CREATION AND USE OF CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP MODELS IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS
A computing system for organizing and using information in a building management system (BMS) is shown and described. The computing system includes a memory device storing software defined building objects. The computing system further includes a processing circuit configured to relate the software defined building objects by causal relationships between the devices and to store the causal relationships and a description of the causal relationships in the memory device.
1 . A computerized method for organizing and using information in a building management system (BMS), comprising:
identifying a plurality of objects comprising building devices, software defined building objects, and other inputs to the BMS that affect a building environment;
identifying causal relationships between the identified objects;
relating the identified objects by the causal relationships;
describing the causal relationships; and
storing the causal relationships and descriptions in a memory device of the BMS.
2 . The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the causal relationships are directional and wherein describing the causal relationships comprises describing the direction of the relationship.
3 . The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising:
modeling the causal relationships as a directed acyclic graph.
4 . The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising:
defining a hierarchical model of building device types, software defined building object types, and other types of inputs to the BMS.
5 . The computerized method of claim 4 , further comprising:
traversing the stored causal relationships to generate a hierarchical result according to the defined hierarchical model.
6 . The computerized method of claim 5 , wherein the hierarchical result comprises:
a tagged hierarchical tree of building objects configured for further processing by a process of the BMS, a client device, or another system.
7 . The computerized method of claim 5 , further comprising:
creating a graphical representation of the hierarchical result; and
displaying the graphical representation of the hierarchical result.
8 . The computerized method of claim 5 , further comprising:
traversing at least a portion of the hierarchical result to generate a report.
9 . The computerized method of claim 5 , further comprising:
using the hierarchical result for further analysis of the BMS.
10 . The computerized method of claim 5 , further comprising:
providing an interface for querying the hierarchical result.
11 . The computerized method of claim 5 , further comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface that includes at least one tool for allowing a user to at least one of define a new hierarchical model and revise the defined hierarchical model.
12 . The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface that includes a directed graph representing the causal relationships.
13 . The computerized method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing at least one tool for allowing a user to change the directed graph displayed on the graphical user interface.
14 . The computerized method of claim 13 , further comprising:
updating the causal relationships stored in memory based on the changes made by the user to the directed graph.
15 . The computerized method of claim 1 , further comprising:
defining at least one of a template and a class using the stored causal relationships and descriptions.
16 . The computerized method of claim 15 , further comprising:
applying the template or class to a new set of building devices, software defined objects, or other inputs.
17 . The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying steps comprise:
causing a graphical user interface to be displayed that allows a user to input the objects and the causal relationships between the objects.
18 . The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying steps comprise:
testing building inputs and outputs for the causal relationships using an automated process.
19 . The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying steps comprise:
using an automated process to analyze characteristics of BMS devices and signals to create software defined building objects and their causal relationships to each other.
20 . A computer system for organizing and using information in a building management system (BMS), comprising:
a memory device storing software defined building objects; and
a processing circuit configured to relate the software defined building objects by causal relationships between the devices and to store the causal relationships and a description of the causal relationships in the memory device.