Hot Reprogrammability of Building Automation Devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing hot reprogrammability of building automation devices are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment a method to soft-update a building automation device may comprise issuing a signal to the building automation device in a response to an event. The method may also comprise executing at least one script at the building automation device in response to receiving the signal to control an automation functioning response to the event based only instructions in the at least one script. The method may also comprise replacing the at least one script with at least one updated script to change control of the automation functioning response to the same event without having to make any hardward changes at the building automation device.

1 . A building automation system with hot reprogrammability of building automation devices, comprising: 
 an automation network communicatively coupling at leas one input device with a plurality of control devices, the input device generating a signal in response to an event and issuing the signal to at least one of the control devices;    at least one script provided at each of the plurality of control devices, the at least one script being executed at the at least one control device receiving the signal from the input device to control a building automation function in response to the event based on instruction in the at least one script;    a bridge communicatively coupled to the automation network, the bridge issuing an updated script to the at least one control device to change control of the building automation function.    
   
   
       2 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control of the building automation function is changed by replacing the at least one script with the updated script without changing the signal issued by the input device.  
   
   
       3 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control of the building automation function is changed without shutting down the automation network.  
   
   
       4 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control of the building automation function is changed without affecting other nodes on the automation network.  
   
   
       5 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control of the building automation function is changed during continued operation of the automation network.  
   
   
       6 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge wraps the updated script in a CAN packet for transmission over the automation network to the at least one control device.  
   
   
       7 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge monitors progress of updating the at least one control device.  
   
   
       8 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge retries updating the at least one control device after a failed attempt to update the at least one control device.  
   
   
       9 . The building automation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge notifies a user after at least one failed attempt to update the at least one control device.  
   
   
       10 . A method to soft-update a building automation device, comprising: 
 issuing a signal to the building automation device in response to an event;    executing at least one script at the building automation device in response to receiving the signal to control an automation function in response to the event based only instructions in the at least once script;    replacing the at least one script with at least one updated script to change control of the automation function in response to the same event without having to make any hardware changes at the building automation device.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein replacing the at least one script with the at least one updated script changes control of the automation function without changing the issued signal.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein replacing the at least one script with the at lest one updated script is without shutting down a building automation network.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein replacing the at least once script with the at least one updated script is without affecting other nodes on a building automation network.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein replacing the at least one script with the at least one updated script is during continued operation of a building automation network.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising monitoring progress of replacing the at least one script.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising retrying replacing the at least one script after a failed attempt.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising notifying a user after at least one failed attempt at replacing the at least one script.  
   
   
       18 . A system for updating a building automation device without changing hardware for the building automation device, comprising: 
 means for executing program code at the building automation device in response to receiving the signal to control an automation function in response to the event; and    means for changing control of the automation function in response to the same event without having to make any hardware changes at the building automation device.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for changing control of the automation function comprising means for replacing the program code with updated program code.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for changing control of the automation function replacing at least a portion of the program code without shutting down a building automation network and without affecting other nodes in the building automation network.