Networking of switchpacks

A switchpack for controlling an operational state of one or more loads, comprising:

• a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a communication network;
• a controller operably coupled to the communication interface and adapted to be operably coupled to one or more loads;
• a memory operably coupled to the controller comprising:
• a network address assigned to the switchpack;
• and
• information assigned to the switchpack;
• a current monitor operably coupled to the controller for monitoring an operational state of one or more of the loads;
• and
• a user interface operably coupled to the controller for permitting a local user of the switchpack to monitor and control an operational state of the switch pack;
• wherein the controller is adapted to:
• control an operational state of one or more of the loads;
• communicate with the communication network using the communication interface;
• permit remote control of the switchpack using the communication network during a first time period;
• and
• permit local control of the switchpack during a second time period;
• and
• permit remote control of the information assigned to the switchpack using the communication network;
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack;
• and
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A method of operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising:

• controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;
• communicating with the switchpack using a network;
• assigning a network address to the switchpack;
• assigning information to the switchpack;
• remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;
• locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;
• remotely controlling the switchpack information;
• and
• monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack;
• and
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A system for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising:

• means for controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;
• means for communicating with the switchpack using a network;
• means for assigning a network address to the switchpack;
• means for assigning information to the switchpack;
• means for remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;
• means for locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;
• means for remotely controlling the switchpack information;
• and
• means for monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack;
• and
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A computer program for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising program instructions for:

• controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;
• communicating with the switchpack using a network;
• assigning a network address to the switchpack;
• assigning information to the switchpack;
• remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;
• locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;
• remotely controlling the switchpack information;
• and
• monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack;
• and
• wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

A control system, comprising:

• one or more switchpack controllers operably coupled to one or more loads;
• a communication network operably coupled to the switchpack controllers;
• one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;
• wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the switchpack controllers.

A control system, comprising:

• one or more switchpack controllers comprising:
• corresponding network addresses;
• and
• a memory comprising one or more operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controller;
• and
• a communication network operably coupled to the switchpack controllers;
• one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;
• wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to:
• permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the switchpack controllers;
• display information corresponding to the operational parameters for one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;
• control one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period and permit local control of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;
• and
• update one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• and
• monitor a current level within one or more of the loads;
• wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

A method of operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising:

• providing one or more remote controllers;
• controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;
• assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;
• remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;
• remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;
• locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;
• storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• and
• remotely monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;
• wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

A system for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising:

• means for providing one or more remote controllers;
• means for controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;
• means for assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;
• means for remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;
• means for remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;
• means for locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;
• means for storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• means for remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• and
• means for monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;
• wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising program instructions for:

• providing one or more remote controllers;
• controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;
• assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;
• remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;
• remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;
• locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;
• storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers;
• and
• monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;
• wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.