Managing Assets, particularly of complex resources comprising multiple components, using an organized and effective monitoring system is crucial. Zoho IOT applications facilitate effective management of such systems by allowing the creation of hierarchical relationships between assets, forming a Parent-Child Asset Network. This network simplifies the oversight of components that together constitute a larger resource. Structure of Parent-Asset Network.
A Parent-Child Asset Network is formed by assigning a hierarchical relationship where one asset acts as the "Parent" and another as the "Child". This relationship is established through a system-defined lookup field known as the "Parent asset field".
Each parent asset can have multiple child assets linked to it, but a child asset is limited to a single parent. A child asset can itself be a parent to other assets, supporting up to four levels of hierarchy.
Use Cases
Case 1: Complex Unit Resources
Assets, like a diesel generator, are typically composed of multiple subcomponents such as an Engine, Fuel Tank, Coolant Tank, and Battery. Monitoring such an asset as a single unit can lead to a complicated and cluttered configurations. This complexity arises because all datapoints, commands, and alarm rules for each component are contained within a single asset.
By utilizing a Parent-Child Asset Network, each component of the diesel generator is created as an asset and then designated as a child asset under the diesel generator (the parent asset). This configuration allows for the individual monitoring of each component, making the management process more straightforward and efficient.
It is particularly beneficial when dealing with multiple generators, as each component can be individually monitored and managed without affecting the others. Enabling better inventory management.
With status propagation in the parent asset network, pinpointing issues within the network becomes more straightforward. For instance, if the battery of a diesel generator weakens, a Critical status can be assigned to the battery asset, triggered by the "Battery Status" alarm rule. This critical status is then propagated to the connected diesel generator, updating its status to critical as well. This feature enables quick identification of the root cause of the diesel generator's critical status, which in this case is due to the battery's condition, thereby enhancing resource management and response efficiency.
See Also