Building automation system facilitating user customization

• US 8,024,054 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Kistler-Robinson, Judy K, Richards, David M., McCoy, Sean M., Brink, James, McConnell, Deborah A., Seewald, Jeffrey S., Eiynk, Benedict, Demulling, Delight, Mairs, Susan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki; Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS R
• Application Number:
  US11/316,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.05, 700/17, 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/291, 700/83, 705/412, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 715/207, 715/700, 715/712, 715/736, 715/744, 715/747, 715/762, 715/763, 715/771, 715/804, 715/825, 715/826
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/04 of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for interacting with and customizing a dynamically extensible and automatically configurable building automation system (BAS). In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (GUI) of the BAS comprises a building summary pages. The invention is also directed to a space summary page and an equipment summary page.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) apparatus for a building automation system (BAS) machine comprising:

a processor communicatively coupled to the BAS machine;

the processor being configured to process a database configured to store a relational directory of BAS information;

a GUI display device communicatively coupled to the processor;

means for presenting a user customizable home page configured to provide data and navigation tools and selectively displayed as a GUI via the GUI display device, including a summary page representing a building comprising at least a portion of the BAS machine, the summary page including;

at least one navigable link connecting the summary page to another portion of the GUI;

a static building information portion of the GUI, displayed via the GUI display device, configured to provide building specific information in the relational directory to a user; and

an automatically updated dynamic building information portion of the GUI, displayed via the GUI display device, separate from the static building information portion, including;

means for presenting an alarm list comprising static information stored in the database and dynamic information related to the presence or absence of an individual alarm or multiple alarms in the building, wherein the alarm list can be configured by the user to present the multiple alarms by order of severity or arrival time; and

means for presenting a space list comprising static information stored in the database and dynamic information about a plurality of spaces related to the building, wherein the space list static information comprises at least a space setpoint stored in the database and the space list dynamic information comprises at least an observed condition related to the setpoint,

wherein the plurality of spaces related to the building selectively displayed in the space list comprise a subset of all of the spaces, the subset comprising no more than a fixed quantity of the spaces and including the spaces having a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition that is greater than a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition for the spaces excluded from the subset.

2. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one navigable link comprises a GUI navigation tab respectively linked to at least one other page within the GUI.

3. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 2, wherein the GUI navigation tab comprises at least one tab selected from a set consisting of a summary tab, an alarm tab, a spaces tab, an equipment tab, a subsystems tab, a schedules tab, a data log tab, and an administrative tab.

4. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the static and dynamic information of the alarm list comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of an alarm severity, an alarm timestamp, an alarm type, an alarm source, and an alarm detail.

5. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm timestamp comprises a date and time.

6. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm detail comprises an alarm diagnostic.

7. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm list comprises a plurality of alarms arranged according to severity.

8. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 4, wherein the alarm list comprises a plurality of alarm arranged according to timestamp.

9. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the static and dynamic information of the alarm list comprises at least one navigable link to at least one other page within the GUI.

10. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space setpoint comprises a temperature setpoint, and wherein the observed condition comprises a measured temperature.

11. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the static and dynamic information about a plurality of spaces further comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a space name, an equipment type, a variance related to the setpoint and the observed condition, and a mode.

12. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the static building information portion comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a building name, a building location, a building contact, and a graphical representation of at least a portion of the building.

13. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphical representation is provided by a navigable link to another page within the GUI.

14. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the static building information portion and the dynamic building information portion further comprise user-specified information.

15. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user-specified information comprises a navigable link to a custom GUI page.

16. A graphical user interface (GUI) apparatus for a building automation system (BAS) machine comprising:

a processor communicatively coupled to the BAS machine;

the processor being configured to process a database configured to store a relational directory of BAS information;

a GUI display device communicatively coupled to the processor;

means for presenting a user customizable home page configured to provide data and navigation tools and selectively displayed as a GUI via the GUI display device,

a space summary page representing a space comprising at least a portion of the BAS machine selectively displayable via the GUI, the space summary page including;

at least one navigable link connecting the summary page to another portion of the GUI;

a space information portion depicting data stored in the relational directory including;

an occupancy status of the space,

a controlling event calendar, stored in the database, of the space providing a programmable next event of the controlling event calendar of the space configured by a user, and

at least one representation of an intra-BAS relationship of the space with at least one other element of the BAS; and

a space status portion including;

a space condition portion comprising static, dynamic, and user definable information stored in the database related to the space; and

a system status portion comprising static, dynamic, and user definable information stored in the database about at least one system related to the space;

wherein the at least one other element of the BAS comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a building, a campus, a space, a system, a subsystem, and an end device, and

wherein the programmable next event of the controlling event calendar provides a schedule preview to the user about the space;

a building summary page representing a building comprising at least a portion of the BAS machine selectively displayable via the GUI, the building summary page including;

at least one navigable link connecting the building page to another portion of the GUI;

an automatically updated dynamic building information portion including;

an alarm list comprising static and dynamic information stored in the database related to the presence or absence of an alarm in the building;

wherein the alarm list can be configured by the user to present the multiple alarms by order of severity or arrival time; and

a space list comprising static and dynamic information stored in the database about a plurality of spaces related to the building,

wherein the space list static information comprises at least a space setpoint stored in the database and the space list dynamic information comprises at least an observed condition related to the setpoint, wherein the space list is limited to displaying less than all of the plurality of spaces related to the building, and

wherein the plurality of spaces related to the building selectively displayed in the space list comprise a subset of alarmed spaces, the subset consisting of the alarmed spaces having a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition that is greater than a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition for the alarmed spaces excluded from the subset, while not displaying non-alarmed spaces; and

an equipment summary page representing at least a portion of the BAS machine selectively displayable via the GUI, the equipment summary page including;

at least one navigable link connecting the equipment page to another portion of the GUI;

an equipment information portion comprising at least one representation of an intra-BAS relationship of the equipment with at least one other element of the BAS; and

an equipment status portion including;

an equipment condition portion stored in the database comprising static, dynamic, and user definable information related to the equipment; and

an equipment status portion stored in the database comprising static, dynamic, and user definable operational status information about the equipment;

wherein the at least one other element of the BAS comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a building, a campus, a space, a system, a subsystem, and an end device, and

wherein the intra-BAS relationship is defined by a common equipment type or space.

17. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the intra-BAS relationship of the space comprises a group membership of the space.

18. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 17, wherein the group membership of the space is displayed as a navigable link to another page of the GUI.

19. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the next event of the space comprises an event indicator and an event time schedule.

20. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the space condition portion comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a space temperature and a space setpoint.

21. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 20, wherein the user definable information comprises a space setpoint.

22. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the user definable information of at least one of the space condition portion and the system status portion comprises a data log requestor.

23. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system status portion comprises at least one end device associated with the system.

24. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the navigable links comprise a GUI navigation tab respectively linked to at least one other page within the GUI.

25. The summary page of the apparatus of claim 24, wherein the GUI navigation tab comprises at least one tab selected from a set consisting of a summary tab, an alarm tab, a spaces tab, an equipment tab, a subsystems tab, a schedules tab, a data log tab, and an administrative tab.

26. A graphical user interface (GUI) apparatus for a building automation system (BAS) machine, comprising:

a processor communicatively coupled to the BAS machine, the processor being configured to process a database configured to store a relational directory of BAS information;

a GUI display device communicatively coupled to the processor;

means for presenting an alarm list comprising static information stored in the database and dynamic information related to the presence or absence of an individual alarm or multiple alarms in the building, wherein the alarm list can be configured by the user to present the multiple alarms by order of severity or arrival time; and

means for presenting a space list comprising static information stored in the database and dynamic information about a plurality of spaces related to the building, wherein the space list static information comprises at least a space setpoint stored in the database and the space list dynamic information comprises at least an observed condition related to the setpoint,

wherein the plurality of spaces related to the building selectively displayed in the space list comprise a subset of all of the spaces, the subset comprising no more than a fixed quantity of the spaces and including the spaces having a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition that is greater than a variance between the setpoint and the observed condition for the spaces excluded from the subset;

means for presenting a user customizable home page configured to provide data and navigation tools and selectively displayed as a GUI via the GUI display device, including an equipment summary page representing at least a portion of the BAS machine, the equipment summary page including;

at least one navigable link connecting the equipment summary page to another portion of the GUI;

means for customizing the equipment summary page;

an equipment information portion comprising at least one representation stored in the relational directory of an intra-BAS relationship of the equipment with at least one other element of the BAS; and

an equipment status portion separate from the equipment information portion including;

an equipment condition portion comprising static, dynamic, and user definable information in the relational directory related to the equipment; and

a equipment status sub-portion, separate from the equipment condition portion, comprising static, dynamic, and user definable operational status information about the equipment in the relational directory, and a means for a user to enter status information into the relational directory;

wherein the at least one other element of the BAS comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a building, a campus, a space, a system, a subsystem, and an end device, and

wherein the intra-BAS relationship is defined by a common equipment type or space.

27. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the equipment is a device selected from a set consisting of:

a panel, a sensor, a controller, a microprocessor-controlled device, a converter, a thermostat, a furnace, a heating system, a chiller, a cooling system, an air conditioner, an air filter, an air purifier, a fire and life safety system, a security system, an alarm system, an occupancy sensor, an electrical system monitor and controller, a lighting system monitor and controller, a ventilation system monitor and controller, a smoke sensor, a light sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a pump, an air handler, fluid and air moving and handling equipment, a terminal device, life science and pharmacological control equipment and monitoring systems, a positive pressure clean room, a negative pressure clean room, industrial automation and control equipment and systems, and a programmable logic controller.

28. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the intra-BAS relationship of the equipment comprises a group membership of the equipment where all of the equipment in the group are of the same equipment type.

29. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 28, wherein the equipment information portion further comprises an operational status of the equipment, a controlling schedule of the equipment, and a next event of the equipment.

30. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 29, wherein the next event of the equipment comprises an event indicator and an event time schedule.

31. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 28, wherein the group membership of the equipment is displayed as a navigable link to another page of the GUI.

32. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the equipment condition portion comprises at least one selected from a set consisting of a temperature, an output status, an input status, a pressure, a flow status, an equipment element status, and a setpoint.

33. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 32, wherein the equipment element status relates to at least a portion of an end device selected from a set consisting of:

a panel, a sensor, a controller, a microprocessor-controlled device, a converter, a thermostat, a furnace, a heating system, a chiller, a cooling system, an air conditioner, an air filter, an air purifier, a fire and life safety system, a security system, an alarm system, an occupancy sensor, an electrical system monitor and controller, a lighting system monitor and controller, a ventilation system monitor and controller, a smoke sensor, a light sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a pump, an air handler, fluid and air moving and handling equipment, a terminal device, life science and pharmacological control equipment and monitoring systems, a positive pressure clean room, a negative pressure clean room, industrial automation and control equipment and systems, and a programmable logic controller.

34. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 33, wherein the portion of the end device comprises a pump, a duct, a condenser, a fan, or a damper.

35. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 32,

wherein the user definable information of at least one of the equipment condition portion or the equipment status portion comprises an equipment setpoint.

36. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the user definable information of at least one of the equipment condition portion and the equipment status portion comprises a data log requestor.

37. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the operational status information comprises a dynamic measurement related to an equipment element.

38. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one navigable link comprises a GUI navigation tab respectively linked to at least one other page within the GUI.

39. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 38, wherein the GUI navigation tab comprises at least one tab selected from a set consisting of a summary tab, an alarm tab, a spaces tab, an equipment tab, a subsystems tab, a schedules tab, a data log tab, and an administrative tab.

40. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 26, wherein the equipment comprises a chiller plant, and wherein the equipment status portion comprises at least one chiller of the chiller plant.

41. The equipment summary page of the apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one chiller is displayed as a navigable link to a chiller page of the GUI.