Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Sequential or selective
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2001-02-20
Gordon, Paul P. (Department: 2786)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Sequential or selective
C700S020000, C700S017000, C700S286000, C700S287000, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192282
ABSTRACT:
2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to building automation systems, and in particular to a software system that allows for control of, and/or communication with, end devices and communication systems that utilize different command and communications protocols and languages.
3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
With the decrease in the costs associated with microprocessors, and volatile and nonvolatile memory, many building systems such as security, HVAC, lighting, water management, entertainment, communication, and the like have been placed under microprocessor control. A variety of competing and commercially available technologies have emerged for the basic building subsystems which are susceptible to automation and control through the execution of computer programs. While this competition is generally positive, insofar as it reduces the overall costs to consumers, and provides enhanced functionality with each new generation of technology, the downside associated with the existence of numerous competitive systems is that several different technological control and communication protocols have been independently developed, rendering the automation systems incompatible.
This presents significant problems for those in the industry trying to provide centralized or unified control over a plurality of modular building automation subsystems. The dissimilarity in the communication and control protocols presents particularly acute problems for those attempting to provide retrofit automation for existing buildings. The problem becomes still more accurate for those trying to provide centralized or unified control by retrofitting existing residential structures, since the costs associated with centralized automation may be prohibitive if preexisting automation over building subsystems has to be replaced entirely as part of the retrofit.
Another problem that occurs in the retrofitting of centralized or unified control systems onto existing residential structures is the reality that a variety of interface devices are available for the building subsystems to allow user interface with the building subsystems. For example, user interfaces range from technologically complicated computer interfaces to relatively simple mechanical switches. A variety of key panels, infrared remote controls, and touch screens may also be utilized to control various building automation subsystems. This is particularly true in the subassemblies relating to home entertainment and communications. It is also not uncommon to have building subsystem interfaces which are alternatives to one another. For example, a particular piece of entertainment equipment may be alternatively operable by the user through a keypad as well as an infrared remote control. This variety in the types and technologies utilized in the user interfaces also presents particular problems for those trying to provide economical and efficient retrofits for building automation systems which are monolithic in design.
The central problem associated with the automation of building systems is that during some intervals of use by the user a monolithic system is preferred with a strong central control of all subsystems. However, during other intervals of use by the user, local control over particular subsystems is preferable to the monolithic control. One particular example is the user requirement in many automation projects that home lighting and audio be controllable through either a local control placed within particular rooms, or a centralized controller.
In the prior art, those entities that have attempted to commercially provide centralized automation for retrofit onto residential or commercial structures have discovered that significant work must be performed in essentially custom programming for each particular building. The costs associated with this custom programming often render the centralized building automation systems so expensive that they can be afforded only by the most wealthy. Currently, there are substantial untapped markets for centralized retrofit automation for residential and commercial applications. This market is likely to remain untapped as long as the costs associated with the custom programming remain relatively high in comparison with the ever decreasing costs associated with processors, sensors, mass memory, and commercially available consumer goods, such as entertainment equipment, which tend to decrease rapidly in price while simultaneously increasing in functionality with each new product version.
There are substantial business opportunities for those competitors that can innovate in a manner which reduces the overall costs of centralized automation (especially in a retrofit environment) while simultaneously increasing the functionality of the centralized automation, and also allowing for periodic upgrades in particular subsystem components without requiring corresponding custom programming expenses.
The present invention is directed to a number of specific improvements in building automation systems which meet these requirements and which should result in substantial commercial advantage for those practicing the technology disclosed and claimed herein.
4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved building automation system and a method of controlling building automation systems. The invention may be implemented in either a centralized processing embodiment or a distributed processing embodiment. Both of these embodiments will be discussed in this summary and in the detailed description.
The basic system features which render the building automation system and related method superior to the prior art systems and methods will now be described in broad overview.
The first characteristic of the present invention which renders it superior to the state of the prior art is its basic modularity of design. The automation system of the present invention is modular in the extreme. This diminishes the amount of custom programming required in order to affect control of a particular building. It allows for a relatively open architecture which can accommodate a variety of unique control applications which are scripted for a particular building. By modularizing many of the common processes utilized in the automation system, the custom programming required to control any particular building is minimized. This modularity in design allows for uniform and coordinated control over a plurality of automation subsystems which may be incompatible with one another at the device or machine level, but which can be controlled utilizing a relatively small and uniform set of “interprocess control commands” which define an interprocess control protocol which is utilized in relatively high level scripts and control applications which may be written for a particular building.
When characterized as an apparatus, the present invention is directed to an improved building automation system. It includes a number of components which cooperate to allow optimum building automation and control. A plurality of building automation subsystems are provided. Each of the building automation subsystems includes at least one end device which is subject to control in accordance with a particular control protocol. The plurality of building automation subsystems may individually respond to a relatively large number of different control protocols which are generally incompatible. The present invention further includes a set of interprocess control command which together constitute an interprocess control protocol. In accordance with the present invention, at least one programmable controller is provided with associated memory, which operates to store and selectively execute program instructions, including the set of interprocess control commands. A plurality of modular subsystem programs are provided. Each of these subsystem programs is responsive to interprocess control commands from the interprocess control protocol. Each of the plurality of modular subsystem programs is utilized for generating command signals in ac
Cogbill Michael L.
Gelling Richard R.
Smith Marjorie L.
Smith Mark E.
Gordon Paul P.
Hunn Melvin A.
Intelihome, Inc.
Patel Ramesh
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