Integrated building environment data system

• US 7,664,573 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ollnova Technologies Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Osman
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US10/952,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/19
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A system for gathering date in a space includes a data server, a first wireless module operably connected to the data server, a first plurality of wireless sensor modules, and at least one other wireless sensor module. The first plurality of wireless sensors module are operable to generate sensor data relating to the control and operation of an HVAC system. The first plurality of wireless sensor modules are also operable to communicate the first sensor data to the first wireless module. The at least one other wireless sensor module is operable to generate second sensor data relating to at least one of the group consisting of light fixtures, architectural fixtures and plumbing fixtures, office equipment, and vending machines and furniture. The at least one other wireless sensor module is also operable to communicate the second sensor data to the first wireless module.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) operating a building automation system data acquisition infrastructure;

b) using the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure to obtain a first set of data pertaining to at least one building automation system, the at least one building automation system comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a fire safety system, a building security system and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system;

c) obtaining at least a second set of data based on information generated by at least one device via a wireless sensor module, the second set of data being nonintersecting with the first set of data;

d) controlling the at least one building automation system using the first set of data and to the exclusion of the second set of data;

e) using the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure to provide access to at least the second set of data to an authorized user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data includes data relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

office equipment, vending machines and furniture.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second set of data includes data relating to office equipment.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the first set of data and the second set of data in a shared data storage.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the second set of data to a plurality of vendor data files in the shared data storage, each vendor data file associated with a party authorized to utilize said data.

6. The method of claim 5, where the first set of data and the second set of data are obtained using a shared communication network, the communication network distributed throughout a building.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the wireless sensor module includes a MEMs device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the MEMs device includes a MEMs sensor, a processing circuit, and a wireless communications circuit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step e) further comprises providing access to the second set of data for value received from the authorized user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure to provide access to a third set of data to at least one authorized user, wherein the third set of data includes data relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

light fixtures, architectural fixtures and plumbing fixtures.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third set of data includes data relating to vending machines.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third set of data includes data relating to furniture.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step d) further comprises controlling an HVAC system using the first set of data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

step d) further comprises controlling the at least one building automation system using the first set of data and to the exclusion of the second set of data, said controlling performed at least in part by a control workstation of the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure;

e) using the control workstation of the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure to provide access to at least the second set of data to an authorized user.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the second set of data includes data relating to vending machines.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the second set of data includes data relating to furniture.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the first set of data and the second set of data in a shared data storage.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the second set of data to a plurality of vendor data files in the shared data storage, each vendor data file associated with a party authorized to utilize said data.

19. The method of claim 2, where the first set of data and the second set of data are obtained using a shared communication network, the communication network distributed throughout a building.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing the second set of data to a plurality of vendor data files, each vendor data file associated with a party authorized to utilize said data.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step d) further comprises controlling the at least one building automation system using the first set of data and to the exclusion of the second set of data, said controlling performed at least in part by a control workstation of the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure;

e) using the control workstation of the building automation system data acquisition infrastructure to provide access to at least the second set of data to an authorized user.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless sensor module includes a MEMs device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the MEMs device includes a MEMs sensor, a processing circuit, and a wireless communications circuit.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein step e) further comprises providing access to the second set of data for value received from the authorized user.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein step e) further comprises further providing access to at least some of the first set of data.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of data includes data relating to at least one of the group consisting of:

light fixtures, architectural fixtures and plumbing fixtures.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) further comprises controlling an HVAC system using the first set of data.