Wall module with close range communication

Abstract

A wall module for use in a building control system includes a wall module controller and a first communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing wired communication with a remote building controller, and for receiving instructions and/or data from the remote building controller and for sending instructions and/or data to the remote building controller via the established wired communication. The wall module includes a second communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing short range wireless communication having a communication range of less than 60 feet with a portable handheld device, and for receiving instructions from the portable handheld device and for sending data to the portable handheld device via the establishing short range wireless communication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall module for use in a building control system, the wall module comprising:
 a wall module controller;   a first communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing wired communication with a remote building controller, and for receiving instructions and/or data from the remote building controller and for sending instructions and/or data to the remote building controller via the established wired communication; and   a second communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing short range wireless communication having a communication range of less than 60 feet with a portable handheld device, and for receiving instructions from the portable handheld device and for sending data to the portable handheld device via the establishing short range wireless communication.   
     
     
         2 . The wall module of  claim 1 , wherein the wall module controller is configured to direct one or more instructions received from the portable handheld device via the second communications module to the remote building controller via the first communications module. 
     
     
         3 . The wall module of  claim 1 , wherein the wall module controller is configured to direct at least some data received from the remote building controller via the first communications module to the portable handheld device via the second communications module. 
     
     
         4 . The wall module of  claim 1 , wherein the wall module controller is further configured to provide one or more control signals to one or more components of the building control system. 
     
     
         5 . The wall module of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more components of the building control system comprises one or more of an HVAC component, a lighting component and a security system component. 
     
     
         6 . The wall module of  claim 1 , wherein the portable handheld device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         7 . The wall module of  claim 1 , wherein the portable handheld device is a tablet. 
     
     
         8 . A wall module for use in a building control system, the wall module comprising:
 a wall module controller;   a first communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing communication with a remote building controller and for receiving instructions and/or data from the remote building controller and for sending instructions and/or data to the remote building controller;   a second communications module operatively coupled to the wall module controller for establishing communication with a portable handheld device and for receiving instructions from the portable handheld device and for sending data to the portable handheld device; and   wherein the first communications module implements a different communication protocol than the second communications module.   
     
     
         9 . The wall module of  claim 8 , wherein the first communications module is configured to establish wired communication with the remote building controller. 
     
     
         10 . The wall module of  claim 8 , wherein the second communications module is configured to establish wireless communication with the portable handheld device. 
     
     
         11 . The wall module of  claim 10 , wherein the second communications module is configured to establish short-range wireless communication having a range of less than 60 feet. 
     
     
         12 . The wall module of  claim 10 , wherein the second communications module is configured to establish WiFi communication with the portable handheld device. 
     
     
         13 . The wall module of  claim 8 , wherein the wall module controller is configured to direct one or more instructions received from the portable handheld device via the second communications module to the remote building controller via the first communications module. 
     
     
         14 . The wall module of  claim 8 , wherein the wall module controller is configured to direct at least some data received from the remote building controller via the first communications module to the portable handheld device via the second communications module. 
     
     
         15 . The wall module of  claim 8 , wherein the wall module controller is further configured to provide one or more control signals to one or more components of the building control system. 
     
     
         16 . The wall module of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more components of the building control system comprises one or more of an HVAC component, a lighting component and a security system component. 
     
     
         17 . A method of securely communicating building control information in a building control system including a building controller and a wall module both disposed within a building, the wall module remote from the building controller, the method comprising:
 communicating building control information between the building controller and the wall module over a first communications network;   communicating building control information between the wall module and a portable handheld device over a second communications network, the second communications network comprising a short range wireless communications protocol having a communication range that is less than 60 feet;   wherein an individual using the portable handheld device can communicate directly with the wall module over the second communications network.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the building control information communicated between the building controller and the wall module comprises one or more instructions received from the portable handheld device via the second communications network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the building control information communicated between the wall module and the portable handheld device comprises data received from the building controller via the first communications network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing one or more control signals from the wall module to one or more components of the building control system, wherein the one or more components of the building control system comprises one or more of an HVAC component, a lighting component and a security system component.