About control systems integration

Using the framework, control systems integration means connecting devices to a common communication medium, modeling those devices in software and programming applications to use the information in the devices.

Before a device, such as a chiller, VAV box, or temperature sensor, can be used, its information must be pulled into the system database.

The framework then models devices and their data types in software through the common object model. This usually entails simplifying the device’s data types to make them easier to manipulate and control through the software.

The system’s common object model is then used to build applications, with the goal being to provide non-programmers a means to program the system easily without developing raw code. The framework’s common object model is similar to a programming language in that there are a few key concepts that are used, but the real power is in the reusable libraries of applications and collections of objects that are available. Once you understand the key concepts and you can put them to work using the objects to build control system solutions quickly and efficiently.

Figure 1. Common object model


The framework’s common object model allows the framework to:

  • provide secure two-way communication between devices and the Internet

  • send real-time device information across the Internet

  • control devices in real-time across the Internet.