Management system user interface in a building automation system

1. A method for generating a graphical user interface for a building management system comprising the steps of:

maintaining in a server data processing system a client manager application configured to interact with both a web client data processing system and an installed client data processing system to perform building management system functions, the installed client data processing system operating an installed client manager application to provide an installed building management interface;

deploying a browser client manager module to the web client data processing system over a network in response to a request from the web client data processing system, the browser client manager module configured to interact with a web browser on the web client data processing system to provide a browser building management interface that has substantially the same appearance and functionality as the installed building management interface;

operating the server data processing system to interact with both the installed client data processing system and the web client data processing system to perform the building management system functions; and

wherein the installed client manager application and the browser client manager module are created using a common code base.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying information within one or more windows of the installed building management interface generated by the installed client manager application and displaying the same information within one or more panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying information within multiple windows and panes of the installed building management interface generated by the installed client manager application and displaying the same information within multiple panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the multiple panes of a single window of the browser building management interface comprises a first pane having a selection area, a primary work area, a contextual work area, and a related items area; a second pane having an alarm notification area; and a third pane having an event list.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the client manager application is configured to prevent the installed client data processing system from launching other applications which are not authorized and is configured to require the installed client data processing system to launch authorized applications only within a preselected window of the installed building management interface.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the client manager application is configured to prevent other applications launched by the installed client data processing system from covering one or more preselected windows of the installed building management interface.

7. A method for generating a graphical user interface for a building management system comprising the steps of:

sending a request from a web browser to a server data processing system to deploy a browser client manager module configured to run in a web client data processing system;

downloading the browser client manager module to the web client data processing system; and

running the browser client manager module in a sandbox of the web browser on the web client data processing system to create a browser building management interface having substantially the same appearance and functionality as an installed building management interface created by running a client manager application in an installed client data processing system, the browser client manager module and the client manager application having been created using a single application framework code base.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of displaying information within one or more windows of the installed building management interface and displaying the same information within one or more panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of displaying information within multiple windows of the installed building management interface and displaying the same information within multiple panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the multiple panes of a single window of the browser building management interface comprises a first pane having a selection area, a primary work area, a contextual work area, and a related items area; a second pane having an alarm notification area; and a third pane having an event list.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions for a building management system that:

is configured to run in a web client data processing system as well as in an installed client data processing system;

is created using a single application framework code base;

when executed in an installed client data processing system creates a graphical user interface for the building management system; and

when executed in a web client data processing system creates a graphical user interface for the building management system having substantially the same appearance and functionality as the graphical user interface created when executed in the installed client data processing system.

12. A server data processing system, comprising:

a storage device comprising a client manager application;

an accessible memory comprising instructions of the client manager application; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions of the client manager application to:

maintain a client manager application configured to interact with both a web client data processing system and an installed client data processing system to perform building management system functions, the installed client data processing system operating an installed client manager application to provide an installed building management interface;

deploy a browser client manager module to the web client data processing system over a network in response to a request from the web client data processing system, the browser client manager module configured to interact with a web browser on the web client data processing system to provide a browser building management interface that has substantially the same appearance and functionality as the installed building management interface; and

interact with both the installed client data processing system and the web client data processing system to perform the building management system functions.

13. The server data processing system of claim 12 , wherein information is displayed within one or more windows of the installed building management interface generated by the installed client manager application and the same information is displayed within one or more panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

14. The server data processing system of claim 12 , wherein information is displayed within multiple windows and panes of the installed building management interface generated by the installed client manager application and the same information is displayed within multiple panes of a single window of the browser building management interface.

15. The server data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the client manager application is configured to prevent the installed client data processing system from launching other applications which are not authorized and is configured to require the installed client data processing system to launch authorized applications only within a preselected window of the installed building management interface.

16. The server data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the client manager application is configured to prevent other applications launched by the installed client data processing system from covering one or more preselected windows of the installed building management interface.

17. The server data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the installed client manager application and the browser client manager module are created using a common code base.