Energy consumption via VPN configuration management

• US 9,767,249 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autani, LLC
• Original Assignee: Autani, LLC
• Inventors: Belz, Robert, Clayton, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US13/887,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31198 VPN virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

Abstract

An automation system including a plurality of peripheral devices, each configured to perform at least one function relating to energy consumption in a facility and an automation controller in communication with the plurality of peripheral devices and providing for the control of the performance of the function by each device. An external network resource such as at least a virtual private network server is configured to enable communication with the automation controller. The automation controller is configured, such as by executing virtual private network software, to establish and maintain a secure data link with the virtual private network server and to enable oversight and/or control of the automation controller via the virtual private network server.

Claims

1. An automation system comprising

a plurality of peripheral devices configured to perform an automation function relating to energy consumption in a facility;

an automation controller located at the facility in communication with and control of the plurality of peripheral devices via a local IP subnet; and

,

an external network resource located remote from the facility and configured to communicate with the automation controller, wherein

the automation controller is configured

to initiate a virtual private network with the external network resource using one of a dynamic network port and a private network port and

to exclude the use of the local IP subnet in the virtual private network, and

the external network resource is configured to not initiate a virtual private network with the automation controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller is configured to maintain a continuous virtual private network that may be terminated manually by the external network resource and the automation controller.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller is configured to maintain a periodic connection with the external network resource and ping the external network after a defined period of time to serve as a heartbeat.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller is configured to maintain a periodic connection with the external network resource and report new conditions to the external network resource.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller is configured to maintain a periodic connection with the external network resource and report when conditions change in the system to the external network resource.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes at least one area controller configured to control at least one of the peripheral devices and be controlled by the automation controller, wherein the area controller is configured to initiate a virtual private network with the external network resource when the automation controller is unable to communicate with the external network resource.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the external network resource is configured to enable an owner of a plurality of automation controllers to access operational data communicated from the automation controllers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual private network server is configured to enable an owner of a plurality of automation controllers to communicate operational information between the automation controllers and the external network resource.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one virtual private network server is configured to communicate with an owner of the automation controller when a specified condition occurs including a failure of one of the automation controller and one of the peripheral devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller is a main automation controller and the system includes a back-up automation controller configured to assume control of the system at the facility, if the main automation controller fails.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the automation controller communicates with an automation controller at a central facility.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the automation controller at the central facility communicates with the automation controller at the facility via the external network resource.

13. A method of managing an automation system comprising:

providing at least one external network resource including a virtual private network server that is configured to not initiate a virtual private network;

implementing an automation system including at least an automation controller configured to control a plurality of peripheral devices that perform automation functions in a facility;

configuring the automation controller to initiate a virtual private network with the virtual private network server, wherein configuring includes configuring the automation controller to exclude the use of the local IP subnet in the virtual private network;

controlling, by the automation controller, the operation of the automation system;

initiating, by the automation controller, a virtual private network with the external network resource; and

accessing, via the external network resource, the automation controller to communicate operational information with the automation controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein configuring the automation controller includes configuring the automation controller to initiate and maintain a secure data link with the virtual private network server unless manually inactivated.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing includes overseeing the operation and reconfiguring settings on at least the automation controller.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein accessing includes overseeing the operation and transmitting event notices to the automation controller.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling, by the external network resource, an owner of a plurality of automation systems to access data collected via the virtual private network server from the plurality of automation systems.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein configuring includes configuring the automation controller and an area controller to initiate a virtual private network with the virtual private network server.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling, via the external network resource, an owner of a plurality of automation controllers including the automation controller to communicate operational information between the plurality of automation controllers and the external network resource.