Enterprise control and monitoring system and method

• US 20060242200A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Cold Chain LP
• Original Assignee: Computer Process Controls Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Azurmendi, Alain, Clark, E. Todd, Strawser, Bridget, Horowitz, Stephen A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25086 Assign functions to group of complete or partial cells, modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration

Abstract

A method comprises grouping a plurality of building system controllers into at least one control system group, the at least one control system group corresponding to at least one connected group of building system controllers. The method also comprises grouping the at least one control system group into at least one site group, the at least one site group corresponding to a physical location of the at least one control system group. The method also comprises selecting a group from the at least one site group and the at least one control system group, and performing an activity on each controller within the selected group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

grouping a plurality of building system controllers into at least one control system group corresponding to at least one connected group of said building system controllers;

grouping said at least one control system group into at least one site group corresponding to a physical location of said at least one control system group;

selecting a group from said at least one site group and said at least one control system group; and

performing an activity on each of said building system controllers within said selected group.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

grouping said at least one site group into at least one directory;

selecting a directory from said at least one directory; and

performing said activity on all controllers within said selected directory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said activity is a backup activity comprising:

retrieving operating data from each controller within said selected group; and

storing said operating data from each controller within said selected group in a database.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said activity is a restore activity comprising:

retrieving operating data from a database; and

providing said operating data to each controller within said selected group.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said activity comprises:

receiving inputted data;

providing said inputted data to each controller within said selected group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said activity comprises retrieving logged data from each controller within said selected group.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying said at least one site group and said at least one control system group in a navigational tree including a node for each of said at least one site group and said at least one control system group.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of building system controllers includes at least one of a refrigeration system controller, an anti-condensate heater controller, an HVAC controller, a lighting controller, a sprinkler irrigation system controller, a fire alarm system controller, a carbon monoxide alarm system controller, an elevator system controller, and a fuel pump dispenser system controller.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising scheduling said activity to be performed at a predetermined time, wherein said performing said activity occurs at said predetermined time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an alarm from at least one building system controller of said plurality of building system controllers, wherein said performing said activity occurs in response to said alarm.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising scheduling said activity to be performed on a recurring basis, wherein said performing said activity occurs according to said recurring basis.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising viewing a history of performed activities.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

displaying said history in a navigational tree including a node for each activity performed;

expanding a partially completed activity node; and

displaying portions of the partially completed activity associated with said partially completed activity node that completed and portions that failed.

14-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A system comprising:

a control system group including a plurality of building system controllers and corresponding to at least one connected group of said building system controllers;

a site group including at least one control system group and corresponding to a physical location of said at least one control system group; and

a server operable to perform an activity on each of said building system controllers within a group selected from said at least one site group and said at least one control system group.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said server is operable to group said at least one site group into at least one directory, select a directory from said at least one directory, and perform said activity on all controllers within said selected directory.

37. The system of claim 35 further comprising a database, and wherein said activity includes retrieving operating data from each of said building system controllers within said selected group and storing said operating data from each of said building system controllers within said selected group in said database.

38. The system of claim 35 further comprising a database, and wherein said activity includes retrieving operating data from said database and providing said operating data to each of said building system controllers within said selected group.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein said activity includes receiving inputted data and providing said inputted data to each of said building system controllers within said selected group.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein said activity includes retrieving logged data from each of said building system controllers within said selected group.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein said server is operable to display said at least one site group and said at least one control system group in a navigational tree including a node for each of said at least one site group and said at least one control system group.

42. The system of claim 35 wherein said plurality of building system controllers includes at least one of a refrigeration system controller, an anti-condensate heater controller, an HVAC controller, a lighting controller, a sprinkler irrigation system controller, a fire alarm system controller, a carbon monoxide alarm system controller, an elevator system controller, and a fuel pump dispenser system controller.

43. The system of claim 35 wherein said server is operable to schedule said activity to be performed at a predetermined time, and wherein said server is operable to perform said activity at said predetermined time.

44. The system of claim 35 wherein said server is operable to receive an alarm from at least one building system controller of said plurality of building system controllers, and wherein said server is operable to perform said activity in response to said alarm.

45. The system of claim 35 wherein said server is operable to schedule said activity to be performed on a recurring basis, and wherein said server is operable to perform said activity on said recurring basis.

46. The system of claim 35 further comprising a database, and wherein said server stores a history of performed activities in said database.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said server is operable to display said history in a navigational tree including a node for each activity performed, expand a partially completed activity node, and display portions of the partially completed activity associated with said partially completed activity node that completed and portions that failed.