TASK FOCUSED USER INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

• US 20080222565A1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Eich, Rodger W., Taylor, Jeffrey, John, Diana St., Herman, Scott, Singh, Ranjeeta
• Application Number:
  US12/021,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222565A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network

Abstract

A system for providing a graphical user interface to a user of a building automation system via a client is provided. The building automation system includes a plurality of building devices. The system includes a processor and memory communicably connected to the processor. The memory includes computer code for controlling the plurality of building devices. The memory further includes computer code for providing the graphical user interface to the client. The memory unit further includes computer code for generating a plurality of user interface elements for providing to a single view on the graphical user interface, each of the user interface elements associated with a task relating to a building device.

Claims

1. A system for providing a graphical user interface to a user of a building automation system via a client, the building automation system including a plurality of building devices, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit communicably connected to the processor and including;

computer code for controlling the plurality of building devices;

computer code for providing the graphical user interface to the client; and

computer code for generating a plurality of user interface elements for providing to a single view on the graphical user interface, each of the user interface elements associated with a task relating to a building device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

computer code for generating a task interface and for providing the task interface to the client, the task interface including at least one instruction element and at least one adjustable control.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the task interface includes a second adjustable control.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

computer code for utilizing input provided by the at least one adjustable control to send a control message to the computer code for controlling the plurality of building devices.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

computer code for displaying the task interface in response to user activation of one of the plurality of user interface elements.

6. A method for providing a graphical user interface view to a user of a building automation system, the method comprising:

receiving a user interface command to generate a view relating to a function mode;

determining a user context based on the function mode;

determining a set of items associated with the user context and qualifying for inclusion on the graphical user interface view;

determining whether a task should be provided for each item of the set of items; and

generating the graphical user interface view, the graphical user interface view comprising a representation of each item of the set of items and a representation of the task.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphical user interface view is configured for viewing via a handheld device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the set of items includes at least one item relating to a building device.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving data relating to the set of items from a building site director communicably coupled to a plurality of building devices, the data relating to the building devices; and

storing the data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining whether a task should be provided for each item includes accessing the data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of generating the graphical user interface view includes accessing the data.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the representation of the task is one of a hyperlink or a button for initiating the task.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein initiating the task includes beginning a software routine to temporarily override a setting relating to a schedule and/or a setpoint relating to a building automation system.

14. A system for providing a graphical user interface to a user of a building automation system via a client, the building automation system including a building automation site director, the system comprising:

a processor; and

memory communicably connected to the processor, the memory comprising;

computer code for communicating with the client;

computer code for communicating with the building automation site director;

computer code for presenting a graphical user interface to the client, the graphical user interface configured to allow the user to select a function mode and a context via the client;

computer code for determining a set of tasks to be provided to the graphical user interface based on the selected function mode and context; and

computer code for providing an update to the graphical user interface via the client, the update including user interface elements representing the tasks of the set of tasks.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising computer code for sending a message to the building automation site director in response to user interaction with the interface elements representing the tasks.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a first web server for responding to requests from the client, the first web server configured to serve web pages formatted for handheld electronic devices.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a second web server configured to serve web pages formatted for a screen of a personal computer.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the user interface elements is configured to initiate computer code for allowing the user to temporarily override a scheduled event.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein one of the user interface elements is configured to initiate computer code for allowing the user to change a value.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one of the user interface elements is a hyperlink.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

computer code for dynamically updating a value displayed on the graphical user interface when the value is changed in the system, the updating completed without requiring user input.