Networking of switchpacks

Abstract

An switckpack network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-11 are schematic illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of a control system including an occupancy sensor.

FIGS. 12 a-12b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the operation of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of time averaged amplitudes of filtered signals for a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the pre-amplifier of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 16 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging the amplitudes of signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter of the occupancy sensor of FIGS. 1-11.

FIG. 18 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 19 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a time series the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a particular center frequency.

FIG. 20 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of comparing the time averaged amplitudes of the signals filtered by the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 22 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 24 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 25 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the time averaged amplitudes of the output signals of the variable bandpass filter at a plurality of center frequencies.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 27 a-27c is a flow chart illustration of-an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of monitoring the system status of one or more occupancy sensors.

FIG. 29 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors in a system.

FIGS. 30 a-30c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 31 a and 31b are exemplary embodiments of graphical user interfaces for remotely controlling and monitoring a system of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 32 a-32b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the profile of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 33 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring the profile of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 34 a-34c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 35 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring the commissioning of occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 36 a-36b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 37 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 38 a-38c is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring the status of occupancy sensors.

FIG. 39 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring occupancy sensors.

FIG. 40 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a duty cycle for occupancy sensors.

FIGS. 41 a-41b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of remotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter for an occupancy sensor.

FIG. 42 is an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for remotely controlling and monitoring a bandpass filter for an occupancy filter.

FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 44 a-44b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of searching for quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 44 c is a schematic illustration of a quiet bandwidth zone database.

FIG. 45 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIG. 47 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bandpass filter engine.

FIGS. 48 a-48b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of searching for noisy bandwidth zones.

FIG. 48 c is a schematic illustration of a permissible bandwidth zone database.

FIG. 49 is a graphical illustration of an exemplary embodiment of permissible bandwidth zones.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of time averaging signals filtered within quiet bandwidth zones.

FIGS. 51 a-51b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 52 a-52b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 53 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of determining occupancy.

FIGS. 55 a-55b is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 56 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 57 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a method of networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 58 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface for networking occupancy sensors.

FIG. 59 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an occupancy sensor.

FIG. 60 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. A switchpack for controlling an operational state of one or more loads, comprising: a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a communication network; anda controller operably coupled to the communication interface and adapted to be operably coupled to the one or more loads;wherein the controller is adapted to: control an operational state of the one or more of the loads; andcommunicate with the communication network using the communication interface.

2. A switchpack for controlling an operational state of one or more loads, comprising: a communication interface for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a communication network;a controller operably coupled to the communication interface and adapted to be operably coupled to one or more loads;a memory operably coupled to the controller comprising: a network address assigned to the switchpack; andinformation assigned to the switchpack;a current monitor operably coupled to the controller for monitoring an operational state of one or more of the loads; anda user interface operably coupled to the controller for permitting a local user of the switchpack to monitor and control an operational state of the switch pack;wherein the controller is adapted to: control an operational state of one or more of the loads;communicate with the communication network using the communication interface;permit remote control of the switchpack using the communication network during a first time period; andpermit local control of the switchpack during a second time period; andpermit remote control of the information assigned to the switchpack using the communication network;wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack; andwherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

3. A method of operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising: controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads; andcommunicating with the switchpack using a network.

4. A method of operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising: controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;communicating with the switchpack using a network;assigning a network address to the switchpack;assigning information to the switchpack;remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;remotely controlling the switchpack information; andmonitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack; andwherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

5. A system for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising: means for controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads; andmeans for communicating with the switchpack using a network.

6. A system for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising: means for controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;means for communicating with the switchpack using a network;means for assigning a network address to the switchpack;means for assigning information to the switchpack;means for remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;means for locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;means for remotely controlling the switchpack information; andmeans for monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack; andwherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

7. A computer program for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising program instructions for: controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads; andcommunicating with the switchpack using a network.

8. A computer program for operating a switchpack operably coupled to one or more loads, comprising program instructions for: controlling an operational state of one or more of the loads;communicating with the switchpack using a network;assigning a network address to the switchpack;assigning information to the switchpack;remotely controlling one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational aspects of the switchpack during a second time period;remotely controlling the switchpack information; andmonitoring a current level within one or more of the loads;wherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an operating schedule for the switchpack; andwherein the switchpack information comprises information representative of an office plan location assigned to the switchpack.

9. A control system, comprising: one or more switchpack controllers operably coupled to one or more loads;a communication network operably coupled to the switchpack controllers;one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the switchpack controllers.

10. A control system, comprising: one or more switchpack controllers comprising: corresponding network addresses; anda memory comprising one or more operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controller; anda communication network operably coupled to the switchpack controllers;one or more remote controllers operably coupled to the communication network;wherein one or more of the remote controllers are adapted to: permit remote control and monitoring of one or more of the switchpack controllers;display information corresponding to the operational parameters for one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;control one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period and permit local control of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period; andupdate one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers; andmonitor a current level within one or more of the loads;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

11. A method of operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising: providing one or more remote controllers; andcontrolling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers.

12. A method of operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising: providing one or more remote controllers;controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers; andremotely monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

13. A system for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising: means for providing one or more remote controllers; andmeans for remotely controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers.

14. A system for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising: means for providing one or more remote controllers;means for controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;means for assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;means for remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;means for remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;means for locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;means for storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;means for remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers; andmeans for monitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.

15. A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising program instructions for: remotely controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers.

16. A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more switchpack controllers, comprising program instructions for: providing one or more remote controllers;controlling and monitoring one or more operational aspects of one or more of the switchpack controllers using one or more of the remote controllers;assigning network addresses to one or more of the switchpack controllers;remotely displaying information corresponding to one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers;remotely controlling one or more operational parameters of one or more of the addressable switchpack controllers during a first time period;locally controlling the one or more operational parameters of the one or more addressable switchpack controllers during a second time period;storing one or more operational parameters of the switchpack controllers within the corresponding switchpack controllers;remotely updating one or more of the operational parameters of the corresponding switchpack controllers; andmonitoring a current level within one or more of the loads using one or more of the remote controllers;wherein the operational parameters comprise information representative of an operating schedule and floor plan information for the corresponding switchpack controllers.