CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/808,210, for “Automated Generation of Code-Compliant Sequence of Operations,” filed on the same date as the present application, and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present document relates to generation of a components list, such as a bill of materials, for a building, installation, room, and/or structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Building codes and other regulatory schemes often specify particular requirements for buildings, lighting fixtures, control devices, installations, and structures. In modern construction, a large number of components may interact with one another and operate in concert to provide lighting for a building, room, or other structure. One way such components and their operations can be specified, configured, and controlled is via a sequence of operations, which sets forth a manner in which a lighting control system should operate so as to provide a desired lighting environment that complies with code requirements.

A bill of materials, or BOM, is a components list that may be used in manufacturing or configuring an end product or installation. In the context of BOMs for installations involving a large number of control devices and/or fixtures, it can be challenging to ensure that the BOM results in a code-compliant installation, and that the BOM successfully implements the requirements set forth in a sequence of operations. Existing techniques also fail to provide an effective method for automatically generating a BOM to satisfy a sequence of operations. In addition, it can be challenging to identify configurations where controls may be embedded within fixtures to different degrees, particularly when requirements may change over time.

SUMMARY

In at least one embodiment, the system and method described herein can be implemented as a software tool for automatically generating a components list (also known as a “solution”, “recipe”, or “bill of materials”) to be used in completing an installation. This components list can then be used as a parts list for installers or builders to use in constructing or installing a building, structure, room, or the like. In at least one embodiment, the system and method can generate different versions of the components list, for example to provide different options for the installation; such a technique can be useful so as to evaluate cost trade-offs and/or to address situations where some components may not be available, or where some components may or may not be compatible with other components.

In at least one embodiment, the system takes as input a dynamic, code-compliant sequence of operations (SOO) table, as generated according to the above-referenced related U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 16/808,210, for “Automated Generation of Code-Compliant Sequence of Operations,” filed on the same date as the present application, and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The system then automatically generates a components list having control devices and fixtures that comply with and execute the SOO set forth in the table. In at least one embodiment, a number of different solutions are presented (such as, for example, three solutions). These solutions may be presented adjacent to one another for ease of comparison. For example, the system may present a first solution having control devices that are stand-alone with respect to fixtures; a second solution in which on/off controls are embedded in fixtures; and a third solution in which on/off and sensor controls are embedded in fixtures. Any number of different solutions can be presented in this manner, having different characteristics and/or costs.

The user can then select among the presented solutions, and/or can perform other operations to change the configuration and/or parameters so as to generate new options.

In at least one embodiment, the described system and method generate the components list in whatever output form is desired or appropriate. In at least one embodiment, users can customize the generated components list as desired.

In at least one embodiment, the described system and method provide output in a format that is easily exported for use in other tools, such as a room layout generator123that generates room layout diagram341for the installation. In at least one embodiment, a user can customize the output format to his or her particular needs, so as to ensure maximum compatibility with existing systems and standards.

As described in more detail herein, the configuration and generation of the components list can be automatic, requiring a minimum of user involvement and expertise.

