BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM WITH USER DEFINED LIFESTYLE MACROS
A building automation system for controlling building automation equipment includes a memory for storing one or more user defined macros, wherein each of the one or more user defined macros includes a user selected trigger and a user selected action. A controller is operatively coupled to the memory, wherein for each of the one or more user defined macros, the controller is configured to identify when the user selected trigger occurs, and in response, output one or more control signals to achieve the corresponding user selected action.
1 . A building automation system for controlling building automation equipment, the building automation system comprising:
a memory for storing one or more user defined macros, wherein each of the one or more user defined macros comprises a user selected trigger and a user selected action; and
a controller operatively coupled to the memory, wherein for each of the one or more user defined macros, the controller is configured to identify when the user selected trigger occurs, and in response, output one or more control signals to achieve the corresponding user selected action.
2 . The building automation system of claim 1 , further comprising a communications port, wherein the communications port is configured to receive input from a user, wherein the input includes a user selected trigger and a user selected action for at least one of the one or more user defined macros.
3 . The building automation system of claim 2 , wherein the communications port is configured to output the one or more control signals for controlling building automation equipment.
4 . The building automation system of claim 3 , wherein the memory, controller and communications port is part of a server.
5 . The building automation system of claim 4 , wherein the communications port is configured to receive input from a user's remote device, wherein the user's remote device is one of a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
6 . The building automation system of claim 4 , wherein the communications port is configured to output the one or more control signals to a building controller, wherein in response, the building controller provides one or more control signals for controlling building automation equipment.
7 . The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user defined macros has a name that is user defined, and wherein the user defined name is displayed on a display.
8 . The building automation system of claim 1 , wherein the user selected trigger is selected from a plurality of predefined triggers.
9 . The building automation system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of predefined triggers include one or more of: activation by a user; activation at a specified time; activation when no one is home, and activation when someone is home.
10 . The building automation system of claim 9 , wherein the user selected action is selected from a plurality of predefined actions.
11 . The building automation system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of predefined actions include one or more of: lowering the temperature by a specified amount; raising the temperature by a specified amount; lowering the temperature by a specified amount for a specified length of time; raising the temperature by a specified amount for a specified length of time; changing the temperature to a specified value; changing the temperature in one or more specified zones; lowering the humidity by a specified amount; raising the humidity by a specified amount; lowering the humidity by a specified amount for a specified length of time; raising the humidity by a specified amount for a specified length of time; activating a fan to circulate air; deactivating a fan to not circulate air; activating a heat exchanger; and deactivating a heat exchanger; activate a security system; deactivate a security system; turn on lights; turn off lights; open a garage door, close a garage door; turn on a pool pump; turn off a pool pump; turn on an appliance; and turn off an appliance.
12 . A remote user device comprising:
a user interface;
a memory for storing one or more user defined macros, wherein each of the one or more user defined macros comprises a user selected trigger and a user selected action;
a communications port;
a controller operatively coupled to the memory, the user interface and the communications port, the controller configured to accept via the user interface a definition for a new user defined macro by:
displaying a plurality of triggers via the user interface, and accepting a selection of a user selected trigger for the new user defined macro;
displaying a plurality of actions via the user interface, and accepting a selection of a user selected action for the new user defined macro;
storing the new user defined macro in the memory; and
the controller further configured to transmit the new user defined macro to a remote location via the communications port.
13 . The remote user device of claim 12 , wherein the remote user device is one of a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
14 . The remote user device of claim 12 , wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port.
15 . The remote user device of claim 14 , wherein the controller transmits the new user defined macro to a remote server via the communications port.
16 . A method of controlling a building control system, the method comprising:
displaying a plurality of one touch icons on a display, each of the plurality of one touch icons corresponding to one of a plurality of user defined macros that each comprise a user assigned action;
accepting selection of one of the plurality of one touch icons by a user; and
executing the user defined macro that corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of one touch icons, including causing control signals to be sent to the building control system to implement the user selected action.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
allowing a user to customize the name of at least one of the one touch icons, and to display the customized name on the display when displaying the plurality of one touch icons on a display.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
allowing a user to define one or more new one touch icons and corresponding user defined macro, and to display the one or more new one touch icons on the display for selection by the user.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the displaying and accepting steps are performed on a remote user device.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the remote user device is one of a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
21 . A computer readable medium containing program instructions for facilitating a user of a wireless mobile device in controlling a building automation system, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of the wireless mobile device causes the wireless mobile device to carry out the steps of:
displaying a plurality of triggers via a user interface of the wireless mobile device;
accepting a selection of a user selected trigger for a new user defined macro;
displaying a plurality of actions via the user interface;
accepting a selection of a user selected action for the new user defined macro;
storing the new user defined macro in a memory of the wireless mobile device; and
transmitting the new user defined macro to a remote location.