North American Building Automation System (BAS) Communication Protocols

The transition from custom-made, communication solutions to open protocols is prompting the integration of building automation system (BAS) components with other intelligent building services. Historically, proprietary systems offered the advantage of enhanced feature sets for sophisticated applications. However, since many projects did not go as smoothly as anticipated, end users are now requesting open protocol systems for risk management purposes. Subsequently, the open standards movement will accelerate over the forecast period.

This Frost & Sullivan research presents in-depth analyses of BAS protocols, including propriety systems, BACnet, LonWorks, TCP/IP systems, and other technologies. It identifies industry challenges and tracks technology trends, giving your company an essential tool for navigating the future of the field.

Standardization Could Slow Product Innovation

"Contrary to marketing claims, standardization may also generate its own set of limitations," says the study’s author. "Though the use of open protocols will allow a degree of freedom for customers, it may ultimately stifle some application creativity as manufacturers will be forced to agree on new functions prior to implementation of upgraded protocol feature sets."

If standardization goes beyond defining exchange of data and begins to dictate how applications are performed, it may actually lengthen development time for new innovations. By assessing the impact of trends on the marketplace, this study will help you anticipate and overcome potential hurdles ahead.

Manufacturers Look to the Internet for Network Models

"As manufacturers search for new paradigms to control building operations and to meet building occupants’ needs, the Internet may hold some important answers," states the analyst. "Manufacturers are transforming management-level building control systems into a family of local networks, like the Internet, that can be accessed easily, but securely, from Web browsers."

By translating building automation information into familiar formats, networked systems will enable the building staff—from owners to equipment technicians—to monitor and adjust building systems. "The promise of Internet-based protocols is even luring some BAS control manufacturers to pull away from developed protocols to create systems that operate on this technology," according to the author. This study pinpoints burgeoning segments, allowing your company to capitalize on emerging trends.

1. Executive Summary

A. Market Overview and Research Findings

1. Introduction

2. Market Segment Analysis

3. Strategic Conclusions

2. Building Automation Protocols

A. Overview

1. Introduction

2. Cost Competitive

3. What is a "Protocol"?

4. Interoperability

5. Integration

6. Gateways

B. Networking Technology

1. Control Networking

2. Standardization of Protocol Technology

3. Network Technology

4. Open System Interconnection

5. The Internet- An Overview

C. Challenges

1. Absence of Total System Performance Measurement

2. Educating Owners and End Users on New Technology

3. Accountability

4. Documentation

5. Skilled Software Engineers

6. Customer Perceptions on Plug-in-Play

3. Protocol Analysis

A. Proprietary

1. Overview

2. Johnson Controls

3. Invensys

B. BACnet

1. Introduction

2. Technical Analysis

3. BACnet/IP

4. Conclusions

C. LonWorks

1. Introduction

2. Echelon - The Company

3. Technical Analysis

4. Conclusions

D. TCP/IP

1. Overview

2. Technical Analysis

3. Conclusions

E. Other Protocol Technologies

1. Introduction

2. Modbus

3. OPC

4. Wireless

F. Conclusions

1. BACnet and LonWorks - The Tug of War

2. Future Trends - Interoperable Modularity

4. Glossary of Terms

A. Glossary Terms

1. Glossary Terms A-C

2. Glossary Terms D-F

3. Glossary G-I

4. Glossary Terms J-P

5. Glossary Terms R-Z

List of Figures

Chapter 1

BAS Protocols Market: Revenue Forecasts by Technology (North America), 1998-2008

BAS Protocols Market: Unit Forecasts by Technology (North America), 1998-2008

Chapter 2

BAS Protocols Market: Revenue Forecasts by Technology (North America), 1998-2008

BAS Protocols Market: Unit Forecasts by Technology (North America), 1998-2008

Chapter 3

Proprietary Protocols Market: Unit Forecasts(North America), 1998-2008

BACnet Protocol Market: Unit Forecasts (North America), 1998-2008

LonWorks Protocol Market: Unit Forecasts (North America), 1998-2008

TCP/IP Protocol Market: Unit Forecasts (North America), 1998-2008

Other Protocols Market: Unit Forecasts (North America), 1998-2008

BAS Protocols Market: Wireless Standards and Technology (North America), 2001

List of Charts

Chapter 1

Executive Summary

Protocol Time Line

The Future of BAS Protocols

Chapter 2

Message Delivery by the "Protocol Express" Interoperability

An Example of an Integrated Communications Network

A Network Interoperability using a Gateway

Star Network Topology

Bus Network Topology

Token Ring Network Topology

Combination Network Topology

Mesh Topology

OSI Communications Model

The TCP/IP Protocol Suite—A Five Layer

Hierarchy

Chapter 3

BACnet Standard Building Blocks

BACnet Objects

BACnet Connectivity

BACnet IP Network Layout

BACnet IP "Tunneling"

BAS Market: Echelon’s Revenue Distribution by Geographic Area ($ million)

BAS Market: Echelon’s Market Segmentation (North America), 2001

Echelon’s North America and Building

Automation Systems Revenue ($ million)

Echelon’s BAS and Transceiver Revenue

($ million) with number of Nodes shipped

LonWorks Network Layout

LonWorks Control Module

TCP/IP Overview

OPC Network Architecture

BAS Wireless Communications