Remote building control data display with automatic updates

• US 8,155,767 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Lontka, Karen, ElMankabady, Emad
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US11/713,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/275, 700/276, 700/19, 700/277, 700/286, 700/20, 703/13, 703/20, 703/2, 715/47, 709/224, 709/200, 709/104.1, 345/329, 345/357, 345/970
• 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

Abstract

A method includes receiving at a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet using a web-browser. The method further includes executing at the first computer at least one interpreted software program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location. The method also includes transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device, and then transmitting to the first computer second information regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device. The transmission of second information is provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

Claims

1. A method in a building control system, comprising:

a) transmitting to a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet for receipt via a web-browser, the at least one interpreted program operative to, when executed at the first computer, display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

b) transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device;

c) at a time subsequent to step b), transmitting to the first computer second information regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device, said transmitting provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step c) further comprises employing the first computer to open an XML socket to a source of the second information.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

d) receiving the first information at the first computer;

e) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the first information pertains.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

f) receiving the second information at the first computer;

g) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the second information pertains.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one interpreted program is further operative to, when executed by the first computer, display a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding one of a plurality of building control system devices in a remote location.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step b) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein step b) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building control system device comprises a fire safety system device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one interpreted software program includes web movie code.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one interpreted software program includes a main web movie and an embedded movie for each of the plurality of graphical elements.

11. A method in a building control system, comprising:

a) receiving at a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet using a web-browser, the at least one interpreted program including a web movie formatted content;

b) executing at the first computer the at least one interpreted program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

c) transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein step b) further comprises:

executing at the first computer a web movie player program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location, wherein the building control system is a security system, fire safety system, lighting system, or HVAC system, and wherein said transmitting is provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the web movie player program comprises a public domain movie player program.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the web movie player program comprises a Flash player.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

d) receiving the first information at the first computer;

e) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the first information pertains.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein step e) further comprises:

using the at least one program to render a movie player program scene based on the first information; and

displaying the rendered movie player program scene.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

21. An arrangement in a building control system, comprising:

a user interface device operable to provide information in human perceptible format; and

a processing circuit having a web-browser executing at least one interpreted program received over the Internet to

display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

receive first information via a communication circuit regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device; and

at a time subsequent to receiving the first information, receive second information via the communication circuit regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device, said second information received in the absence of a request transmitted by the computing arrangement for updated information.

22. The arrangement of claim 21, wherein the processing circuit executes the at least one interpreted program including a web movie player program to display at least the first graphical element, wherein the building control system is a security system, fire safety system, lighting system, or HVAC system.

23. The arrangement of claim 21, wherein

the processing circuit and web-browser further cooperate to receive the first information as XML-formatted data.