System for Monitoring Multiple Building Automation Systems

• US 20140095654A1
• Filed: 09/29/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Finnerty, Shaun, Hriljac, Jeffrey, Knobloch, Drew M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,262,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17306 Intercommunication techniques

Abstract

A method for execution on a computing device includes transmitting first identification information to a server processing circuit via the Internet. The server processing circuit identifies a plurality of geographically dispersed systems corresponding to the first identification information. Information including geographical coordinates and system status information is received for each system. A set of geographical boundary coordinates are determined. Moreover, a visible characteristic value for each system is determined based on the corresponding system status information. A map presentation function executed by a second processing circuit displays a map based on the geographic boundary coordinates, and displays a plurality of visible indicators on the map. Each of the plurality of visible indicators has a position on the map corresponding the geographical coordinates of a corresponding system. Each of the plurality of visible indicators has a visible characteristic corresponding to the visible characteristic value of the corresponding system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving into a processing circuit from a requesting device via the Internet first identification information;

using the processing circuit to identify a plurality of geographically dispersed systems associated with the first identification information;

generating a data inquiry to a data system, the data inquiry including information identifying each of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems;

obtaining information from the data system for each of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems, such information including geographical coordinates and system status information; and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

obtaining the information in a first mark-up language format;

and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device in a second mark-up language format.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing to the requesting device computer software instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit cause the processing circuit to:

receive the obtained information;

determine a set of geographical boundary coordinates defining a geographical area containing a plurality of the geographical coordinates;

determine for each system of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems a visible characteristic value based on the corresponding system status information; and

employ a map presentation function to display a map based on the geographic boundary coordinates, and to display a plurality of visible indicators on the map, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a position on the map corresponding the geographical coordinates of a corresponding system of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a visible characteristic corresponding to the visible characteristic value of the corresponding system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data system is a cloud computing system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising

obtaining the information in a first mark-up language format;

and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device in a second mark-up language format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems comprises a building automation system including a building automation system control device.

7. A method for execution on a computing device, comprising

transmitting first identification information to a server processing circuit via the Internet, the server processing circuit configured to determine a plurality of geographically dispersed systems based on the first identification information;

receiving from the server processing circuit, via the Internet, information for each of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems, such information including geographical coordinates and system status information corresponding to each of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems;

determining a set of geographical boundary coordinates defining a geographical area containing a plurality of the geographical coordinates;

determining for each system of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems a visible characteristic value based on the corresponding system status information; and

employing a map presentation function executed by a second processing circuit to display a map based on the geographic boundary coordinates, and to display a plurality of visible indicators on the map, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a position on the map corresponding the geographical coordinates of a corresponding system of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a visible characteristic corresponding to the visible characteristic value of the corresponding system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second processing circuit is disposed within a housing of a tablet computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the first identification information wirelessly to the server processing circuit.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting an input signal indicating a selection of a first system of the plurality of geographically dispersed systems;

transmitting an identifier of the first system to the server processing circuit;

receiving from the server processing circuit measurement values and set point values of the first system;

removing the map from the display; and

displaying the received measurement values and set point values of the first system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting an input signal indicating a command value for a point within the first system, the command value configured to alter an operation of the first system;

transmitting an identifier of the first system, a point identifier, and a command value to the server processing circuit.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving into a processing circuit from a requesting device via the Internet first identification information;

using the processing circuit to identify a plurality of building automation systems associated with the first identification information;

generating a data inquiry to a data system, the data inquiry including information identifying each of the plurality of building automation systems;

obtaining information from the data system for each of the plurality of building automation systems, such information including geographical coordinates and system status information; and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

obtaining the information in a first mark-up language format;

and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device in a second mark-up language format.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising, providing to the requesting device computer software instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit cause the processing circuit to:

receive the obtained information;

determine a set of geographical boundary coordinates defining a geographical area containing a plurality of the geographical coordinates;

determine for each system of the plurality of building automation systems a visible characteristic value based on the corresponding system status information; and

employ a map presentation function to display a map based on the geographic boundary coordinates, and to display a plurality of visible indicators on the map, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a position on the map corresponding the geographical coordinates of a corresponding system of the plurality of building automation systems, each of the plurality of visible indicators having a visible characteristic corresponding to the visible characteristic value of the corresponding system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the data system is a cloud computing system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising

obtaining the information in a first mark-up language format;

and

transmitting the obtained information via the Internet to the requesting device in a second mark-up language format.