Method and apparatus for improved building automation

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for direct control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem;
• and
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs.

An improved building automation system according to claim 10:

• wherein said at least one text parsing program includes executable instructions allowing conditional communication of interprocess control commands depending upon at least one of the following:
• (1) status of at least one operating condition of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (2) status of at least one operating condition of at least one of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• and
• (3) status of at least one of said plurality of said plurality of modular control application.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem, with each of said plurality of modular subsystem programs including:
• (1) an output task program module including executable instructions for receiving interprocess control commands for controlling operation of said at least one end device;
• (2) an input task program module including executable instructions for providing status information relating to a particular building automation subsystem;
• and
• (3) a driver task program module for generating a particular type of control protocol for control of said at least one end device.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a first building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a first control protocol;
• (b) providing a second building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a second control protocol;
• (c) providing a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (d) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs;
• (e) providing a first modular subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with said first control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said first building automation subsystem,
• (f) providing a second modular subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating signals in accordance with said second control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said second building automation subsystem, and
• (g) utilizing said set of interprocess control commands to program applications which control said first building automation subsystem and said second building automation subsystem without regard to said first control protocol and said second control protocol, and without requiring any knowledge of said first control protocol and said second control protocol.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, including at least the following:
• (1) a first building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable, in accordance with a first control protocol;
• (2) a second building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a second control protocol;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs, including at least the following programs:
• (1) a plurality of subsystem-specific programs, including at least:
• (a) a first subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with said first control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said first building automation subsystem;
• (b) a second subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating signals in accordance with said second control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said second building automation subsystem;
• (d) wherein said set of interprocess commands include a plurality of interprocess communication commands which are generally applicable to said plurality of subsystem specific programs, including at least the following specific interprocess communication commands:
• (1) a notify command for eliciting a substantially continuous state indication from any particular one of said plurality of subsystem-specific programs;
• and
• (2) a cancel command for discontinuing any substantially continuously-provided state indications, including said substantially continuously provided state indication in response to said notify command.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for direct control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem;
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• and
• (f) wherein said set of interprocess commands include a plurality of interprocess communication commands which are generally applicable to said plurality of modular subsystem programs.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem, with each of said plurality of modular subsystem programs including:
• (1) an output task program module including executable instructions for receiving interprocess control commands for controlling operation of said at least one end device;
• (2) an input task program module including executable instructions for providing status information relating to a particular building automation subsystem;
• and
• (3) a driver task program module for generating a particular type of control protocol for control of said at least one end device;
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs;
• and
• (f) wherein said set of interprocess commands include a plurality of interprocess communication commands which are generally applicable to said plurality of modular subsystem programs and to said plurality of modular control applications;
• and
• (g) wherein said interprocess communication commands are passed between particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs and said plurality of modular control applications utilizing at least one of said output task program module and said input task program module.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) providing a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) providing a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem, with each of said plurality of modular subsystem programs including:
• (1) an output task program module including executable instructions for receiving interprocess control commands for controlling operation of said at least one end device;
• (2) an input task program module including executable instructions for providing status information relating to a particular building automation subsystem;
• and
• (3) a driver task program module for generating a particular type of control protocol for control of said at least one end device;
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• (f) a plurality of modular interprocess communication programs, each for receiving control instructions in a first control protocol as an input, and for producing as an output control instructions in a second control protocol;
• (g) a plurality of user interface devices, for receiving user input and displaying system status, each communicatively coupled through particular ones of said plurality of modular control applications to particular ones of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (h) at least one text parsing program for processing said interprocess control commands and communicating said interprocess control commands between (1) said plurality of modular subsystem programs, (2) said plurality of modular control applications, and (3) said plurality of modular interprocess communication programs;
• (i) utilizing said interprocess communication commands to control operation of a particular one of said plurality of building automation subsystems by passing between particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs said interprocess communication commands utilizing said output task program module and said input task program module of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a first building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a first control protocol;
• (b) providing a second building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a second control protocol;
• (c) providing a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (d) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs;
• (e) providing a first subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with said first control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said first building automation subsystem;
• (f) providing a second subsystem program responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating signals in accordance with said second control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said second building automation subsystem;
• (g) utilizing said set of interprocess control commands to program applications which control said first building automation subsystem and said second building automation subsystem without regard to said first control protocol and said second control protocol;
• (h) providing in said set of interprocess commands a plurality of interprocess communication commands which are generally applicable to said plurality of subsystem specific programs, including at least the following specific interprocess communication commands:
• (1) a notify command for eliciting a substantially continuous state indication from any particular one of said plurality of subsystem-specific programs;
• and
• (2) a cancel command for discontinuing any substantially continuously-provided state indications, including said substantially continuously provided state indication in response to a notify command;
• and
• (i) utilizing in said applications said notify command and said cancel command to provide selectively status indications to said applications.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (b) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs, including at least the following programs:
• (1) a plurality of modular subsystem-specific process programs with particular ones dedicated for control of particular ones of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (2) a plurality of modular subsystem gateway programs which facilitate communication between at least said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• (3) a plurality of modular external gateway programs which allow communication between said plurality of modular subsystem specific processes programs and systems outside of control of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (4) a plurality of utility process programs;
• (5) a multi-tasking kernel program communicatively coupling (a) said plurality of modular subsystem process programs, (b) said plurality of modular subsystem gateway programs, (c) said plurality of modular external gateway programs, and (d) said plurality of utility process programs, to allow asynchronous communication therebetween.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (b) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs, including at least the following programs:
• (1) a plurality of modular subsystem-specific process programs with particular ones dedicated for control of particular ones of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (2) a plurality of modular subsystem gateway programs which facilitate communication between at least said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• (3) a plurality of modular external gateway programs which allow communication between said plurality of modular subsystem specific processes programs and systems outside of control of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (4) a plurality of utility process programs;
• (5) a multi-tasking kernel program communicatively coupling (a) said plurality of modular subsystem process programs, (b) said plurality of modular subsystem gateway programs, (c) said plurality of modular external gateway programs, and (d) said plurality of utility process programs, to allow asynchronous communication therebetween;
• (c) utilizing said modular subsystem-specific process programs to control said building automation subsystems;
• (d) utilizing said plurality of modular subsystem gateway programs to communicate at least one of (1) commands and (2) data between said plurality of modular subsystem specific process programs asynchronously through said multi-tasking kernel program.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, including at least:
• (1) a first building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a first control protocol;
• (2) a second building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a second control protocol;
• (b) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs, including at least the following programs:
• (1) a plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs, including at least:
• (a) a first modular subsystem program responsive to control commands for generating command signals in accordance with said first control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said first building automation subsystem;
• (b) a second modular subsystem program responsive to control commands for generating signals for control of said at least one end device of said second building automation subsystem;
• (2) a plurality of modular communication programs, including at least:
• (a) a first modular communication program for receiving control instructions in said first control protocol as an input, and for producing as an output control instructions in one of a plurality of control protocols, including said second control protocol;
• (b) a second modular communication program for receiving control instructions in said second control protocol as an input and for producing as an output control instruction in one of a plurality of control protocols, including said first control protocol;
• (3) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs;
• (4) a plurality of modular communication applications, each for obtaining a particular building automation objective, which utilize particular ones of said plurality of modular communication programs to receive control instructions in a particular control protocol and to produce control instructions in a different particular control protocol;
• and
• (5) a plurality of global utility programs operatively connected to at least one of (a) said plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs, (b) said plurality of modular communication programs, (c) said plurality of modular control applications, and (d) said plurality of modular communication applications, for performing at least one of the following utility functions:
• (1) building automation system startup;
• (2) building automation system shutdown;
• (3) creating an audit trail log;
• (4) time operations.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a first building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a first control protocol;
• (b) providing a second building automation subsystem including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a second control protocol;
• (c) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs;
• (d) providing a first modular subsystem program responsive to control commands for generating command signals in accordance with said first control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said first building automation subsystem;
• (e) providing a second modular subsystem program responsive to control commands for generating signals in accordance with said second control protocol for control of said at least one end device of said second building automation subsystem;
• (f) providing a first modular communication program for receiving control instructions in said first control protocol as an input, and for producing as an output control instructions in one of a plurality of control protocols, including said second control protocol;
• and
• (g) providing a second modular communication program for receiving control instructions in said second control protocol as an input and for producing as an output control instructions in one of a plurality of control protocols, including said first control protocol;
• (h) utilizing control commands to program applications which utilize said first modular communication program and said second modular communication program to selectively generate control instructions in at least one of said first control protocol and said second control protocol;
• and
• (i) providing a plurality of global utility programs operatively connected to at least one of (a) said plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs, (b) said plurality of modular communication programs, (c) said plurality of modular control applications, and (d) said plurality of modular communication applications, for performing at least one of the following utility functions:
• (1) building automation system startup;
• (2) building automation system shutdown;
• (3) creating an audit trail log;
• (4) timer operations.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol of a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) each interprocess control command including:
• (1) a message header portion which contains routing information including at least the following:
• (a) a source process;
• (b) a target process;
• (2) a command portion including at least one of said set of interprocess control commands;
• (d) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions for a plurality of building automation programs, including a plurality of modular subsystem-specific programs each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol for control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands formed from text strings and together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for direct control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem;
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• (f) a plurality of modular interprocess communication programs, each for receiving control instructions in a first control protocol as an input, and for producing as an output control instructions in a second control protocol;
• and
• (g) a plurality of user interface devices, with particular ones of said plurality of user interface devices being subject to different protocols, for receiving user input and displaying system status, each communicatively coupled through particular ones of said plurality of modular control applications to particular ones of said plurality of building automation subsystems.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands;
• (e) wherein said interprocess control protocol is utilized within said plurality of modular control applications to define a plurality of conditional commands each associated with at least one of a plurality of predetermined building automation system events;
• and
• (f) a command processing program for examining building automation system events, detecting at least one of said plurality of predetermined building automation system events, and communicating a particular conditional command associated therewith for execution by said at least one programmable controller.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands;
• (e) said program instructions defining a plurality of rules sets, each mapping a plurality of specific automation system events to a plurality of specific interprocess control commands;
• and
• (f) wherein said plurality of modular control applications determine which of said plurality of rules sets is active, identify specific automation system events as they occur, and respond by communicating associated specific interprocess control commands for execution.

A method of controlling a building automation system, comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) providing a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) providing at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) providing a plurality of automation rules sets, each including a plurality of particular interprocess control commands, and each associated with a particular operating state of said building automation system;
• (e) utilizing said at least one programmable controller to execute program instructions and to monitor said operating state of said building automation system;
• and
• (f) upon identification of particular predetermined operating states, switching between particular ones of said plurality of automation rules sets.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) a plurality of programmable controllers and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) at least one communication channel communicatively coupling said plurality of building automation subsystems and said plurality of programmable controllers;
• (e) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for direct control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem;
• (f) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• and
• (g) wherein said plurality of programmable controllers are distributed throughout said building automation system, and communicate control commands and status information between one another utilizing said at least one communication channel.

An improved building automation system according to claim 69:

• (j) wherein said at least one text parsing program includes executable instructions allowing conditional communication of interprocess control commands depending upon at least one of the following:
• (1) status of at least one operating condition of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems;
• (2) status of at least one operating condition of at least one of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• and
• (3) status of at least one of said plurality of said plurality of modular control applications.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) a plurality of programmable controllers and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) at least one communication channel communicatively coupling said plurality of building automation subsystems and said plurality of programmable controllers;
• (e) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem, with each of said plurality of modular subsystem programs including:
• (1) an output task program module including executable instructions for receiving interprocess control commands for controlling operation of said at least one end device;
• (2) an input task program module including executable instructions for providing status information relating to a particular building automation subsystem;
• and
• (3) a driver task program module for generating a particular type of control protocol for control of said at least one end device;
• (f) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• and
• (g) wherein said plurality of programmable controllers are distributed throughout said building automation system, and communicate interprocess control command and status information between one another utilizing said at least one communication channel.

An improved building automation system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of building automation subsystems, each including at least one end device which is controllable in accordance with a particular control protocol from a plurality of different control protocols;
• (b) a set of interprocess control commands together constituting an interprocess control protocol;
• (c) at least one programmable controller and associated memory for storing and selectively executing program instructions;
• (d) a plurality of modular subsystem programs, each responsive to interprocess control commands of said interprocess control protocol for generating command signals in accordance with a particular control protocol of said plurality of different control protocols for direct control of said at least one end device of a particular building automation subsystem;
• (e) a plurality of modular control applications, each for specific control of at least one of said plurality of building automation subsystems, which utilize particular ones of said set of interprocess control commands to control execution of particular ones of said plurality of modular subsystem programs;
• (f) a plurality of modular communication applications which are response to interprocess control commands and which operate to perform at least one of the following operations:
• (1) allow remote access to executable programs;
• (2) allow review of an audit trail;
• (3) allow execution of diagnostics;
• and
• (4) allow direct control of particular end devices.