System controller for controlling a control network having an open communication protocol via proprietary communication

Abstract

A system controller is adapted to be integrated into a control network including a plurality of device controllers that communicate through the network via a network specific communication protocol for controlling a plurality of network devices. The system controller includes an application controller which is adapted to be connected to the network and stores a plurality of system points corresponding to a plurality of system variables relating to the network devices. The application controller is adapted to convert the system points into the corresponding system variables, and the corresponding system variables into the system points. At least one client is connected to the network and in communication with the application controller. The client is adapted to send a command and request a report relating to a select system point to and from the application controller. In operation, the application controller sends a command relating to a system variable corresponding to the select system point to the network responsive to the command from the client. The application controller also receives a report relating to the system variable corresponding to the select system point from the network, converts the received report to the report relating to the select system point and sends the converted report to the client responsive to the report request from the client.