System and method for providing modular control and for managing energy consumption

• US 6,029,092 A
• Filed: 11/21/1996
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Russound/Fmp Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intellinet (Intellinet Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stein, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US08/749,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.08, 340/825.37, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 320/85.8, 320/85.9, 320/85.1, 320/85.13, 700/2, 700/9-17, 700/83-87, 700/80, 700/286, 700/291
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A control system is extremely flexible and modular and can be equipped or upgraded to have any number or combination of features, such as security, home theater/audio, HVAC, energy management, and lighting with each feature having a separate task unit. The task units can be added or removed from a core set of units within minimal impact on the core set of units. The core set of units includes a control database unit that stores sets of commands in a relational database according to an input/output event and a command execution unit that routes the commands to the appropriate task units for execution. The core set of units do not need to understand the input/output event or the commands but rather routes the commands to the task units addressed for execution. The system has a variable database that contains a relational database of variables shared between the various task units and stores such things as all keypad displays. The individual task units query the variable database unit for values of all shared variables and automatically receive any updates in values of the shared variables from the variable database unit. The software for the system is stored in flash ROM and can be automatically upgraded through a download task unit. The system may have an energy task unit that adjusts consumption of electricity based on any changes in rate and which provides a pathway of communication with the electrical utility company.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

a command execution unit;

a control database unit for storing a plurality of commands associated with a plurality of input signals in a relational database;

at least a first task unit for overseeing a first device and a second task unit for overseeing a second device;

a monitoring unit for supplying a first notice signal to said first task unit after receipt of a first input signal and for supplying a second notice signal to said second task unit after receipt of a second input signal;

said first task unit, in response to said first notice signal, supplying a first query signal to said control database unit requesting commands associated with said first input signal and second task unit, in response to said second notice signal, supplying a second query signal to said control database unit requesting commands associated with said second input signal;

said control database unit, in response to said first query signal, identifying a first set of commands associated with said first input signal to said command execution unit and, in response to said second query signal, identifying a second set of commands associated with said second input signal to said command execution unit;

said command execution unit for routing a first sub-set of commands to said first task unit and for routing a second sub-set of commands to said second task unit;

wherein said first task unit processes said first sub-set of commands and said second task unit processes said second sub-set of commands.

2. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a security task unit for monitoring a plurality of security sensors.

3. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a lighting task unit for controlling power to a plurality of lights.

4. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning task unit for controlling operation of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit.

5. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises an audio task unit for controlling operation of an audio system.

6. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a video task unit for controlling operation of a video system.

7. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a general purpose interface task unit for controlling a plurality of relays.

8. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a keypad control task unit and said first device comprises a keypad.

9. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first set of commands associated with said first input signal includes at least one command in said first sub-set of commands.

10. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first set of commands associated with said first input signal includes at least one command in said second sub-set of commands.

11. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a central processor and said monitoring unit comprises an operating system for said central processor.

12. The control system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said processor comprises a multi-tasking processor and said operating system comprises a multi-tasking operating system.

13. The control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a variable database for storing a value of a shared variable, said first task unit and said second task unit both retrieving the value of said shared variable when processing said first and second sub-sets of commands, respectively.

14. The control system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first and second task units update the value of said shared variable after processing said first and second sub-sets of commands, respectively.

15. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a download task unit for receiving data from an external source and for upgrading said second task unit with said data.

16. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first task unit comprises a download task unit for receiving data from an external source and for upgrading said monitoring unit with said data.

17. The control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting said control system to a telephone line and a transceiver for communicating with an external device over said telephone line.

18. The control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting said control system to a network and a transceiver for communicating with an external device over said network.

19. The control system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said network comprises an RS 485 network.

20. The control system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said network comprises a CeBUS network.

21. The control system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said network comprises a LonWorks network.

22. The control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pager receiver for receiving data over a paging network.

23. The control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an infrared transmitter for communicating with an infrared receiver, said first task unit transferring messages to said infrared transmitter for transmission to said infrared receiver.

24. A control system having a plurality of units, comprising:

said plurality of task units each for overseeing at least one device;

a central processor coupled to said devices, said central processor comprising;

a control database unit for storing sets of commands, said control database unit comprising a relational database associating said sets of commands with input signals;

a command execution unit;

a monitoring unit for receiving said input signals from the devices and for generating notice signals to the one individual task units associated with said input signals;

said task units supplying query signals to said control database unit;

said control database unit providing said sets of commands associated with said input signals to said command execution unit;

said command execution unit reading address data associated with each command of said sets of commands and routing the commands to the one task units specified by said address data;

wherein said plurality of task units executes said commands received from said command execution unit; and

a variable database for use in maintaining values of shared variables, said shared variables being retrieved by more than one of said task units and being updated by the more than one of said task units.

25. The control system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said processor comprises a multi-tasking processor.

26. The control system as set forth in claim 24, further comprising non-volatile memory and a download task unit for replacing data in said non-volatile memory with data received from an external source.

27. The control system as set forth in claim 26, wherein said data stored in said non-volatile memory is program data and said data received from said external source is an upgrade to said program data.

28. A keypad control system, comprising:

at least one keypad for generating a keypad signal upon an occurrence of a keypad entry;

a command execution unit;

a control database unit for storing commands in a relational database according to keypad signals;

a keypad task unit for overseeing said keypad;

a second task unit for overseeing a device;

a monitoring unit for supplying a notice signal to said keypad task unit after receipt of said keypad signal from said keypad;

said keypad task unit, in response to said notice signal, supplying a query signal to said control database unit requesting a set of commands associated with said keypad entry;

said control database unit, in response to said query signal, notifying said command execution unit of the set of commands associated with said keypad entry;

said command execution unit for routing at least one command in the set to said second task unit;

wherein said second task unit controls said second device in response to the one command and, consequently, in response to the keypad entry.

29. The keypad control system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said keypad signal identifies said keypad from a plurality of keypads and identifies a button on said keypad out of a plurality of buttons on said keypad.

30. The keypad control system as set forth in claim 28, wherein said keypad comprises a plurality of buttons and a respective plurality of display portions near said plurality of buttons, said keypad providing descriptions in the display portions of their respective buttons.

31. The keypad control system as set forth in claim 30, further comprising a variable database for storing the descriptions for the buttons.

32. A control method, comprising the steps of:

storing sets of commands in a relational database according to at least one input/output event;

receiving a first input/output event and retrieving a set of commands associated with said first input/output event;

routing each command in said set of commands to a task unit assigned to each command;

processing each command at the task unit assigned to each command; and

querying a variable database unit for a value of a variable, the variable database unit comprising a relational database.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of storing said sets of commands in said relational database comprises a step of indexing said set of commands according to a task unit identifier and event identifier.

34. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving an input/output event comprises a step of detecting said input/output event with a monitoring unit and notifying the task unit assigned to the input/output event.

35. The method as set forth in claim 34, wherein said step of detecting said input/output event comprises a step of detecting said input/output event with a multi-tasking operating system for a processor.

36. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of retrieving the set of commands comprises the steps of passing a pointer to a command execution unit and reading a first command in said set of commands with said command execution unit.

37. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of routing each command comprises a step of reading an address portion of each command and passing each command in the set to the task unit identified in said address portion.

38. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of routing each command comprises a step of evaluating any condition associated with each command and passing each command to its task unit only if said condition is satisfied.

39. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of routing each command comprises the steps of determining whether each command is a local command and processing each local command with a core unit.

40. The method as set forth in claim 32, further comprising a step of updating the variable database unit with a value of the variable, wherein the variable is shared between task units.

41. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving said input/output event comprises a step of receiving an input signal from a device.

42. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving said input/output event comprises a step of detecting an output signal generated by one of the task units.

43. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving said input/output event comprises a step of detecting an activity by one of the other task units.

44. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving said input/output event comprises a step of detecting a new software program and said step of processing each command comprises the step of storing the new software program in non-volatile memory.

45. The method as set forth in claim 32, wherein said step of receiving said input/output event comprises a step of detecting a rate change in electricity and said step of processing each command includes a step of altering a provision of electrical power to an electrical load.

46. A method of interfacing with a first building control apparatus using a control database, a variable database and an executing unit comprising:

detecting an event;

searching the control database for one or more commands associated with the event and the first building control apparatus;

retrieving at least one variable from the variable database if the one or more commands require the at least one variable;

returning a pointer that references the one or more commands; and

executing the one or more commands via the executing unit by using the pointer to access the one or more commands.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the executing of the one or more commands results in one or more output signals being transmitted to the first building control apparatus so as to control the first building control apparatus.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the executing of the one or more commands results in updating data within the variable database.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

checking a condition associated with one or more commands before executing the one or more commands.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein a subset of the one or more commands are associated with the event and a second building control apparatus.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the executing unit is a command execution unit.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the executing unit is a task unit.

53. A system for controlling a plurality of different device types in a building, comprising:

a command execution unit;

a control database that stores a plurality of commands associates with both a command execution unit and a plurality of task units;

a variable database that stores variables associated with a sub-plurality of commands;

wherein a search of the control database is executed in response to an event and a pointer to a set of commands stored in the control database is returned to the command execution unit; and

wherein at least one variable is retrieved from the variable database if the set of commands includes any commands from the sub-plurality of commands.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the command execution unit and the plurality of task units are software components.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the control database is updateable via additional commands without affecting the command execution unit.