from the first processor, the second processor operable to communicate with the control application via a communications path; and

a third processor in the building and remote from the first and second processors;

wherein the control application is operable to be implemented on the third processor in response to a failure of the communications path between the control application and the second processor or a reconfiguration of the network, and implementation of the control application on the third processor is independent of physical network communications paths.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control application is operable to be implemented on the third processor by running stored software.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the physical network communications paths are assigned pursuant to IEEE 802.15.4 or 802.11x.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the physical network communications paths are assigned as a function of location within a building.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third processors are operable to intercommunicate wirelessly.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second processor comprises a sensor or an actuator processor and the first and third processors comprise controllers.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first processor seeks out particular devices associated with the control application.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third processors each comprise a sensor or an actuator processor.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the third processor is operable to identify the second processor and a fourth processor remote from the second processor, the fourth processor operable with the second processor to implement a building automation function.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the control application is operable to control a building automation function, the building automation function different than a network communication function of the system.

11. A system for self-healing automated building control, the system comprising:

a first processor operable to run a building automation application, the first processor in a building and operable for wireless communication with a network of processors; and

a second processor remote from the first processor, the second processor operable to run the building automation application, the second processor in the building and operable for wireless communication;

wherein the building automation application is operable to be initially implemented on the first processor and later implemented on the second processor in response to a reconfiguration of the network, the building automation application implementing control for an environment of at least a portion of a building in response to a sensed environmental condition for the portion of the building the sensed environment condition being wirelessly communicated with at least one of the first and second processor implementing the building automation application.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the building automation application further comprises any of a temperature sensor application, an actuator application, a coordination control application, an alarm application, a security application, and combinations thereof.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second processors connect with a building automation communications network, wherein the change associated with the first processor comprises a communications failure.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein physical network communications paths are assigned pursuant to IEEE 802.15.4 or 802.11x.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second processors connect with a building automation communications network, wherein the change associated with the first processor is independent of a physical network communications path failure.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second processors are operable to communicate with each other wirelessly.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second processors both comprise a sensor, an actuator or a controller processor.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the building automation application switches from the first processor to the second processor in conjunction with or in response to a switch in a communications path.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the second processor is operable to identify sensors, actuators or controllers for implementing a building automation function responsive to the building automation application.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the second processor is operable to identify the sensors, actuators or controllers in response to communications from the respective sensors, actuators or controllers.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein the building automation application is operable to control a building automation function, the building automation function different than a network communication function of the system.

22. The system of claim 11 wherein the building automation application is later implemented on the second processor by running dormant software stored by the second processor.

23. A method for self-healing automated building control, the method comprising:

(a) automating control of a building function with a building automation application on a first processor, communications associated with the building automation application being wireless;

(b) detecting a change in a communications path associated with the first processor; and

then

(c) implementing the building automation application on a second processor remote from the first processor in response to (b) and independent of physical network communications paths interconnecting the first and second processors.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) wirelessly controlling operation of a third processor with the building automation application during both (a) and (c).

25. The method of claim 24 wherein (d) comprises controlling sensing or actuating by the third processor with the first and second processors being controllers.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) assigning the physical network communications paths are assigned pursuant to IEEE 802.15.4 or 802.11x.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) assigning the physical network communications paths as a function of location within a building.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) communicating between the first and second processors wirelessly.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein (c) comprises switching the building automation application from the first processor to the second processor in conjunction with or in response to a reconfiguration of a network.

30. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) sensing or actuating with each of the first and second processors.

31. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

(d) identifying by the second processor devices associated with the building automation application, the devices implementing the building function.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein (a) comprises automating control of the building function, the building function different than a network communication function of the system.