Multilingual: When the bus comes into the house

In building automation, the trend is towards multimedia networking. To do this, however, devices have to communicate with each other via a wide variety of bus systems and protocols. Peaknx sees the chaos that prevails at first glance as an opportunity and brings a completely different perspective into play instead of the previous concept of unity or standardization. The home automation specialist is introducing a new server which, as a bus interpreter, creates a continuous connection between all technical equipment in the building.

In addition to the trend towards multimedia networking and communication through different trades is away increasingly standard. This Internet of Things (IoT), ie the networking of White, brown and red goods (household appliances, consumer electronics and heating devices) intended to increase the added value in the device usage and more comfort with new (remote) provide control options. But for devices with various bus systems and protocols to communicate with each other. A new approach for creating the central building server of the bus interpreter creates quasi a continuous connection between all the technical facilities in the building. But what opportunities opened this way?

Busvielfalt trumps

In the human culture the language is often seen as an expression of different settings or views in different situations. People like technology definitely have this in common: for example, both use in certain areas of specialized languages ​​and expressions. So there are clear, short commands such. As military, Eskimos have many different expressions for the different types of ice and the residents in the Canary Islands using a far above the valleys carrying whistling.

Equally diverse are the "technical language" in the building and around it, so the use of different bus systems, with their different protocols. This variety got a point: Depending on the application everything needs from simple, non-time-critical data to complex, time- and safety-critical operations are transferred. With wireless solutions, for example, the lowest intrinsic power consumption is even important elsewhere high security possible disruption. A Busvielfalt also in the building, therefore, is the best way to achieve the optimum result for the user, however, complicates the interprocess communication. This is where the electronic interpreter continues in the form of a central electronic janitor.

More comfortable device usage

This new approach brings numerous advantages: no user has to wait for a new, common standard more, but can immediately go into the available technology. At the same time an investment protection for existing systems is given, because they can be as well as communicate the future with new technical achievements. The main advantage is that in every area of ​​the optimum, corresponding to the current state of the art devices can be used to without compromise in speed, security or installation and operating costs. So the user can easily choose the best product for his needs, without paying attention to the networking environment.

The aim of the classic networking of white, brown and red goods is to increase the added value when using the device and to create more convenience through new (remote) control options. In addition, there are already existing systems, for example for solar power generation and storage, as well as electric vehicles with intelligent charging terminals, which will certainly become even more numerous in the future. They all distribute the necessary data internally using their protocols tailored to the respective task. In order to allow the buses to communicate with each other, it is therefore necessary to translate the different protocols for the respective communication partner.

Miniature connectors for safe signal transmission 

This task is not easy, but not all data has to be translated for all buses. Other buses are generally not interested in internal control blocks such as the exhaust gas temperature at the boiler outlet of the heating system, the speed of the distribution pump or the output voltage of the solar panels in front of the inverter. Of more interest are general statements such as heating water temperature, mains voltage at the inverter or excess power for feeding or charging the battery in the electric vehicle.

Multibusserver in practice

Practically looks like this from that central point for building automation, ie the electronic janitor in the form of Control Pro Panel Computers are multibusfähig. The future IoT-enabled devices then set on their bus interesting for other devices data available centrally. The multibus server then translates the arrivals or dedicated requested data in the formats they need. Intelligent protocol converters take over the complete protocol conversion, the programmable controller itself is no hardware or software changes are required.

For example, the iron will shut off when the house noted that no one is in the house. Such small assistance are easy to set up in the era of IoT. Also a presence simulation in conjunction with an alarm system is possible. Rather similar to the field of industrial automation or industrial building automation are other functions such as power management. Here, for example, the performance of the solar panels, cheap power costs at different times, the level of in-house storage batteries and the charging status of the e-vehicle to be compared.

The communication between the controllers together with the involvement of intelligent algorithms allow then always select the most cost-effective variant of the current use / energy use. That in the car while a CAN bus, in the house of the KNX bus and in the solar system perhaps another bus is still involved, no longer plays a role. So can be used in the car-proven technology, while in the house inexpensive cables to secure the communication, and in the solar system designed for lowest intrinsic power consumption components improve the efficiency in cloudy weather. Each bus can so occupy its "ecological niche" and the interaction results in an optimally functioning system that reduces costs and investments for the future safeguards.

Powerful hardware and flexible software

In order to keep a building automation to the prior art, two components are important: a powerful, designed for the future increasing data flow hardware and a very flexible software that can adapt to all the new features. Therefore, the Hausautomatisierer returns to the Control Panel Pro computer a standard hardware base and provides for ambitious users who want to make themselves well, a software development kit for advanced programming options.

Any software that is implemented with the SDK, operates independently of the currently used physical connection. The kit takes over the complete transmission of the data streams in the different transmission paths. For example, to communicate in KNX networks via USB, TP-UART or IP gateway. These logical PNX drivers are used to ensure an easy access to any kind of KNX networks. The aim is that the user that implements the application logic, should not have to worry about the type of connection more.

Above: Modern technology today speaks with many tongues, Babylonian skyscrapers are reality.