How LonWorks operates
In the LonWorks system, a building system's devices — HVAC equipment, light switches and room occupancy sensors — are outfitted with chips. These chips run scheduling, alarm and data-logging applications and also enable the devices to communicate with one another in a peer-to-peer control network via a widely accepted protocol written by Echelon.
The control network interfaces with the i.LON 100 Internet Server, which serves up Web pages to any Internet Explorer-compatible browser. It also acts as a gateway to the corporate IP network, a dedicated IP network or the Internet, providing facilities managers with Web access to the scheduling, alarm and data-logging applications residing in the devices. The i.LON also provides a SOAP/XML Web services interface for integration with corporate applications.
Echelon may be a pioneer in open systems, but it's not the only company offering Web-accessible control networks. Site Controls offers an open-source, Internet-enabled energy management system that allows retail, restaurant and convenience-store franchises to monitor and control their building systems to minimize energy costs. The rest of the competition is largely from makers of proprietary systems, such as Johnson Controls and Delta Controls.
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