Virtual field controller
View Patent ↗An arrangement includes a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station. The control station has a memory and processing circuit that is configured to execute programming instructions in the memory. The memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to: execute a first operating system; execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels, the at least one field panel employing a second operating system; and execute software performing at least one supervisory control operation for the plurality of field panels.
1. An arrangement comprising a general purpose computer having a memory and processing circuit, the general purpose computer configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:
execute a first operating system;
execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for a physical field controller of a building control system; and
execute an operating system abstraction layer, the operating system abstraction layer configured to cause operating system calls in the set of instructions configured for a second operating system of the physical field controller to be made in a manner that is compatible with the first operating system.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions includes a control program.
3. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the control program includes a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.
4. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an alarm function in the building control system.
5. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out a data trending function in the building control system.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.
7. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.
8. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to perform supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.
9. An arrangement comprising a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station, the control station having a memory and processing circuit configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:
execute a first operating system;
execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels; and
execute an operating system abstraction layer, the operating system abstraction layer configured to cause operating system calls in the set of instructions configured for a second operating system of the field panel to be made in a manner that is compatible with the first operating system.
10. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of providing a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and to execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.
11. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an alarm function in the building control system.
12. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out a data trending function in the building control system.
13. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.
14. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.
15. The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to perform supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.
16. An arrangement comprising a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station, the control station having a memory and processing circuit configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:
execute a first operating system;
execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels, the at least one field panel employing a second operating system; and
execute software performing at least one supervisory control operation for the plurality of field panels.
17. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes a supervisory control function operation that is outside a set of operations which the plurality of field panels are configured to perform.
18. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes a supervisory control function operation that obtains alarm notifications generated by devices coupled to a plurality of field panels.
19. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of providing a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and to execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.
20. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.
21. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.
22. The arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes an operation performing supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.