WO2015185087A1

WO2015185087A1 - Building automation system and method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2015185087A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/061343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Niclas Ericsson; Lennart BALGÅRD; Linus Thrybom; Gargi Bag; Morgan Johansson; Zhibo PANG
Original assignee: Abb Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-02
Filing date: 2014-06-02
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method performed in a Building Automation System (BAS) 1 of a building, comprising a Building Management System (BMS) 2; a plurality of communication devices 4; and a plurality of positioning devices 3. The method comprises a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices obtaining information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device of the plurality of positioning devices, said at least one positioning device having a known position in the building. The method also comprises the BMS receiving the obtained information about the position from the first communication device. The method also comprises the BMS determining the position in the building of the first communication device based on the received information. The method also comprises the BMS assigning at least one parameter to the first communication device based on the determined position. The method also comprises the BMS sending instructions to the first communication device, instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned at least one parameter.

Description

BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods of a Building

Automation System (BAS) in a building. BACKGROUND

In a BAS of a building it is necessary to configure wired and/or wireless devices manually based on their locations so that the Building Management System (BMS) can pair/associate the device with the room it is in or with other devices in the same or different location depending on the application requirement. For instance, the BMS needs to know which room a heating or lighting device relates to. Also, the device is assigned a name/address within the BAS to enable communication there with. Thus, a lot of time is needed to set up all devices in a BAS, which is usually done locally with a point-to-point connection to the device, or by using DIP switches, or by using external configuration plugs. There is thus a general need to ease the installation and commissioning of devices in a BAS.

SUMMARY

It is an objective of the present invention to alleviate problems with installation of devices in a BAS by reducing the need for manually installing and commissioning the devices one by one.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method performed in a Building Automation System (BAS) of a building. The BAS comprises a Building Management System (BMS), a plurality of

communication devices, and a plurality of positioning devices. The method comprises a first communication device of the plurality of communication devices obtaining information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device of the plurality of positioning devices, said at least one positioning device having a known position in the building. The method also comprises the BMS receiving the obtained information about the position from the first communication device. The method also comprises the BMS determining the position in the building of the first communication device based on the received information. The method also comprises the BMS assigning at least one parameter to the first communication device based on the determined position. The method also comprises the BMS sending instructions to the first communication device, instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned at least one parameter.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a BMS for a BAS comprising a plurality of communication devices and a plurality of positioning devices in a building. The BMS comprises processor circuitry, and a storage unit storing instructions, e.g. software (SW), executable by said processor circuitry whereby said BMS is operative to receive information about a position in the building of a first communication device, from said first communication device. The BMS is also operative to determine the position in the building of the first communication device based on the received information. The BMS is also operative to assign at least one parameter to the first communication device based on the determined position. The BMS is also operative to send instructions to the first communication device, instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned at least one parameter.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first communication device for a BAS comprising a BMS, a plurality of

communication devices and a plurality of positioning devices in a building. The first communication device comprises processor circuitry, and a storage unit storing instructions, e.g. software (SW), executable by said processor circuitry whereby said first communication device is operative to obtain information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device of the plurality of positioning devices, said at least one positioning device having a known position in the building. The first communication device is also operative to send the obtained information about the position from to the BMS. The first communication device is also operative to receive instructions to from the BMS, instructing the first communication device to be configured with an assigned at least one parameter. The first communication device is also operative to configure the first communication device with the assigned at least one parameter. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a BAS for a building. The BAS comprises an embodiment of the BMS of the present disclosure. The BAS also comprises a plurality of communication devices, including an embodiment of the first communication device of the present disclosure. The BAS also comprises a plurality of positioning devices. By the communication device obtaining information about its position from positioning device(s), its position can be determined, either by the

communication device itself, or by the BMS based on information sent by the communication device. Based on this determined position, and possibly other information about the communication device, the BMS can configure the communication device with suitable parameters, e.g. communication parameters such as name, address, encryption key etc., and/or associate the communication device with other devices in the BAS e.g. in the same room in the building. By using positioning devices, the communication devices need not have its own space consuming satellite navigation unit, reducing the size of the communication device. Also, satellite positioning may in many cases be unsuitable for indoor positioning with high accuracy due to the distortion and fading of satellite signals within e.g. concrete buildings.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. The use of "first", "second" etc. for different features/components of the present disclosure are only intended to distinguish the features/components from other similar features/components and not to impart any order or hierarchy to the features/components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig l is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a BAS in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 2 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments are shown.

However, other embodiments in many different forms are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, the following embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a BAS 1 in accordance with the present invention. The BAS 1 comprises a plurality of communication devices 4 as well as a plurality of positioning devices 3 (which could in some

embodiments be regarded as anchors). On a higher level in the BAS 1, there is a BMS 2 for acting as a control unit of the BAS 1. Several different types of communication devices 4 are shown as examples in the figure, denoted 4a-f. Communication devices 4a, 4b and 4c are wired and configured for wired communication in the BAS, while the communication devices 4d, 4e and 4f are wireless and configured for wireless communication within the BAS. The wired communication devices 4a-c are connected to the higher level part of the BAS via a system access point 5. The wireless communication devices 4d-f are typically connected to the higher level part of the BAS via a radio access point, e.g. comprised in the system access point 5. The positioning devices 3 may be connected to a localization server 9 which may e.g. hold information about the positions of the respective positioning devices 3. In addition to the BMS 2 and the Localization server, the higher level part of the BAS 1 in the embodiment of figure 1, as an example, includes a conference server 6, a security server 7 and an engineering terminal 8.

Figure 2 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method of the present invention. The method is performed in the BAS 1 of a building, comprising a BMS 2, a plurality of communication devices 4, and a plurality of positioning devices 3. The method is at least predominantly performed by the BMS 2. A first communication device 4 of the plurality of communication devices obtains Si information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device 3 of the plurality of positioning devices. The at least one positioning device has a known position in the building, e.g. known and possibly broadcasted by the positioning node, and/or known elsewhere in the BAS e.g. by the BMS 2 and/or the localization server 9. The first communication device 4 then sends, and the BMS 2 receives S2, the obtained Si information about the position. The received S2 information may e.g. be the position (e.g. room number or coordinates etc.) or more raw information (e.g. reception strengths of the transmissions from the at least one positioning device 3) from which the BMS can calculate the position of the first communication device 4. Regardless, based on the received S2 information, the BMS 2 determines S3 the position in the building of the first communication device 4. Then, based on the determined S3 position, the BMS 2 assigns S4 at least one parameter (e.g. name/address) to the first communication device 4. The BMS 2 sends S5 instructions to the first communication device 4, instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned S4 at least one parameter. Thereby the first communication device is configured with the parameter as instructed by the BMS.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the wireless transmissions from the at least one positioning device 3 are radio transmissions. For example, the transmissions may be in accordance with a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication standard, with an Ultra- Wideband (UWB) communication standard, or with a Bluetooth communication standard, e.g. iBeacon™. For positioning are radio frequency (RF) based Time of Flight, Time of Arrival and Time Difference of Arrival, methods which may be used to determine the distance between a communication device and a fixed anchor, e.g. a positioning device 3. By using multiple anchors 3 and distance measurements, the position of the communication device may be

triangulated in 2D or 3D depending on the number of anchors 3. Either of UWB and WLAN may be suitable RF carriers in this case. The time/distance measurement can also be complemented using angle information, thus adding the angle of the direction from the anchor 3 to the communication device 4. Another positioning method method is to measure the RF signal strength from a positioning device/anchor 3 and store a set of "finger prints" for an area where the communication device 4 is to be positioned. The communication device may then be positioned by measuring the signal strength of e.g. UWB or WLAN and comparing it with the stored finger prints.

Alternatively, in some other embodiments of the present invention, the wireless transmissions from the at least one positioning device 3 are ultrasonic transmissions. As an alternative to RF, audio ultrasonic

transmissions may be used for angle and distance measurements.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first communication device 4 is a wireless communication device. Alternatively, the first communication device 4 is a wired communication device. However, the present invention may be particularly suitable for wireless devices 4, configures for wireless communication, since their positioning may be more flexible and thus less known.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one positioning device 3 comprises a satellite navigation module, e.g. a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, or wherein the at least one positioning device 3 is stationary and its position has been pre-set in the BAS 1. These are examples of how the position of a positioning device 3 may be known. As mentioned above, satellite positioning may not always be suitable for obtaining sufficiently accurate positioning (e.g. within 10 meters, 5 meters, 2 meters or 1 meters) indoors, why the positioning device(s) 3 may be anchors with preprogrammed positions e.g. into the respective positioning device 3 and/or the BMS 2 and/or the localization server 9.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the step of the first communication device 4 obtaining information about its position comprises obtaining the information based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least two, preferably at least three, positioning devices 3 of the plurality of positioning devices, each of which having a known position in the building. The 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional position of the communication device may be more accurately determined with the help of two, three or more positioning devices/anchors 3 for triangulation.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one parameter is an address to the first communication device 4, a name of the first

communication device 4, a cryptographic key for the first communication device 4, and/or an association of the first communication device 4 with a second communication device 4 of the plurality of communication devices. In some embodiments, where the at least one parameter comprises an association with a second communication device 4, the first communication device 4 is comprised in a lamp which has been determined to be positioned in a first room, and the second communication device 4 is comprised in a light switch positioned in said first room. Thus, the lamp may automatically be associated with a suitable switch for controlling the lamp.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the first communication device is comprised in any one of a lamp, a light switch, a wall power socket, a meter e.g. of electricity or water consumption, blinds or other window coverings, a heating regulator, a ventilation regulator, an air conditioning regulator, an alarming device, a sensor e.g. of temperature, humidity, light, motion, fire, smoke or carbon dioxide, or a door entry system. These are just some examples of devices in which a communication device 4 may be comprised. Some other examples are also given in figure 1.

Examples Below follow a couple of brief examples of situations when embodiments of the present invention may be convenient.

Example 1 - Booking system to automatically control heat and ventilation

- A booking system informs the BMS 2 that a meeting will occur at time T for duration D in room R. - By means of the present invention, the BMS 2 knows which communication devices 4 are associated with room R and what type of devices they are comprised in, e.g. heating and ventilation.

- The BMS 2 orders the communication device 4 associated with heating in room R to turn on the heating prior to the meeting so that the temperature is comfortable at time T.

- At time T, the BMS 2 orders the communication device associated with ventilation in room R to activates the ventilation system in room R.

- At time T plus duration D the BMS 2 orders the respective communication devices 4 to deactivate the ventilation and turn off the heating in room R. Example 2 - Energy saving by automatically controlling wall sockets in an office building

- Each workplace in an office has intelligent wall socket W with integrated power switches.

- By means of the present invention, the BMS 2 knows which communication devices 4 are associated with each socket W in each room, and which communication devices 4 are associated with the door entry system of the building or of said each room.

- When employee E enters the building or his room therein using the door entry system D the BMS 2 system automatically turns on the wall socket W at the employee's workplace.

- When employee E leaves the building using the door entry system D the BMS 2 system automatically turns off the wall socket W at the employee's workplace.

- The intelligent wall sockets in shared locations like meeting rooms may only be turned on by the BMS 2 during office hours, while at all other time they are turned off.

The present disclosure has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS l. A method performed in a Building Automation System, BAS, (l) of a building, comprising a Building Management System, BMS, (2); a plurality of communication devices (4); and a plurality of positioning devices (3), the method comprising: a first communication device (4) of the plurality of communication devices obtaining (Si) information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device (3) of the plurality of positioning devices, said at least one positioning device having a known position in the building; the BMS (2) receiving (S2) the obtained (Si) information about the position from the first communication device (4); the BMS (2) determining (S3) the position in the building of the first communication device (4) based on the received (S2) information; the BMS (2) assigning (S4) at least one parameter to the first communication device (4) based on the determined (S3) position; and the BMS (2) sending (S5) instructions to the first communication device (4), instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned (S4) at least one parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmissions from the at least one positioning device (3) are radio transmissions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless transmissions from the at least one positioning device (3) are transmissions in accordance with a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, communication standard; with an Ultra- Wideband, UWB, communication standard; or with a Bluetooth communication standard, e.g. iBeacon™.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmissions from the at least one positioning device (3) are ultrasonic transmissions.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first communication device (4) is a wireless communication device.

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one positioning device (3) comprises a satellite navigation module, e.g. a Global Positioning System, GPS, module, or wherein the at least one positioning device (3) is stationary and its position has been pre-set in the BAS (1).

7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first communication device (4) obtaining information about its position comprises obtaining the information based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least two, preferably at least three, positioning devices (3) of the plurality of positioning devices, each of which having a known position in the building.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one parameter is an address to the first communication device (4), a name of the first communication device (4), a cryptographic key for the first communication device (4), and/or an association of the first communication device (4) with a second communication device (4) of the plurality of communication devices.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first communication device (4) is comprised in a lamp which has been determined to be positioned in a first room, and the second communication device (4) is comprised in a light switch positioned in said first room.

10. The method of any claim 1-8, wherein the first communication device is comprised in any one of a lamp, a light switch, a wall power socket, a meter e.g. of electricity or water consumption, blinds or other window coverings, a heating regulator, a ventilation regulator, an air conditioning regulator, an alarming device, a sensor e.g. of temperature, humidity, light, motion, fire, smoke or carbon dioxide, or a door entry system.

11. A BMS (2) for a BAS (1) comprising a plurality of communication devices (4) and a plurality of positioning devices (3) in a building, the BMS comprising: processor circuitry; and a storage unit storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said BMS (2) is operative to: receive information about a position in the building of a first communication device (4), from said first communication device (4); determine the position in the building of the first communication device (4) based on the received information; assign at least one parameter to the first communication device (4) based on the determined position; and send instructions to the first communication device (4), instructing the first communication device to be configured with the assigned at least one parameter.

12. A first communication device (4) for a BAS (1) comprising a BMS (2), a plurality of communication devices (4) and a plurality of positioning devices (3) in a building, the first communication device comprising: processor circuitry; and a storage unit storing instructions executable by said processor circuitry whereby said first communication device (4) is operative to: obtain information about its position in the building based on measurements on wireless transmissions from at least one positioning device (3) of the plurality of positioning devices, said at least one positioning device having a known position in the building; send the obtained information about the position from to the BMS (2); receive instructions to from the BMS (2), instructing the first communication device to be configured with an assigned at least one parameter; and configure the first communication device (4) with the assigned at least one parameter.

13. A BAS (1) for a building, the BAS comprising: the BMS (2) of claim 11; the plurality of communication devices (4), including the first

communication device of claim 12; and the plurality of positioning devices (3).