Digital integration
Encyclopedia
Digital integration is the idea that data or information
on any given electronic device can be read or manipulated by another device using a standard format.
. Digital Integration would allow the user to synchronize the two, and the following features could result:
.
There is a growing market for these products. Many of the control systems used for security, lighting, HVAC and Fire detection do not conform to any communications protocol
standard, so often interface software is used to convert the different languages into a common standard for the building or wide area network.
Some control systems are now being supplied with communications ports that conform to recognized standards such as BACnet
, LonTalk
or Ethernet
many more provide interfaces to and from their own specialised control networks.
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
on any given electronic device can be read or manipulated by another device using a standard format.
Cell phone calendar to public digital calendar (online calendar)
In this example, a user has a cell phone with a calendar, as well as a calendar on the InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Digital Integration would allow the user to synchronize the two, and the following features could result:
- The user could plan events and have other users notified.
- If the Public Digital Calendar is integral with a BlogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, then the user could write about the event in it.
Building services integration for energy management and building control
A home owner or commercial building manager could utilize digital integration products to connect intelligent services within a built environmentBuilt environment
The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply or energy networks.The built...
.
- An intruder detection or access control system could be used in conjunction with light level sensors to turn lights on and off. So when you walk into a dark room the lights turn on (if you are allowed to be there) and when you leave they turn off behind you, thus making energy savings by preventing lights from being left on.
- The same techniques could be used to control HVACHVACHVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
(Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems. - Home owners and commercial building managers can use Web based digital integration to control and manage services within their buildings via a web browser interface. The intelligent controllers in Air ConditioningAir conditioningAn air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
units for example may be "Web Enabled" using digital integration solutions and products.
There is a growing market for these products. Many of the control systems used for security, lighting, HVAC and Fire detection do not conform to any communications protocol
Communications protocol
A communications protocol is a system of digital message formats and rules for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems and in telecommunications...
standard, so often interface software is used to convert the different languages into a common standard for the building or wide area network.
Some control systems are now being supplied with communications ports that conform to recognized standards such as BACnet
BACnet
BACnet is a communications protocol for building automation and control networks. It is an ASHRAE, ANSI, and ISO standard protocol....
, LonTalk
LonTalk
LonTalk is a protocol optimized for control created by Echelon Corporation for networking devices over media such as twisted pair, powerlines, fiber optics, and RF...
or Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
many more provide interfaces to and from their own specialised control networks.
Projects/organizations working toward digital integration
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)World Wide Web ConsortiumThe World Wide Web Consortium is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web .Founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee, the consortium is made up of member organizations which maintain full-time staff for the purpose of working together in the development of standards for the...
- BACnet.orgBACnetBACnet is a communications protocol for building automation and control networks. It is an ASHRAE, ANSI, and ISO standard protocol....
- North Building Technologies Ltd — Building Services Integration Company
- Tyyrrell Systems Ltd — Building Services Integration Company