Integrating and controlling multiple load control systems
Systems and methods are disclosed for using one or more gateway systems for integrating multiple load control systems running multiple versions of software such that the load control systems may appear to a user and be controlled by the user as a unified load control system. Gateways that manage or have managed the same resource may be organized into a Gateway Group. Gateway Groups names may be used for prefix attachment to facilitate routing. For example, a Composite Gateway may receive a request associated with a resource from a user. The Composite Gateway may determine which Gateway actively manages that resource and/or is the Gateway is a member of a Gateway Group. The composite Gateway may then apply one or more policies to facilitate the request. For example, if the Composite Gateway receives an information request, it may apply an authorization policy, a routing policy, and/or an aggregation policy.
1. A load control management system, comprising:
an application;
a first application programming interface (API) for communicating between the application and a first load control system comprising a plurality of control devices, wherein each of the plurality of control devices has an associated usage activity; and
a second API for communicating between the application and a second load control system comprising a plurality of control devices, wherein each of the plurality of control devices has an associated usage activity;
wherein, upon request from the application, a usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system is aggregated with a usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system, and the aggregated usage activity is provided to the application,
wherein to provide the aggregated usage activity to the application, at least one processor is configured to modify at least one uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system or the second load control system before providing the aggregated usage activity to the application.
2. The load control management system of claim 1 , further comprising a gateway that acts as at least one of a router, a translator, and a data aggregator for communicating with the first API and the second API.
3. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system and the usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system are each stored in a cloud-based system.
4. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the aggregated usage activity is power consumption.
5. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the aggregated usage activity is occupancy.
6. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein a URI is associated with each of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system.
7. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control devices of the first load control system comprise one or more of an occupancy sensor, a daylight sensor, a driver, a motorized window treatment, and a controllable electrical receptacle.
8. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein a URI is associated with each of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system.
9. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control devices of the second load control system comprise one or more of an occupancy sensor, a daylight sensor, a driver, a motorized window treatment, and a controllable electrical receptacle.
10. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the first load control system and the second load control system are in different rooms.
11. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the first load control system and the second load control system are in different buildings.
12. The load control management system of claim 1 , wherein the first load control system and second load control system are controlled by different versions of software.
13. A method of determining usage activity for managed control devices, comprising:
providing an application;
providing a first application programming interface (API) for communicating between the application and a first load control system comprising a plurality of control devices, wherein each of the plurality of control devices has an associated usage activity;
providing a second API for communicating between the application and a second load control system comprising a plurality of control devices, wherein each of the plurality of control devices has an associated usage activity;
associating a uniform resource identifier (URI) with at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system;
associating a URI with at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system;
requesting, via the application, a usage activity for a type of control device;
modifying at least one of the URI associated with the at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system or the URI associated with the at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system;
aggregating a usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system of the type with a usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system of the type; and
providing the aggregated usage activity to the application.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a gateway that acts as at least one of a router, a translator, and a data aggregator for communicating with the first API and the second API.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing the usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the first load control system and storing the usage activity of at least one of the plurality of control devices of the second load control system in a cloud-based system.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aggregated usage activity is power consumption.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the aggregated usage activity is occupancy.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first load control system and the second load control system are in one or more of different rooms and different buildings.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first load control system and the second load control system are controlled by different versions of software.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein modifying at least one URI occurs before aggregating the usage activity.