System for management of building automation systems through an HTML client program

• US 6,353,853 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Triatek Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Triatek, Inc.
• Inventors: Gravlin, Keith Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/188,980
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/230, 709/250, 709/313, 709/319, 709/328, 709/329, 702/188, 395/146, 395/188, 395/468.15, 395/528.1, 395/528.11, 395/528.34, 395/528.35
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Bi-directional communications via TCP (“Transmission Control Protocol”)/IP (“Internet Protocol”) between an HTML client program (i.e. “web browser”) and the linked or embedded HTML server (“Hypertext Markup Language”) of a Building Automation System (“BAS”) are used to provide an authorized user with access to the interactive graphical panels of the BAS allowing the user to, for instance, monitor, control, configure and interact with the BAS or multiple BAS'"'"'s.

Claims

1. A controlling system including an HTML client program with an associated HTML capable device, without needing any other proprietary software, and regardless of physical location, in bi-directional communications via TCP/IP with an HTML server that is linked to or embedded within a Building Automation System (“

BAS”

), said HTML server in conjunction with said controlling system generating interface panel images appearing on the HTML capable device screen for authorized user(s), said image including current BAS status, monitoring, controlling, and configuring information for a selected BAS.

2. The controlling system as recited in claim 1, wherein said HTML server may be linked to one or more BAS'"'"'s, said HTML server in conjunction with said controlling system generating interface panel images appearing on the HTML capable computer monitor screen for authorized user(s), said image including current BAS status, monitoring, controlling, and configuring information for a selected BAS.

3. The controlling system as recited in claim 2, wherein said linked or embedded HTML server of said BAS, is configured to respond to periodic polling requests from HTML Client program of any HTML capable device to generate and display in substantially real time, updated various interface panels that provide status conditions occurring at the BAS, said computer receiving BAS status information from HTML server of said BAS via TCP/IP.

4. The controlling system as recited in claim 3, wherein said HTML Client program in conjunction with the HTML capable computer and monitor screen allows an authorized user(s) to select various pushbuttons located on the interface panels generated by the controlling system to control, alter, manipulate, and configure said status conditions of the selected BAS.

5. The controlling system as recited in claim 4, further comprising one or more additional, associated HTML capable device(s) in bi-directional communications via TCP/IP with the HTML server linked to or embedded within said BAS referenced in claim 1, without needing any other proprietary software, additional telephone, cable or network lines and regardless of its physical location, said HTML server in conjunction with said controlling system generating interface panel images appearing on all of the HTML capable devices'"'"' monitor screen(s), said image(s) including current BAS status, monitoring, controlling, and configuring information for a selected BAS.

6. The controlling system as recited in claim 5, wherein said linked or embedded HTML server in said BAS, is configured to respond to periodic polling requests from HTML Client program(s) of the associated HTML capable device(s) and monitor screen(s) so as to generate and display at substantially the same time on the monitor screen(s) of the various interface panels, various updated status information of the BAS, said computer(s) receiving such BAS status information from HTML server of said BAS via TCP/IP.

7. The controlling system as recited in claim 6, wherein said HTML Client program(s) in conjunction with the additional HTML device(s) and monitor screen(s) allow authorized user(s) to select various pushbuttons located on the interface panels generated by the controlling system to control, alter, manipulate, and configure said status conditions of the selected BAS, said changes in the status conditions of the BAS to be reflected on the monitor screen(s) of the other users who did not make said changes via claim 5.

8. The controlling system as recited in claim 7 further comprising, multiple BAS'"'"'s in bi-directional communications through their linked or embedded HTML servers via TCP/IP with the controlling system including one or more HTML capable device(s) and monitor screen(s), said BAS'"'"'s including linked or embedded HTML servers that generate interface panel images appearing on the HTML capable device(s'"'"') monitor screen(s), said images including current BAS status, monitoring, controlling, and configuring information for a selected BAS.

9. The controlling system as recited in claim 8, wherein said linked or embedded HTML servers in said BAS'"'"'s, are configured to respond to periodic polling requests from HTML Client program(s) of the associated HTML capable device(s) and monitor screen(s) when a particular BAS is selected by an authorized user(s) to generate and display updated interface panels that provide status conditions occurring at the BAS, said computers receiving BAS status information from said HTML servers of the BAS via TCP/IP, said authorized user(s) then being able to select a different BAS with their HTML client program to generate and display updated interface panels that provide status conditions occurring at a different BAS.

10. The controlling system as recited in claim 9, wherein said HTML Client program(s) in conjunction with the HTML capable device(s) and monitor screen(s) allows authorized user(s) to select various pushbuttons located on the interface panels generated by the controlling system to control, alter, manipulate, and configure said status conditions of a selected BAS, said authorized user(s) then being able to select a different BAS and control, alter, manipulate, and configure status conditions of a different BAS, said BAS status condition changes being reflected on the interface panels of other Clients when other authorized user(s) select the altered BAS with their HTML client program.