Remote building control data display with automatic updates

1. A method in a building control system, comprising:

a) transmitting to a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet for receipt via a web-browser, the at least one interpreted program operative to, when executed at the first computer, display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

b) transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device;

c) at a time subsequent to step b), transmitting to the first computer second information regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device, said transmitting provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step c) further comprises employing the first computer to open an XML socket to a source of the second information.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

d) receiving the first information at the first computer;

e) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the first information pertains.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:

f) receiving the second information at the first computer;

g) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the second information pertains.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one interpreted program is further operative to, when executed by the first computer, display a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding one of a plurality of building control system devices in a remote location.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step b) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein step b) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the building control system device comprises a fire safety system device.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one interpreted software program includes web movie code.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the at least one interpreted software program includes a main web movie and an embedded movie for each of the plurality of graphical elements.

11. A method in a building control system, comprising:

a) receiving at a first computer at least one interpreted program over the Internet using a web-browser, the at least one interpreted program including a web movie formatted content;

b) executing at the first computer the at least one interpreted program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

c) transmitting to the first computer first information regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein step b) further comprises:

executing at the first computer a web movie player program to display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location, wherein the building control system is a security system, fire safety system, lighting system, or HVAC system, and wherein said transmitting is provided in the absence of a request transmitted by the first computer for updated information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the web movie player program comprises a public domain movie player program.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the web movie player program comprises a Flash player.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:

d) receiving the first information at the first computer;

e) causing a change in a display of a graphical element corresponding to the at least one building control system device to which the first information pertains.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein step e) further comprises:

using the at least one program to render a movie player program scene based on the first information; and

displaying the rendered movie player program scene.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 , wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as non-graphical information.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein step c) further comprises transmitting to the first computer the first information as XML-formatted data.

21. An arrangement in a building control system, comprising:

a user interface device operable to provide information in human perceptible format; and

a processing circuit having a web-browser executing at least one interpreted program received over the Internet to

display at least a first graphical element, each graphical element having characteristics dependent upon a status of a corresponding building control system device in a remote location;

receive first information via a communication circuit regarding a change in status of at least one building control system device; and

at a time subsequent to receiving the first information, receive second information via the communication circuit regarding a subsequent change in status of at least one building control system device, said second information received in the absence of a request transmitted by the computing arrangement for updated information.

22. The arrangement of claim 21 , wherein the processing circuit executes the at least one interpreted program including a web movie player program to display at least the first graphical element, wherein the building control system is a security system, fire safety system, lighting system, or HVAC system.

23. The arrangement of claim 21 , wherein

the processing circuit and web-browser further cooperate to receive the first information as XML-formatted data.