Methods, controllers, and machine-readable storage media for automated commissioning of equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596079-B2
Application number	US-202117190541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Aug 26, 2020
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

Tools and techniques are described to automate commissioning of physical spaces. Controllers have access to databases of the devices that are controlled by them, including wiring diagrams and protocols, such that the controller can automatically check that each wire responds correctly to stimulus from the controller. Controllers also have access to databases of the physical space such that they can check that sensors in the space record the correct information for device activity, and sensors can cross-check each other for consistency. Once a physical space is commissioned, incentives can be sought based on commissioning results.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method performed by a controller for verifying controlled devices, the method comprising:
identifying a device from a system of devices to be controlled by the controller;
querying a system model that models the system of devices to determine:
an expected behavior for the device within the system model, and
at least one wiring pin of the controller with which the device is in communication within the system model;

attempting an interaction with the device via the at least one wiring pin of the controller to elicit the expected behavior;
comparing the expected behavior to an actual behavior of the device observed after the attempted interaction; and
indicating to a user whether the device is behaving as expected based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the expected behavior comprises the presence of an expected voltage on the at least one wiring pin when the device is in a predetermined power state; and
the attempted interaction comprises attempting to set the device to the predetermined power state.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the system model indicates that the device comprises an internal sensor for an operating parameter of the device;
the expected behavior comprises an expected range for the operating parameter of the device;
the attempted interaction comprises attempting to read an operating parameter value from the internal sensor of the device via the at least one wiring pin; and
the comparing comprises determining whether the operating parameter falls within the expected range.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the system model indicates a device protocol to send and receive messages with the device; and
the attempted interaction comprises attempting to send a message structured according to the device protocol via the at least one wiring pin.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the system model comprises an additional device and indicates that the additional device comprises a sensor for sensing a state parameter at a location different from the location of the device;
the expected behavior comprises an expected range for the state parameter;
the attempted interaction comprises attempting to read the state parameter value from the additional device; and
the comparing comprises determining whether the state parameter falls within the expected range.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wiring pin comprises at least one terminal adapted for communication with a module that is attachable to a controller and wirable to the device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the device is not behaving as expected:
attempting an interaction with the device via the at least one alternative wiring pin of the controller different from the at least one wiring pin to elicit the expected behavior; and
responsive to observing the expected behavior with respect to the at least one alternative wiring pin, indicating to the user that the device is in communication with the at least one alternative wiring pin instead of the at least one wiring pin.

8. A controller comprising:
a plurality of wiring pins configured to communicate with a plurality of devices of a system of devices;
a memory comprising a system model that models the system of devices; and
a processor configured to:
identify a device from the system of devices to be controlled by the controller,
query the system model to determine:
an expected behavior for the device within the system model, and
at least one wiring pin of the plurality of wiring pins with which the device is in communication within the system model,

attempt an interaction with the device via the at least one wiring pin to elicit the expected behavior,
compare the expected behavior to an actual behavior of the device observed after the attempted interaction, and
indicate to a user whether the device is behaving as expected based on the comparison.

9. The controller of claim 8 , wherein:
the expected behavior comprises the presence of an expected voltage on the at least one wiring pin when the device is in a predetermined power state; and
in attempting the interaction, the processor is configured to attempt to set the device to the predetermined power state.

10. The controller of claim 8 , wherein:
the system model indicates that the device comprises an internal sensor for an operating parameter of the device;
the expected behavior comprises an expected range for the operating parameter of the device;
in attempting the interaction, the processor is configured to attempt to read an operating parameter value from the internal sensor of the device via the at least one wiring pin; and
in comparing, the processor is configured to determine whether the operating parameter falls within the expected range.

11. The controller of claim 8 , wherein:
the system model indicates a device protocol to send and receive messages with the device; and
in attempting the interaction, the processor is configured to attempt to send a message structured according to the device protocol via the at least one wiring pin.

12. The controller of claim 8 , wherein:
the system model comprises an additional device and indicates that the additional device comprises a sensor for sensing a state parameter at a location different from the location of the device;
the expected behavior comprises an expected range for the state parameter;
in attempting the interaction, the processor is configured to attempt to read the state parameter value from the additional device; and
in comparing, the processor is configured to determine whether the state parameter falls within the expected range.

13. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the at least one wiring pin comprises at least one terminal adapted for communication with a module that is attachable to a controller and wirable to the device.

14. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to determining that the device is not behaving as expected:
attempt an interaction with the device via the at least one alternative wiring pin of the controller different from the at least one wiring pin to elicit the expected behavior; and
responsive to observing the expected behavior with respect to the at least one alternative wiring pin, indicate to the user that the device is in communication with the at least one alternative wiring pin instead of the at least one wiring pin.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for execution by a processor for causing a controller to verify controlled devices, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising:
instructions for identifying a device from a system of devices to be controlled by the controller;
instructions for querying a system model that models the system of devices to determine:
an expected behavior for the device within the system model, and
at least one wiring pin of the controller with which the device is in communication within the system model;

instructions for attempting an interaction with the device via the at least one wiring pin of the controller to elicit the expected behavior;
instructions for comparing the expected behavior to an actual behavior of the device observed after the attempted interaction; and
instructions for indicating to a user whether the device is behaving as expected based on the comparison.

16. The A non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
the expected behavior comprises the presence of an expected voltage on the at least

Assignees

• Passivelogic Inc

Inventors

• Harvey Troy Aaron
• Fillingim Jeremy David

Classifications

• H02J2105/12

  supplying households or buildings · CPC title

• H04W84/00

  Network topologies · CPC title

• G06F9/4418

  Suspend and resume; Hibernate and awake · CPC title

• G06F1/3246

  by software initiated power-off · CPC title

• G06F1/3209

  Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections · CPC title