Binding wireless devices in a building automation system

Abstract

On a first level of the wireless building automation architecture, sensors and associated actuators communicate directly. The sensor performs control processes appropriate for the sensor and regardless of the type of actuator being used. The actuator performs control processes specific to the actuator regardless of the type of sensor being used. By direct wireless communication between sensors and actuators, the opportunity for a failed communications link using a hub and spoke arrangement may be avoided. Communication redundancy is provided by receiving the outputs of sensors at a controller, such as a controller on a second high speed or high bandwidth tier of the architecture. Regional control is implemented in the higher level tier. The higher level tier may override or control operation of components of the lower level tier as needed. The distributed control processing allows for more convenient room level integration. Where a problem is detected, such as a fire, corrective action begins within the immediate region of the sensor generating an alarm signal. The corrective action occurs without routing the alarm signal to upper levels of control processes or across different systems. The alarm signal is also propagated to upper level control systems for generating appropriate responses in other zones. To provide the different zones and avoid interference, the transmit power of the sensors and actuators is controlled as a function of two or more other devices.

1 . A control system for wireless building automation control, the control system comprising:
 a first wireless network in a building having first wireless communications protocol; and   a second wireless network in the building having a second wireless communications protocol, the first wireless communications protocol different than the second wireless communications protocol;   wherein the first wireless network is operable to control, free of communications with the second wireless network, building components in response to sensors, and wherein the first wireless network is also operable to control the building components in response to data from the second wireless network.   
   
   
       2 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless communications protocol has a first bandwidth and the second wireless communications protocol has a second bandwidth, the first bandwidth less than the second bandwidth. 
   
   
       3 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless network comprises a first plurality of first processors and the second wireless network comprises a second plurality of second processors, the second processors having a greater processing power and storage capacity than the first processors. 
   
   
       4 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless network implements local area control processes and wherein the second wireless network implements control processes for a plurality of local areas. 
   
   
       5 . The control system of  claim 4  wherein the first wireless network implements control processes for rooms and wherein the second wireless network implements control processes for one of a wing of the building, a floor of the building, the building and combinations thereof, the second wireless network including aggregate communications corresponding to a plurality of sensors, actuators or combinations thereof, and the first wireless network excluding aggregate communications corresponding to the plurality of sensors, actuators and combinations thereof, the communications of the first wireless network corresponding to individual sensors or actuators. 
   
   
       6 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein at least one processor of the second wireless network wirelessly communicates with the first wireless network, processors of the first wireless network only capable of communication pursuant to the first communications protocol. 
   
   
       7 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless network comprises wirelessly paired building actuators and sensors operable without further control and the second wireless network comprises controllers operable to override the operation of the paired building actuators and sensors. 
   
   
       8 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless network comprises a plurality of actuators and sensors, each of the sensors operable to process control information specific only to the sensor, each of the actuators operable to process control information specific only to the actuator, each of the actuators responsive to a wireless output of at least on of the sensors. 
   
   
       9 . The control system of  claim 8  wherein each of the sensors is operable to wirelessly output data representing a comparison of a respective set value to a sensed value, the output data being independent of a type of actuator, and wherein each of the actuators is operable to determine a setting as a function of the output data of at least one of the sensors and the type of actuator. 
   
   
       10 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the second wireless network is operable to instruct a redirection of first wireless network sensor data to the second wireless network, the building components responsive to communications from the second wireless network. 
   
   
       11 . The control system of  claim 10  wherein the first network controls the building components in response to the sensors in response to a communications failure with the second wireless network. 
   
   
       12 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the second wireless network is operable to dynamically assign control processing among a plurality of components and to instruct components of the first wireless network to be responsive to the dynamically assigned control processing. 
   
   
       13 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein a transmit power of a component of the first wireless network is responsive to communications from the second wireless network. 
   
   
       14 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the first wireless network is operable to control building components in a first area without communications from the second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is operable to instruct control of building components in a second area different than the first area in response to control of the building components in the first area by the first network, and wherein the first network is operable to control the building components in the second area as a function of the instructed control from the second wireless network. 
   
   
       15 . A method for wireless building automation control, the method comprising:
 (a) wirelessly controlling building actuator outputs in response to sensor inputs without an intervening controller;   (b) performing the wireless communications of (a) pursuant to a first communications protocol; and   (c) wirelessly controlling the building actuator outputs with the intervening controller in response to sensor inputs, the building actuator outputs operating free of the intervening controller in a first time period and being in response to the intervening controller in a second, different time period.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 (d) communicating with the intervening controller with a second communications protocol different than the first communications protocol;   wherein the control of the building actuator outputs of (c) is responsive to wireless communication from the sensors pursuant to the first communications protocol and information of the communications of (d).   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein (b) comprises performing the wireless communications directly between actuator outputs and sensor inputs with a first bandwidth and (d) comprises communicating with a second bandwidth, the first bandwidth less than the second bandwidth. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein (a) comprises implementing local area control processes and wherein (c) comprises implementing control processes for a plurality of local areas. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the local area control processes comprise room control processes;
 wherein (c) comprises overriding the room control processes with control processes for one of a wing of the building, a floor of the building, the building and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein (b) comprises communicating for individual sensors or actuators and wherein (d) comprises communicating data being an aggregate corresponding to a plurality of sensors, actuators or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein (a) and (b) are performed for wirelessly paired building actuators and sensors operable without further control and wherein (c) comprises overriding the operation of the paired building actuators and sensors. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein (a) comprises:
 (a1) processing control information specific only to a sensor on the sensor;   (a2) transmitting an output of the sensor to an actuator; and   (a3) processing control information specific only to the actuator on the actuator.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 (d) redirecting data from the sensor inputs to the intervening controller.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein (d) comprises redirecting the data in response to a communications failure. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 (d) dynamically assign control processing among a plurality of components, one of the components being the intervening controller; and   (e) instructing the building actuator outputs to be responsive to the dynamically assigned control processing.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 (d) setting a transmit power of at least one of the sensor inputs as a function of a signal received at a plurality of other devices.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 15  wherein (a) comprises controlling the building actuator outputs in a first area without communications from the intervening controller;
 further comprising:   (d) controlling building actuator outputs in a second area different than the first area in response to control of the building actuator components in the first area, the control in the second area being performed with the intervening controller.   
   
   
       28 . A control system for wireless building automation control, the control system comprising:
 a sensor arrangement having a sensor, a sensor processor and a radio frequency transmitter;   an actuator arrangement having an actuator, an actuator processor and a radio frequency receiver, the sensor arrangement spaced from the actuator arrangement such that the radio frequency receiver is operable to receive information from the radio frequency transmitter; and   a control algorithm distributed on both the sensor processor and the actuator processor;   wherein the portion of the control algorithm on the sensor processor is specific to the sensor and the portion of the control algorithm on the actuator processor is specific to the actuator, the sensor processor being free of control algorithms for other devices; and   wherein the control algorithm is operable to control, free of input from an external controller, a parameter as a function of the sensor and the actuator.   
   
   
       29 . The control system of  claim 28  wherein the sensor processor, with the portion of the control algorithm on the sensor processor, is operable to generate a request as a function of a comparison of a first set point with a signal input by the sensor, and wherein the actuator processor, with the portion of the control algorithm on the actuator processor, is operable to determine an adjustment as a function of the request. 
   
   
       30 . The control system of  claim 28  further comprising:
 a first wireless network comprising the sensor and actuator arrangements, the first wireless network operable pursuant to a first wireless communications protocol; and   a second wireless network operable pursuant to a second wireless communications protocol different than the first wireless communications protocol;   wherein the control algorithm is operable in a first mode free of control from the second wireless network and in a second mode as a function of control from the second wireless network.   
   
   
       31 . A method for wireless building automation control, the method comprising:
 (a) performing a sensor control process on a sensor, the sensor control process specific to the sensor without control processes for other sensors and other actuators;   (b) wirelessly transmitting an output from the sensor responsive to the sensor control process;   (c) receiving the output at an actuator;   (d) performing an actuator control process on the actuator as a function of the output, the actuator control process specific to the actuator without control processes for other sensors and other actuators;   wherein the sensor and actuator control processes are operable without control from any external controller.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein (a) comprises generating the output as a function of a comparison of a first set point with a measured signal, and wherein (d) comprises determining an adjustment specific to the actuator as a function of the output. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the sensor and actuator comprise a first wireless network;
 further comprising:   (e) performing (b) and (c) pursuant to a first wireless communications protocol of the first wireless network;   (f) receiving the output at a second wireless network operable pursuant to a second wireless communications protocol different than the first wireless communications protocol;   (g) operating the sensor and actuator in a first mode free of control from the second wireless network and in a second mode as a function of control from the second wireless network.   
   
   
       34 . A system for wireless building automation control, the system comprising:
 a first building control system device having a transmitter;   second and third building control system devices having second and third receivers, respectively; and   a control processor operable to set a transmit power of the transmitter as a function of information from the second and third receivers.   
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the first building control system device comprises one of a sensor arrangement, an actuator arrangement, a controller and combinations thereof and wherein the second and third building control system devices each comprise one of a sensor arrangement, an actuator arrangement, a controller and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the first building control system device comprises a sensor arrangement and the second building control system device comprises an actuator arrangement. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the control processor comprises a processor of the first building control system device. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the control processor comprises a processor remote from the first, second and third building control system devices. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 34  wherein the control processor is operable to limit the transmit power for reception by the second building control system device and avoid reception by the third building control system device. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the control processor is operable to limit the transmit power for reception by a closest controller. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the control processor is operable to increase the transmit power for reception by both the second and third building control systems. 
   
   
       42 . A method for wireless building automation control, the method comprising:
 (a) transmitting a radio frequency signal from a first building control system device;   (b) attempting receipt of the radio frequency signal at second and third building control system devices; and   (c) setting a transmit power of the transmitter as a function of information from the second and third building control system devices.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein (a) comprises transmitting from one of a sensor arrangement, an actuator arrangement, a controller and combinations thereof and wherein (b) comprises attempting receipt by the second and third building control system devices each comprising one of a sensor arrangement, an actuator arrangement, a controller and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein (a) comprises transmitting from a sensor arrangement and wherein (b) comprises attempting receipt at an actuator arrangement. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein (c) comprises determining the transmit power at the first building control system device. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein (c) comprises determining the transmit power at a processor remote from the first, second and third building control system devices. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein (c) comprises limiting the transmit power for reception by the second building control system device and to avoid reception by the third building control system device. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein (c) comprises limiting the transmit power for reception by a closest controller. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein (c) comprises increasing the transmit power for reception by both the second and third building control systems. 
   
   
       50 . A method for wireless building automation control, the method comprising:
 (a) wirelessly transmitting from a sensor within a room of a building an alarm signal;   (b) receiving the alarm signal directly from the sensor at an actuator associated with the room;   (c) operating the actuator in response to the alarm signal;   (d) wirelessly propagating the alarm signal outside the room and within the building; and   (e) responding to the alarm signal differently in another room.   
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (a) comprises transmitting a fire alarm signal. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (a) comprises transmitting a security signal. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (b) comprises receiving the alarm signal free of routing through a controller remote from the sensor and the actuator. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (c) comprises triggering an alarm. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (c) comprises altering air flow. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (c) comprises operating a door mechanism. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (d) comprises routing the alarm signal from the room to the other room, and wherein (e) comprises operating another actuator in the other room in response to the alarm signal. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 50  wherein (a), (b) and (c) comprise responding to a problem directly between input and output devices within the room without authorization from a controller located outside the room and wherein (d) and (e) comprise propagating the alarm signal to other rooms for an appropriate response as a function of the spatial relationship of the other rooms to the room. 
   
   
       59 . A device for wireless building automation control, the device comprising:
 a processor;   a first transceiver connected with the processor, the first transceiver operable for wireless communication with building control sensors, building control actuators or combinations thereof; and   a second transceiver connected with the processor, the second transceiver operable for wireless communication different than the wireless communication of the first transceiver.   
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 59  wherein the second transceiver is operable for wireless communication with a building control controller. 
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 59  wherein the first transceiver is operable in a first channel and the second transceiver is operable in a second channel different than the first channel. 
   
   
       62 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the second wireless network is responsive to sensor data forwarded from the first wireless network by an actuator arrangement. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 15  wherein (c) comprises controlling the building actuator outputs in response to the sensor inputs forwarded by an acuator arrangement. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising:
 (e) transmitting by the actuator the output from the sensor to an external controller.