Energy management and home automation system

A system for controlling the operation of selected energy consuming devices within a plurality of different facility within a defined wide area, comprising:

• a plurality of controllers, each including message receiving means and each located in conjunction with a facility, each controller, in response to messages received, controlling at least one device coupled thereto in a manner defined by said message, wherein each controller controls a plurality of different devices and each controller includes programmed processor means for maintaining a schedule of events for each of said devices being controlled, said processor determining the time of occurrence for each event and providing a signal to an appropriate one of said devices to execute the then scheduled event;
• means for providing messages over a communication link, each message including a code manifesting whether that message is globally addressed to each of said controllers or whether said message is addressed to a specific controller;
• and
• means for communicating with said message providing means to cause a selected message addressed to a specific controller to be sent, wherein said selected message includes a plurality of characters, one of which designates that the message is of a type that contains command data in designated other characters;
• and
• wherein said command data includes data designating:
• a specified one of said devices to be controlled,
• a day during which said specified device is to be controlled,
• a plurality of manners by which said specified device is to be controlled on that day, and
• a time at which each manner of control is to occur.

A system for controlling the operation of selected energy consuming devices within a plurality of different facility within a defined wide area, comprising:

• a plurality of controllers, each including message receiving means and each located in conjunction with a facility, each controller, in response to messages received, controlling at least one device coupled thereto in a manner defined by said message, wherein each controller controls a plurality of different devices;
• means for providing messages over a communication link, each message including a code manifesting whether that message is globally addressed to each of said controllers or whether said message is addressed to a specific controller;
• and
• means for communicating with said message providing means to cause a selected message addressed to a specific controller to be sent, wherein said selected message includes a plurality of characters, one of which designates that the message is of a type that contains command data in designated other characters, said command data including data designating one of said devices to be controlled, a time to control that one device and the manner in which said one device is to be controlled.

A system for controlling the operation of selected energy consuming devices within a plurality of different facility within a defined wide area, comprising:

• a plurality of controllers, each including message receiving means and each located in conjunction with a facility, each controller, in response to messages received, controlling at least one device coupled thereto in a manner defined by said message;
• means for providing messages over a communication link, each message including a code manifesting whether that message is globally addressed to each of said controllers or whether said message is addressed to a specific controller;
• and
• means for communicating with said message providing means to cause a selected message addressed to a specific controller to be sent, wherein said selected message includes a plurality of characters, one of which designates that the message is of a type that contains command data in designated other characters, said command data including data designating one of said devices to be controlled, a time to control that one device and the manner in which said one device is to be controlled.

A wide area management system for managing a plurality of energy consuming devices in each of a plurality of different facilities within said wide area, said system comprising:

• communication means for providing messages over a communication link, certain first type messages being globally provided to each facility being managed and certain second type said messages being addressed to a particular facility;
• facility controller means within each facility connected to said plurality of devices being managed within said facility, each facility controller responding to said first type messages and those second type messages addressed to that controller, said controller storing a schedule of event commands for each device being controlled and providing signals to operate each device pursuant to the scheduled commands;
• and
• command means for causing said communication means to provide said second type signals to an addressed controller in response to qualified user prompted inputs to change the schedule stored in said addressed controller and thereby modify the operation of at least one specified device connected to addressed controller, wherein said command means stores data manifesting the devices being controlled in each facility and the manner in which each device is controlled, said command means creating a menu in response to each qualified user responses to further prompt user input as a part of determining the message to cause said communication means to generate.

A wide area management system for managing a plurality of energy consuming devices in each of a plurality of different facilities within said wide area, said system comprising:

• communication means for providing messages over a communication link, certain first type messages being globally provided to each facility being managed and certain second type said messages being addressed to a particular facility;
• facility controller means within each facility connected to said plurality of devices being managed within said facility, each facility controller responding to said first type messages and those second type messages addressed to that controller, said controller storing a schedule of event commands for each device being controlled and providing signals to operate each device pursuant to the scheduled commands;
• and
• command means for causing said communication means to provide said second type signals to an addressed controller in response to qualified user prompted inputs to change the schedule stored in said addressed controller and thereby modify the operation of at least one specified device connected to addressed controller, wherein said command means periodically generates said first type of messages.

A method for controlling the operation of a plurality of devices in a plurality of different facilities pursuant to programmed commands of an occupant of each facility, said method comprising:

• providing a controller in each facility within a defined wide area, each controller having a plurality of individual devices connected thereto;
• providing a command center which generates messages to be transmitted to each of said controllers, each message containing a portion defining whether that message is of a first type designated for all controllers or of a second type for designated only an addressed controller;
• transmitting on a periodic basis said first type of messages conveying the then occurring time and day;
• transmitting said second type of message to an addressed facility in response to a qualified communication from the occupant of that addressed facility;
• and
• storing a schedule in the addressed controller of the communicating occupant's facility in response to said transmitted second type of messages, said schedule defining the occurrence of events for each device connected to the user's controller by time and day.