MOBILE DEVICE WITH GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR MONITORING A BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM

A mobile device with a graphical user interface for remotely monitoring and/or remotely interacting with a configurable building automation systems (BAS). In particular, the mobile device receives status data from the BAS, the graphical user interface displays the status data on the mobile device, and the graphical user interface allows a user to monitor any of the areas, including devices, associated with the BAS.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein are directed to a mobile device with a GUI for remotely monitoring and/or operating a building automation system.

FIG. 1shows a cartoon of a system10including an embodiment of a BAS100that includes a hardwired network101that uses a communication standard or protocol to link various subsystems, such as a system control unit102a,a unit control device102b,102c,and/or other devices102d,102e,102f,and provide a system-wide user access and control from a computer103hardwired to the network. The BAS100is connected to the internet105, and includes a network security device106, such as a firewall, that secures and protects the BAS100from unwanted intrusion via the internet105.

The embodiment includes a mobile device110connectable to the BAS100via the internet105, accessing the BAS100through the network security device106. The mobile device110can connect to the BAS100via a local wireless connection112. The local wireless connection112can be established behind the network security device106, so that the mobile device110can connect to one or more of the components or devices102a-fof the BAS100without requiring the communication between the mobile device110and the BAS100to go through the network security device106.

The mobile device110can connect to the BAS100via the internet105using cellular, 3G, 4G, or other wireless communication protocol. The mobile device110can connect to the BAS100via the local wireless connection112using WiFi, bluetooth, or other wireless communication protocol. The mobile device110can connect to the BAS100using a combination of the internet105and local wireless connection112.

FIG. 2shows an illustrated schematic diagram of an embodiment of a mobile device110. The mobile device110includes a processor120in communication with a network interface122and a touchscreen124. The touchscreen124is a combination display and a human-computer interface device. The touchscreen124displays images as instructed by the processor120. The touchscreen124can detect user input via touch or contact by a human finger or a stylus device, and sends the input to the processor120. A memory126is in communication with the processor120, and the memory126stores instructions for an operating system that is executed by the processor120. The memory126can also store instructions for a computer program that is executed by the processor120. The computer program includes a GUI for remote operation of a BAS100.

Embodiments of the mobile device110include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, an iPhone, an iPad, an iPod, an Android phone, an Android tablet, a Windows phone, a Windows tablet, etc. Embodiments of the operating system include, but are not limited to, iOS, Android OS (e.g. Donut, Eclair, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, etc.), Windows, etc. Embodiments of the computer program include, but are not limited to, software for mobile device110s commonly called an “App” or “Mobile App,” a script written in a scripting language, etc.

According to an embodiment, a GUI is displayed on the touchscreen124when the computer program instructions are executed by the processor120, the GUI displays information to a user and also provides various input points for the user to interact with the GUI so that the user is allowed to provide input, such as operational commands or data request, which is sent to the processor120. The processor120can then process the input according to the computer program instructions being executed and can communicate with the memory126and/or network interface122to provide data to be displayed on the touchscreen124.

An embodiment of a computer program is stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program includes computer readable instructions that can be executed by a processor120to display a GUI on a touchscreen124configured to provide data output on the touchscreen124, and at the same time, receive operational input for remotely monitoring and/or operating a BAS100. The data output provided can be in real time, as the data is received from the BAS100to the mobile device110via the network interface122of the mobile device110.

Accordingly, a user of the mobile device110can be located almost anywhere and monitor and/or interact with the operation of the BAS100, as long as the mobile device110can wirelessly connect to the BAS100. Further, the mobile device110with the GUI displays multiple icons, wherein the icons show the area being monitored and the status of the data set by the user. This allows the user to quickly view multiple areas of the BAS100for monitoring multiple information of multiple devices and/or spaces in real time, as all of the data is sent from the BAS100to the mobile device110in real time.

FIG. 3shows an illustration of an embodiment of a mobile device110for remote operation and/or monitoring of a BAS. The mobile device110has a touchscreen124displaying a GUI200which includes a screen portion202(or screen) and a navigation bar portion (or navigation bar)204. The navigation bar204includes a plurality of icons206a,206b,206c,206d,206e,wherein each of the icons206a-eare associated with an interactive screen, so that when one of the icons is selected by touching the touchscreen124, the interactive screen associated with the selected icon is displayed in the screen202of the GUI200. For example,FIG. 3shows the icon206dhaving been selected, and the interactive screen207that is associated with the icon206dbeing displayed in the screen202of the GUI200on the touchscreen124of the mobile device110.

It is to be understood that the term icon describes a computer generated graphic image that is used in the GUI for displaying information and/or for allowing a human to interact with the mobile device110.

The screen202shows a list300of interactive icons302a,302b,302c,302d.Each of the icons302a-dis associated with an area that is associated with the BAS. Icon302ais associated with a Cafeteria space of a building that is controlled by the BAS. The data that is being received from the BAS via the network device of the mobile device110and processed by the processor of the mobile device110to be displayed as a status display304ain the screen202of the GUI200is a temperature setpoint for cooling the Cafeteria, shown to be set at 75.7° F. If this information is somehow changed, the status display304awill show the change. Icon302bis associated with a Classroom space of the building that is controlled by the BAS. The data that is being received from the BAS via the network device of the mobile device110and processed by the processor of the mobile device110to be displayed as a status display304bin the screen202of the GUI200is a discharge air flow value, shown to be at 518.3 cfm. If this information is changed, the status display304bwill show the change.

Icon302cand Icon302dare both associated with a Chiller equipment that is controlled by the BAS. Icon302cshows a status display304cas being an actual running capacity of the Chiller equipment. This is shown to be at 70.0%. If this information is changed, the status display304cwill show the change. On the other hand, Icon302dshows a status display304das being an evaporator leaving water temperature of the Chiller equipment. This is shown to be at 44.7° F. If this information is changed, the status display304dwill show the change.

The GUI of the mobile device110is configured to receive a user operation to add or delete an area to be monitored and a type of data to be monitored. The user operation is performed by selecting the EDIT icon306.

The icons302a-dare selectable via touching the touchscreen124. When one of the icons302a-dis selected, the GUI200changes what is shown in the screen202to a status page associated with the selected icon. For example, selecting icon302awill navigate to the Space Status page for Cafeteria, selecting icon302bwill navigate to a Space Status page for Classroom101, and selecting on icons302c,302dwill navigate to the Chiller Equipment Status page for Chiller 1. Thus, deeply nested information in the GUI that would generally require three or more “clicks” to access can be elevated using the GUI200so that the information can be accessed within two “clicks” of the GUI200.

FIG. 4shows an example of an interactive screen400displayed in the screen202of the GUI200for the mobile device110when the icon (302b) fromFIG. 3is selected. The interactive screen400is an example of the Space Status page for Classroom101.

Accordingly, the interactive screen400shows real time conditions402of Classroom101that is an area associated with the BAS. The real time conditions402are from real time data sent from the BAS, received by the network interface of the mobile device110, processed by the processor of the mobile device110, and displayed on the touchscreen124of the mobile device110within the GUI200. The receipt of alarm data404is displayed in the interactive screen400.

Alarm data404includes data that reports to the mobile device110a particular condition of the BAS or the area that is associated with the BAS, such as, but is not limited to, one or more of a component, a device, a unit, a system, a subsystem, a controller, a space, a building, a room, etc. The component may be the condenser or the evaporator, the unit may be a chiller, the system can be a HVAC system or circuit, the subsystem can be a control system for the HVAC system. The alarm data can include undesirable conditions of an area of a building, such as the space being too warm or too cold. The alarm data can include variance of an area's temperature from a setpoint for the area's temperature that was previously set, for example, according to the BAS's operation schedule. The alarm data can include other types of data for sending a notification to the mobile device.

Because the interactive screen400is one of the interactive screens accessible via the icon206cfor “Spaces,” i.e. Space Status interactive screens for areas associated with the BAS, the navigation bar204can show that the interactive screen400displayed in the screen200is associated with the icon206cby highlighting the icon206c.That is, the icon206cis indicated visually to be different from the icons206a,206b,206d,206ethat are also displayed in the navigation bar204of the GUI200to stand out therefrom.

With regard to the foregoing description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the specification and depicted embodiment to be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the broad meaning of the claims.