Energy consumption via VPN configuration management
AssigneeAutani, LLC
InventorsRobert Belz, Randy Clayton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automation system including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to perform at least one function relating to energy consumption in a facility and an automation controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and providing for the control of the performance of the function by each device. An external network resource such as at least a virtual private network server is configured to enable communication with the automation controller. The automation controller is configured, such as by executing virtual private network software, to establish and maintain a secure data link with the virtual private network server and to enable oversight and/or control of the automation controller via the virtual private network server.
Claims19
An automation system comprising
- a plurality of peripheral devices configured to perform an automation function relating to energy consumption in a facility;
- an automation controller located at the facility in communication with and control of the plurality of peripheral devices via a local IP subnet;
- and,
- an external network resource located remote from the facility and configured to communicate with the automation controller, wherein
- the automation controller is configured
- to initiate a virtual private network with the external network resource using one of a dynamic network port and a private network port and
- to exclude the use of the local IP subnet in the virtual private network, and
- the external network resource is configured to not initiate a virtual private network with the automation controller.
A method of managing an automation system comprising:
- providing at least one external network resource including a virtual private network server that is configured to not initiate a virtual private network;
- implementing an automation system including at least an automation controller configured to control a plurality of peripheral devices that perform automation functions in a facility;
- configuring the automation controller to initiate a virtual private network with the virtual private network server, wherein configuring includes configuring the automation controller to exclude the use of the local IP subnet in the virtual private network;
- controlling, by the automation controller, the operation of the automation system;
- initiating, by the automation controller, a virtual private network with the external network resource;
- and
- accessing, via the external network resource, the automation controller to communicate operational information with the automation controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.