Building management system and method with virtual controller and failsafe mode

A method of controlling operation of a building management system component using a distributed control system that includes a virtual controller spawned on a server and an intelligent Input/Output (IO) module that receives control commands from the virtual controller and provides local control commands to the building management system component, the method comprising:

• receiving user input to assign each of a plurality of functions of the distributed control system to a virtual controller control logic component or an intelligent IO module control logic component, wherein the intelligent IO module control logic component includes a fail-safe control logic component;
• wherein functions of the distributed control system that are required to remain operational when communication between the intelligent IO module and the virtual controller is not functioning normally are assigned to the intelligent IO module control logic component;
• sending the virtual controller control logic component to the virtual controller to be executed by the virtual controller;
• sending the intelligent IO module control logic component to the intelligent IO module to be executed by the intelligent IO module;
• the virtual controller determining control commands for the building management system component in accordance with the virtual controller control logic component residing in the virtual controller, the virtual controller communicating the control commands to the intelligent IO module;
• the intelligent IO module providing local control commands to the building management system component based on the intelligent IO module control logic component and the control commands received from the virtual controller when the intelligent IO module determines that communication with the virtual controller is functioning normally;
• and
• the intelligent IO module providing local fail-safe commands to the building management system component based on the fail-safe control logic component of the intelligent IO module control logic component when the intelligent IO module determines that communication with the virtual controller is not functioning normally.

A method of controlling operation of a building management system component using a virtual controller and an intelligent Input/Output (IO) module that receives control commands from the virtual controller and provides local control commands to the building management system component, the method comprising:

• receiving user input via a programming tool to designate a control logic bifurcation that identifies which control logic for the building management system component will reside in the virtual controller and which control logic for the building management system component will reside in the intelligent IO module;
• wherein control logic that is required to remain operational when communication between the intelligent IO module and the virtual controller is not functioning normally is assigned to the intelligent IO module;
• using the programming tool to program the virtual controller and the intelligent IO module in accordance with the user designated control logic bifurcation;
• the virtual controller determining control commands for the building management system component in accordance with the control logic residing on the virtual controller, the virtual controller communicating the control commands to the intelligent IO module;
• the intelligent IO module providing local control commands to the building management system component based on the control logic residing on the intelligent IO module and on the control commands received from the virtual controller when the intelligent IO module determines that communication within the virtual controller is functioning normally;
• and
• the intelligent IO module providing local fail-safe commands to the building management system component based on the control logic residing on the intelligent IO module when the intelligent IO module determines that communication with the virtual controller is not functioning normally.