Control and monitoring system

A system for controlling, monitoring, and collecting data from devices, comprising;

• a host computer including an internal memory for storing a plurality of protocols for a plurality of applications, said computer having means for selecting one of said protocols corresponding to one of said applications and further including means for sending a text message to remote units associated with each of said devices as determined by said selected protocol, said sending means includes a protocol comprising a first and second layer, said first layer being application independent and said second layer being application dependent, said host computer further including means for receiving a text message, said receiving means includes a protocol having a first and a second layer, said first layer being application independent and said second layer being application dependent;
• a customer interface capable of full-duplex communication with said host computer thereby having the ability to provide control of their applications and further having the ability to receive signals indicative of operational parameters of said devices;
• a remote unit associated with each of said devices for controlling, monitoring, and collecting data including said selected protocol, said unit further having said means for sending a text message to said host computer, said unit further including means for receiving a text message from said computer.