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EP0967766A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multi-capability facilities monitoring and control intranet for facilities management system

Assignee: Netbrowser Communications
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Filing: 1999-06-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-06-24
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Abstract

Abstract A facilities monitoring and control intranet is defined by two separate and independent communication links, one for supporting communication between facilities infrastructure equipment and a monitoring device, and one for supporting communication between the monitoring device in a system server in a server/client architecture. A communication link between facilities equipment and their associated client monitor is adapted to conform to each infrastructure device's vendor defined communication interface and supports communication between a facilities device and its client monitor in the infrastructure device's native language protocol. One or more client devices are coupled to a system server through a network link, with the network adapted to support TCP/IP packet-based data transmission protocols. The system server provides initial set-up parameters and continuing operating instructions to each client device over the network link. Subsequently, client devices carry out normal monitoring functions locally, over their local communication link. Intervention by the system server is no longer required unless and until a client device determines that one of its supported pieces of infrastructure equipment is functioning outside of its normal operating parameters. The System server gives the appropriate control information to the client which communicates the control code to the out-of-parameter device in its native language protocol. The system then reverts to its local configuration, with the client device only communicating with the system server on a periodic, keep-alive packet basis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert R. Hunter
  • 👤 David A. Vogt
  • 👤 Leslie Cheong

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 18:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/403; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; Y; Y04; Y04S; Y04S40/00; Y04S40/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
In a communications network in which facilities equipment is monitored and controlled by coupling said equipment to a management intranet, a system capable of supporting multi-task, multi-vendor and multi-site remote facilities management functions comprising: at least one facilities-type infrastructure device selected from the group consisting of power distribution equipment, environmental control equipment, security monitoring equipment and health/safety and fire equipment, each infrastructure device capable of generating and receiving I/O information over a communication interface; at least one client device for gathering monitoring information from and providing control information to said at least one infrastructure device, the at least one client device coupled to the at least one infrastructure device by a first communication link matching the characteristics of the infrastructure device's communication interface; and a server coupled to the client by a second communication link, the server operational to provide alarm and viewing management services for said client, the server further providing initial setup parameters and continuing operating instructions to the at least one client device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one client device is coupled to the at least one facilities-type infrastructure device over a serial communication interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein the serial communication interface is selected from the group consisting of RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 and contact closure harnessing communication interfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 55 words
The system according to claim 3, wherein the at least one infrastructure device generates and receives I/O information in accordance with a vendor defined native language protocol, the at least one client device recognizing said native language protocol and effecting all bi-directional communication with the at least one infrastructure device in said native language protocol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system according to claim 4, wherein the server is coupled to the at least one client device by a network interface link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system according to claim 5, wherein the network interface link is an Ethernet interface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system according to claim 6, wherein bi-directional communication between the server and the at least one client device is in accordance with an Internet Protocol packet-based transmission protocol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
The system according to claim 7, comprising software supplied to the at least one client device, the software for gathering, on the client machine, monitoring information from the at least one infrastructure device, and for reporting the gathered management information to the server on a periodic basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 63 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein the server comprises browser accessible software for supporting viewing management services for said at least one client device, the server further comprising software, associated with the browser accessable software, for processing monitoring information gathered from the at least one client device, the server providing operating instructions to the at least one client device in response thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 165 words
A facilities monitoring and control system capable of supporting multi-task, multi-vendor and multi-site remote facilities management functions comprising: a first communications link; a second communication link separate from the first; at least one facilities-type infrastructure device, the infrastructure device capable of generating monitoring information and receiving control information over said first communication link; at least one client device for gathering monitoring information from and providing control information to said at least one infrastructure device, the at least one client device coupled to the at least one infrastructure device over said first communication link; and a server coupled to the client over said second communication link, the server operational to provide alarm and viewing management services for said at least one client, the server further communicating initial setup parameters and operating instructions to the at least one client device, whereby the at least one client device routinely gathers monitoring information from the at least one infrastructure device over the first communications link without additional server intervention.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system according to claim 10, wherein the first communications link is adapted to support a vendor provided infrastructure device communication interface, the at least one infrastructure device communicating with the at least one client in the infrastructure device's native language protocol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system according to claim 11, wherein the second communications link is a network interface of the type adapted to support a TCP/IP packet-based information transmission protocol.

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