Abstract:
Building control systems that include a user interface that is configured to help manage relatively large amounts of building control data in an efficient and intuitive manner. In some cases, subsets of building control information can be associated with display elements such as windows or tabs, which can then be docked to provide a convenient way to selectively display only certain subsets of the building control information.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to building control systems, and more particularly to the user interface of a building control system. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Building control systems may provide a large amount of data pertaining to HVAC equipment, security alarms, refrigeration monitoring and/or the like. In some instances, building control systems may provide such information for a large number of sites that can be within different portions of a building or within different buildings. The buildings may even be geographically scattered. Individuals charged with operating these building control systems, such as alarm managers or building superintendents, for example, may have to monitor events at multiple sites and/or diagnose and/or fix a large number of potential problems in a short amount of time. 
         [0003]    It will be appreciated that the amount of information presented to the individual may become overwhelming. There is a need for a building control system that provides the individual with organizational tools that help manage the relatively large amounts of building control data in an efficient and intuitive manner. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]    This disclosure relates generally to building control systems, and more particularly to building control systems that include a user interface that is configured to help manage relatively large amounts of building control data in an efficient and intuitive manner. 
         [0005]    In an illustrative but non-limiting example, a building control system may include a building control program that has access to building control information, and can display at least selected building control information on a display via a user interface. Sometimes through interaction with the user interface, a first set of building control information may be associated with a first display element on the display. The first display element may correspond to, for example, a window, a tab, an icon or any other suitable display element. Likewise, a second set of building control information may be associated with a second display element. The second display element may correspond to, for example, a window, a tab, an icon or any other suitable display element. In some cases, the first set of building control information may correspond to, for example, one or more building control parameters from a first geographic site or location, and the second set of building control information may correspond to one or more building control parameters from a second geographic site or location, but this is not required. The first set of building control information may be displayed when the first display element is selected for display, and the second set of building control information may be displayed when the second display element is selected for display. It is contemplated that additional sets of building control information may be associated with other corresponding display elements, as desired. 
         [0006]    To help manage the building control information in an efficient and intuitive manner via the user interface, one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. In some cases, the docking display element is displayed on the display when one or more of the first display element and the second display element are docked in the docking display element. The docking display element may provide a convenient way to “dock” the first display element and/or the second display element. The first display element may be docked when, for example, the user does not wish to display the first set of building control information but still wants to maintain easy access to the first set of building control information such as when subsequent monitoring of the information is anticipated or desired. Likewise, the second display element may be docked when, for example, the user does not wish to display the second set of building control information but still wants to maintain easy access to the second set of building control information. In some cases, the first display element and/or the second display element may be docked manually by the user or automatically upon the occurrence of a detected qualifying event. 
         [0007]    The above summary is not intended to describe each and every disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the disclosure. The Description that follows more particularly exemplify the various illustrative embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0008]    The following description should be read with reference to the drawings. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative but non-limiting building control system; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2 through 6  are diagrammatic views of illustrative displays that may be generated by the building control system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 7 through 9  are screen captures of illustrative displays that may be generated via the building control system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 10 through 15  are flow diagrams showing illustrative methods that may be carried out using the building control system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0013]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular illustrative embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in like fashion. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although examples of construction, dimensions, and materials are illustrated for the various elements, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives that may be utilized. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative but non-limiting building control system  10 . The illustrative building control system  10  may include a program module  12  and a display module  14 . In some instances, program module  12  represents software that is running on a computer such as a server, or perhaps a general purpose computer such as a desktop, laptop or workstation. Display module  14  may represent a display device such as an LCD display, a CRT monitor, or the like, that is connected to the computer facilitating program module  12 . In some cases, display module  14  may be a distinct computer that is located remotely from the computer facilitating program module  12 , but may also be disposed proximate the aforementioned computer. In some instances, display module  14  may represent a remote computer display, via a thin client (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer™ or equivalent) that can display information provided over a network from program module  12 . 
         [0016]    Building control system  10  may include a few or even up to thousands of building control devices. For illustrative purposes, building control system  10  is shown here with a first building control device  16 , a second building control device  18  and an N th  building control device  20 , where N is an integer higher than two, and may be as high as several or even many thousands. Each building control device  16 ,  18 ,  20  can be seen as being in communication with program module  12 . Communication with each building control device  16 ,  18 ,  20  may be accomplished in any suitable manner. In some cases, at least some of the building control devices  16 ,  18 ,  20  may be in communication with program module  12  over a network such as a telephone network, a local area network (LAN), a wide are network (WAN) or even the Internet. In some instances, it is contemplated that at least some of the building control devices  16 ,  18 ,  20  may be in wireless communication with program module  12 . The building control devices may be the same or different, and in some cases, may represent a wide variety of different devices. Illustrative but non-limiting examples include thermostats, other HVAC controllers, security alarm controllers, motion sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, high temperature limit sensors and/or any other suitable device. 
         [0017]    Building control system  10  may be configured to assist a user in viewing and/or organizing a potentially substantial amount of building control information that may be obtained from the one or more of building control devices  16 ,  18  and  20 . For example, program module  12  may create or otherwise provide a user interface that includes graphical and/or alphanumerical display elements that may be associated with particular building control information. The display elements may be display windows, tabs, icons and the like. In some instances, program module  12  may permit the user to “dock” a display element and its associated building control information when, for example, the user does not wish to display the associate building control information, but still wants to maintain easy access to the associated building control information such as when subsequent monitoring of the information is anticipated or desired. If and/or when the user wants once again display the associated building control information, they may do so by simply selecting the appropriate display element from a docking display element. 
         [0018]    In one example, program module  12  may associate a first set of building control information (e.g. certain building control information from a first site) with a first display element, and may associate a second set of building control information (e.g. certain building control information from a second site) with a second display element. In some cases, additional display elements may be associated with additional sets of building control information. If the first display element has been selected, such as by clicking on the first display element, the first set of building control information may be displayed on the display via display module  14 . If the second display element is selected, the second set of building control information may be displayed on the display via display module  14 . 
         [0019]    It will be appreciated that reference to a first display element and a second display element is merely illustrative, as there may be tens, hundreds or even thousands of potential display elements associated with a similar number of distinct sets of building control information. Moreover, a first display element may be considered as referring to a particular display element (associated with a particular set of building control information) while a second display element may be considered as referring to a subsequent particular display element (associated with a subsequent particular set of building control information). 
         [0020]    In some instances, display module  14  may display a docking display element. If a user desires, they can “dock” the first display element and/or the second display element in the docking display element. The docking display element may, for example, include a graphical and/or alphanumeric representation or indication of which display elements, if any, are presently docked in the docking display element. In some instances, one or more display elements assigned or associated with sets of building control information that are not being displayed or desired to be displayed may be docked in the docking display element. One or more display elements that are assigned or associated with sets of building control information that are being displayed and/or are desired to be displayed may not be docked in the docking element. In some cases, the docking display element is only displayed via display module  14  when at least one display element is currently docked, but this is not required. It is contemplated, for example, that the docking display element may be displayed at all times. In some cases, the docking display element may provide an indication of which of the one or more display elements are presently docked in the docking display element. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2 through 6  provide generalized examples of displays that may be generated by program module  12  ( FIG. 1 ) and displayed via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 2  provides a user interface display  22  that may be displayed via display module  14 . Display  22  includes a display window  24  and several tabs arrayed along a top of the display window  24 . It will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative, as the tabs, when provided, could be displayed along the bottom, sides or at any other location of the display window  24 . As illustrated, there is a SITE ONE tab  26 , a SITE TWO tab  28 , a SITE THREE tab  30  and a SITE FOUR tab  32 , while in other instances there may be fewer or perhaps more tabs displayed. It is to be understood that reference to one, two and so on is not intended to be strictly interpreted as building site numbers, but rather as generally referring to adjacent, sequentially or otherwise organized and/or referenced building control data. It will be appreciated that each of the tabs may be assigned or correspond to a particular building control device, such as building control device  16 ,  18  or  20  ( FIG. 1 ), groups of building control devices such those located at particular building sites, and/or any other building control data. More generally, tabs  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  are non-limiting examples of the aforementioned first and second display elements. 
         [0022]    In some instances, the tabs may include labels other than “SITE ONE”, “SITE TWO” and so on. In some cases, the tabs may include more specific labels, referring instead, for example, to specific building control devices, two or more of which may be located at a common site. In some instances, the tabs may refer to specific HVAC equipment, to security alarms, temperature sensors and the like. It will be appreciated, therefore, that reference to “SITE ONE”, “SITE TWO” and the like is merely illustrative and is not intended to be limiting in any way. 
         [0023]    SITE ONE tab  26  can be seen to be highlighted, indicating that it has been selected via the user interface. As a result, and in the illustrative embodiment, display window  24  displays text  34 , icons, graphs, and/or any other suitable building control information that is related, assigned or otherwise associated with the SITE ONE tab  26 . It will be appreciated that one may select another tab simply by clicking on or otherwise selecting the desired tab, which will cause program module  12  to display via display module  14  the appropriate information within display window  24 . In some cases, one or more of the tabs may, as noted above, be docked into a docking element.  FIG. 3  provides a generalized view of an illustrative docking element. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a display  36  that may be displayed via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ). Display  36  includes a docking display element  38 . In some instances, docking display element  38  may include a graphical and/or alphanumeric indication showing what has been docked. In some cases, docking display element  38  may include a button  40  that can be used to expand docking display element  38  so that the user may see what tab or tabs are currently docked in the docking display element  38 . This can be seen, for example, in  FIG. 4 , which shows a screen  42  that may be displayed via display module  14  when button  40  is selected by the user via the user interface. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 4 , docking display element  38  has been expanded, presumably by a user clicking on or otherwise selecting button  40  shown in  FIG. 3 . As a result, the illustrative docking display element  38  now shows a SITE ONE indicator  44 , a SITE TWO indicator  46 , a SITE THREE indicator  48 , a SITE FOUR indicator  50  and a SITE FIVE indicator  52 . In some cases, docking display element  38  may include a button  54  that can be used to once again minimize docking display element  38 , such as shown in  FIG. 3 . Clicking on one of the indicators  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  or  52  may cause program module  12  ( FIG. 1 ) to once again display via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ) the particular tab to which the indicator corresponds, along with the corresponding set of building control information. 
         [0026]    In some instances, one or more tabs may be docked in the docking display element  38  upon a qualifying event. For example, non-limiting examples of a qualifying event includes exceeding a number of simultaneously displayed display elements on the display. For example, a qualifying event may be triggered if the number of tabs shown in  FIG. 2  exceeded five tabs. In some cases, the qualifying number of displayed elements may be predetermined. In other instances, the qualifying number of displayed elements may be a user-settable parameter controlled by program module  12  ( FIG. 1 ). In some cases, the qualifying number of displayed elements may be determined at least in part upon the display characteristics available to display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0027]    In some instances, a user may have opened more tabs than can be displayed at one time. For example, there may be ten open tabs, while only five can be displayed at one time due to spatial limitations. In this situation, five tabs may be docked while five tabs may be open, or undocked. If the user opens another tab, say an eleventh tab, this may cause one of the currently displayed tabs to be docked. In some cases, the most recently opened tab may be docked while in other cases, it may be the first opened tab that is docked to make room for the newly opened tab. When and how particular tabs are docked or undocked may be controlled by building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ), and/or may be controlled by user-definable parameters, if desired. 
         [0028]    In some cases, a qualifying event may constitute lateral movement within a hierarchal building control menu. Moving from one spot within the menu to another spot on the menu, at the same hierarchal level as the first spot, may trigger docking of one or more of the displayed display elements. In some instances, closing the docking display element may close any presently docked display elements, but this is not required. 
         [0029]    In some instances, a display mode of a docking display element such as docking display element  38  may be changed from displaying the indication  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  of the one or more of the first display element and second display element that are docked in the docking display element  38  to not displaying the indication of the one or more of the first display element and second display element that are docked in the docking display element. In some cases, the display mode of the docking display element  38  may be set or changed based on user preferences. 
         [0030]    In some instances, when a first display element is docked in the docking display element  38 , selecting the indication (e.g. indication  44 ) of the first display element in the docking display element  38  selects the first display element for display and displays the first set of building control information on the display  42 . In some cases, when a second display element is docked in the docking display element  38 , selecting the indication (e.g. indication  46 ) of the second display element in the docking display element  38  selects the second display element for display and displays the second set of building control information on the display  42 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a display  56  that may be displayed via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ). Illustrative display  56  includes a SITE ONE window  58 , a SITE TWO window  60  and a SITE THREE window  62 . In this, it will be recognized that one, two, and three are arbitrary and are merely intended to refer, for example, to adjacent, sequentially or otherwise organized and/or referenced building control data. SITE ONE window  58  may be seen as including a label  64 , SITE TWO window  60  may be seen as including a label  66  and SITE THREE window  62  may be seen as including a label  68 . The labels  64 ,  66  and  68  may provide a graphical and/or alphanumeric representation or indication of the particular building control information that is provided in each of the corresponding windows  58 ,  60  and  62 . Moreover, the labels  64 ,  66  and  68  may serve as display elements that can be used to move around windows  58 ,  60  and  62  on display  56 , and/or can be used to open or close particular windows  58 ,  60  and  62 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows a display  70  that may be displayed via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ). Illustrative display  70  may include a docking display element  72  that may be displayed when one or more of SITE ONE window  58 , SITE TWO window  60  and/or SITE THREE window  62  are docked. In some cases, docking display element  72  may include a button  74  that, if clicked or otherwise selected, may cause docking display element  72  to expand (not illustrated) to show the display elements (e.g. windows  58 ,  60  and  62 ) that are docked within docking display element  72 , similar to that shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7 through 9  are illustrative but non-limiting screen captures showing displays that may be generated via building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ).  FIG. 7  shows a display  76  that can be seen as including a tabbed display  78 . Tabbed display  78  may, as illustrated, include an identifying tab  80  as well as an information display region  82  that provides information pertaining to the building site or building control device or parameters represented by identifying tab  80 . Display  76  may include a menu bar  84  that includes buttons for lateral movement within a menu. 
         [0034]    In the illustrative screen capture of  FIG. 7 , a search region  87  is provided to help in selecting one or more subsets of building control information. While a site search region  87  is shown in  FIG. 7 , it is contemplated that other types of searching, sorting, filtering and/or other mechanism may be use to aid in selecting and associating one or more subsets of building control information with a display region (e.g. tab) may be provided. In the illustrative screen capture, the search region  87  has been used to associate and display the Best Buy customer stores that are located in the South Central Region of the United States in search results tab  80 . In some cases, different search criteria may be presented to the user in search region  87  when other menu items (e.g. Alarms, Data Logs, Schedules, or Batches) in menu bar  84  are selected. For discussion purposes, when a user clicks on or otherwise selects active link  86  labeled “BestBuy 311” in  FIG. 7 , the building control system  10  may display a display  88  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 8 , display  88  can be seen as including identifying tab  80  as well as a new tabbed display  90 . Tabbed display  90  may include, as shown, an identifying tab  92  as well an information display region  94 . As illustrated, identifying tab  92  has been selected, and thus information display region  94  is being displayed. It will be appreciated that clicking on or otherwise selecting search results tab  80  may cause building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) to display information display  82  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0036]    While  FIGS. 7 and 8  only show one or two identifying tabs  80  and  92 , it will be appreciated that display  76  (or display  88 ) may include three, four, five or more distinct identifying tabs. In some instances, as discussed above, building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) may dock one or more of the displayed tabs after a particular number of tabs are to be displayed. In some cases, one or more of the displayed tabs may be docked in response to a user moving laterally through a menu. This may occur, for example, if a person clicks on or otherwise selects one of the menu buttons within menu bar  84 . In either event,  FIG. 9  provides an illustrative resulting display  98 . 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 9 , display  96  includes a docking display element  98 . In some cases, as shown, docking display element  98  may include a graphical and/or alphanumeric indication or representation of which and/or how many display elements have been docked therein. In some instances, docking display element  98  may include a button  100  that can, if pressed, cause building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) to display a pull-down menu or expanded list of docked display elements (see  FIG. 4 ) so that a user may select a particular display element for display in display region  103 . 
         [0038]    Docking display element  98  may include a close box  102  that, if clicked or otherwise selected, may cause building control system  10  to close any and all docked display elements. In some cases, docking display element  98  may be disposed within a particular location within display  96 , while in other cases, docking display element  98  may float on the screen and thus may be moved and parked in any desired screen location by a user. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 10 through 15  are flow diagrams showing illustrative methods that may be carried out using building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ). In some cases, building control system  10  or at least some aspects thereof may be manifested on a computer such as a server or a general purpose computer such as a desktop or a laptop. In some instances, display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may be manifested via a thin client on a general purpose computer. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 10 , control begins at block  104 , where a first set of building control information is associated with a first display element. The first set of building control information may, for example, pertain to information provided by a particular building control device or particular building control site, but this is not required. At block  106 , a second set of building control information is associated with a second display element. The second set of building control information may, for example, pertain to information provided by a particular building control device or particular building control site, but this is not required. The first and second display elements may, for example, be a window, tab, icon or any other suitable display element that can be displayed on a display via display module  14  ( FIG. 1 ), and may include a graphical and/or alphanumeric identification of the building control information that is represented by the particular display element. It will be appreciated that one or more of the blocks described herein may be processed in any order, or even simultaneously. 
         [0041]    Control passes to block  108 , where building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) displays the first set of building control information when the first display element has been selected for display. If the second display element has been selected for display, building control system  10  may display the second set of building control information, as seen at block  110 . In some instances, as shown at block  112 , one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. In some instances, the docking display element may provide an indication of which of the one or more first display element and/or the second display element are currently docked in the docking display element. When a display element is selected for display, the display element may in some cases be undocked from the display element. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 11 , control begins at block  104 , where a first set of building control information is associated with a first display element. At block  106 , a second set of building control information is associated with a second display element. In some cases, each set of building control information pertains to a particular building control device, a particular set of building control devices, a particular building site or any other set or group of building control information. Control passes to block  108 , where building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) displays the first set of building control information when the first display element has been selected for display. If the second display element has been selected for display, building control system  10  may display the second set of building control information, as seen at block  110 . 
         [0043]    In some instances, as shown at block  112 , one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. In response, and at block  114 , building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) may change the docking display element to reflect the display elements that are docked in the docking display element. For example, building control system  10  may change the docking display element from not displaying the indication of the one or more of the first display element and second display element that are not docked in the docking display element to displaying the indication of the one or more of the first display element and second display element that become docked in the docking display element. 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 12 , control begins at block  104 , where a first set of building control information is associated with a first display element. At block  106 , a second set of building control information is associated with a second display element. In some cases, each set of building control information pertains to a particular building control device, a particular set of building control devices, a particular building site or any other set or group of building control information. Control passes to block  108 , where building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) displays the first set of building control information when the first display element has been selected for display. If the second display element has been selected for display, building control system  10  may display the second set of building control information, as seen at block  110 . In some instances, as shown at block  112 , one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. 
         [0045]    At block  116 , an n th  set of building control information, where n is an integer greater than two, may be associated with an n th  display element. The n th  set of building control information may pertain to information provided by an n th  building control device, an n th  set of building control devices, a n th  building site or any other set or group of building control information. At block  118 , the n th  set of building control information is displayed when the n th  display element has been selected. One or more of the first display element, the second display element and the n th  display element may be docked in a docking display element, as seen at block  120 . In some cases, the docking display element is only displayed when a display element is docked therein, but this is not required. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 13 , control begins at block  104 , where a first set of building control information is associated with a first display element. At block  106 , a second set of building control information is associated with a second display element. In some cases, each set of building control information pertains to a particular building control device, a particular set of building control devices, a particular building site or any other set or group of building control information. Control passes to block  108 , where building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) displays the first set of building control information when the first display element has been selected for display. If the second display element has been selected for display, building control system  10  may display the second set of building control information, as seen at block  110 . In some instances, as shown at block  112 , one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. At block  122 , the first display element and the second display element may be automatically docked once a sufficient number of display elements exist or are created by the user. In some cases, the displayed elements may also be automatically docked upon a qualifying event, such as lateral menu movement (e.g. selection of a different menu option from menu bar  84  of  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 14 , control begins at block  104 , where a first set of building control information is associated with a first display element. At block  106 , a second set of building control information is associated with a second display element. In some cases, each set of building control information may pertain to a particular building control device, a particular set of building control devices, a particular building site or any other set or group of building control information. Control passes to block  108 , where building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) displays the first set of building control information when the first display element has been selected for display. If the second display element has been selected for display, building control system  10  may display the second set of building control information, as seen at block  110 . In some instances, as shown at block  112 , one or more of the first display element and the second display element may be docked in a docking display element. As shown at block  124 , in some cases, closing the docking display element may cause building control system  10  to close one or more of the display elements that are presently docked. In some cases, this may cause all of the docked display elements to be closed. 
         [0048]      FIG. 15  is a flow diagram showing an illustrative method of organizing and displaying building control information. At block  126 , one or more subsets of the building control information may be selected, such as by a user. At block  128 , one or more tabs may be displayed within a display window, where each of the one or more tabs corresponds to one of the selected subsets of building control information. The user may, as shown at block  130 , select one of the tabs, thereby causing building control system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) to display a corresponding subset of building control information on the display. At block  132 , at least some of the displayed tabs may be docked in a docking display element upon a qualifying event such as reaching a particular number of displayed tabs. In some cases, the tabs may be docked automatically. 
         [0049]    The disclosure should not be considered limited to the particular examples described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspects of the invention as set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the invention can be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of the instant specification.