System uses an interface controller for managing operations of devices that each has a unique communication protocol

A client system for enabling management of the operation of a plurality of associated devices at two or more properties by a remote interface controller via a wide area network, each of the plurality of devices belonging to one or more of a plurality of classes and having a unique communications protocol associated therewith, the client system comprising a client application for communicating with each of the plurality of devices and the interface controller via the wide area network, the client application also being for enabling the interface controller to interact with at least one database on behalf of all of the plurality of devices according to a single set of rules, the client application also for interfacing with a property monitoring system that can generate a display that can include a user-selectable combination of device class and property.

An information provider system for communication with an interface controller via a wide area network, the interface controller being for managing operation of a plurality of devices at two or more properties via the wide area network, each of the devices belonging to one or more of a plurality of classes and having a unique communications protocol associated therewith, the information provider system comprising a data access layer and at least one database, the data access layer being configured to facilitate interaction by the interface controller with the at least one database on behalf of all of the plurality of devices according to a single set of rules, the data access layer also being configured to facilitate interaction by the interface controller with a property monitoring system that can generate a display that can include a user-selectable combination of device class and property.

A system for managing operation of a plurality of devices at a plurality of properties via a wide area network, each of the devices having a unique communication protocol associated therewith, the system comprising:

• a client application for communicating with each of the plurality of devices;
• a network communications layer for communicating with the plurality of devices via the wide area network and the client application;
• an information processing layer for communicating with the network communications layer, the information processing layer having a set of objects corresponding to each of the plurality of devices, the information processing layer also being for interacting with a data access layer on behalf of each of the plurality of devices using the corresponding objects, interaction between the information processing layer and the data access layer on behalf of all of the plurality of devices being governed by a single set processing layer to at least one database, wherein data generated by each the plurality of devices at each of the plurality of properties can be stored in the at least one database.