Building automation system date management

• US 7,870,090 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• 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 M., McCoy, Sean M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hocker; John P
• Application Number:
  US11/316,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/921, 707/940, 700275-276, 455/66.1
• 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 computer-implemented building automation system (BAS) comprising:

(A) A database adapted to store data definitions;

(B) A relational directory of data definitions for the BAS stored in the database; and

(C) An enterprise server engine, wherein the enterprise server engine is communicatively coupled to the database and adapted to manage the relational directory;

the directory including;

(D) A site level comprising at least one site definition, the site definition including a site description and a site manager description, wherein the site description relates a site with at least one portion of the BAS, and wherein the site manager description defines at least one site operation;

(E) 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;

(F) A device level comprising at least one device definition, wherein the device definition comprises a device behavior and functionality description, and relates a device with at least one site recognized by the BAS; and

(G) 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;

(H) wherein the enterprise server engine is adapted to automatically configure the database without a user providing new information in response to discovery by the enterprise server engine of a previously unknown device not described 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 level comprises at least one general device definition, and wherein the enterprise server engine is adapted to customize the general device definition for a particular device.

5. The BAS of claim 4, wherein the enterprise 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.

6. The BAS of claim 5, wherein the non-general device definition relates to a device having at least one characteristic in common with the particular device.

7. The BAS of claim 6, wherein the at least one characteristic is identified by the enterprise server engine.

8. 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.

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

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