Automated configuration system for complex system requiring exhaustive custom programming

Abstract

A controller is configured with a description of a building automation project, including attributes of the structure itself as well as the locations and configurations of the devices. The controller generates the appropriate schema in a control memory structure, and links it to an environment controller. The controller then generates a set of instructions for system installation and preconfigures the environment controller with the project attributes and sets the environment controller up for interaction with the devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 configuring a controller with a project description to generate a project schema and saving the project schema in a control memory structure, wherein the project description comprises a device list including virtual devices, an environment description, at least one of an environment interface constraint, and at least one of a device interface constraint, wherein each virtual device comprises a device type, an automation type, a device location and connection parameters, and the environment description comprises a location list including a plurality of environment locations;   selecting a subset of automations implementable by the virtual device from an automation list;   creating a protocol command structure for each automation in the subset of automations;   storing the protocol command structure in a data storage location;   creating a protocol configuration structure for each protocol based on the connection parameters and environment description;   applying the connection parameters to operate a protocol selector on a protocol control memory structure to select a plurality of protocols and associate each of the protocols with a virtual device in the device list and generate a connection configuration;   pre-configuring an environment controller to operate an automation network comprising:
 applying the connection parameters to operate a device selector on a device control memory structure; 
 grouping the devices by available automation type; 
 applying the automation type, the location list, protocol configuration structure, and the communication schema to a second associator to create a device-environment configuration; 
 applying the device-environment configuration to the environment controller to generate an automation network script to operate a plurality of devices; and 
   assembling a user interface comprising:
 retrieving, for each virtual device in the device list, at least one of the environment interface constraints and at least one of the device interface constraints; 
 generating an interface requirement from the at least one of the environment interface constraints and at least one of the device interface constraints; 
 applying the interface requirement to operate a selector on the control memory structure to retrieve a plurality of interface components; and 
 applying the plurality of interface components to an interface constructor to assemble the user interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  pre-configuring the environment controller further comprises executing initial tests of connected devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  the project description comprising at least one of:
 building location; 
 building configuration; 
 devices used; and 
 device attributes. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating installation details comprising:
 configuring an instruction assembler with the environment description and the device list to generate an assembly packet and the installation details; and 
 applying a control interface detail list to the interface constructor to generate a control interface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein generating the assembly packet and the installation details further comprises at least one of:
 querying an environment controller specification list with the project description to select the environment controller; and 
 applying environment controller attributes and device attributes list to a project schematic, electrical maps and a materials list. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the environment description comprises an environment configuration and environment attributes. 
     
     
         7 . A computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:   configure a controller with a project description to generate a project schema and saving the project schema in a control memory structure, wherein the project description comprises a device list including virtual devices, an environment description, at least one of an environment interface constraint, and at least one of a device interface constraint, wherein each virtual device comprises a device type, an automation type, a device location and connection parameters, and the environment description comprises a location list including a plurality of environment locations;   select a subset of automations implementable by the virtual device from an automation list;   create a protocol command structure for each automation in the subset of automations;   store the protocol command structure in a data storage location;   create a protocol configuration structure for each protocol based on the connection parameters and environment description;   apply the connection parameters to operate a protocol selector on a protocol control memory structure to select a plurality of protocols and associate each of the protocols with a virtual device in the device list and generate a connection configuration;   pre-configure an environment controller to operate an automation network comprising:
 apply the connection parameters to operate a device selector on a device control memory structure; 
 group the devices by available automation type; 
 apply the automation type, the location list, protocol configuration structure, and the communication schema to a second associator to create a device-environment configuration; 
 apply the device-environment configuration to the environment controller to generate an automation network script to operate a plurality of devices; and 
   assemble a user interface comprising:
 retrieve for each virtual device in the device list, at least one of the environment interface constraints and at least one of the device interface constraints; 
 generate an interface requirement from the at least one of the environment interface constraints and at least one of the device interface constraints; 
 apply the interface requirement to operate a selector on the control memory structure to retrieve a plurality of interface components; and 
 apply the plurality of interface components to an interface constructor to assemble the user interface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The computing apparatus of  claim 7  pre-configure the environment controller further comprises executing initial tests of connected devices. 
     
     
         9 . The computing apparatus of  claim 7  the project description comprising at least one of:
 build location; 
 build configuration; 
 devices used; and 
 device attributes. 
 
     
     
         10 . The computing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generate installation details comprising:
 configure an instruction assembler with the environment description and the device list to generate an assembly packet and the installation details; and 
 apply a control interface detail list to the interface constructor to generate a control interface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The computing apparatus of  claim 10  wherein generating the assembly packet and the installation details further comprises at least one of:
 query an environment controller specification list with the project description to select the environment controller; and 
 apply environment controller attributes and device attributes list to a project schematic, electrical maps and a materials list. 
 
     
     
         12 . The computing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the environment description comprises an environment configuration and environment attributes.