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Anniversary – 30 years of BACnet Jubiläum – 30 Jahre BACnet

I developed in close coordination with the users. For wire-saving (two-wire)
transmission for 32 inputs/outputs each, 19” transmitter-receivers with
USART from Rheinelektra, Mannheim, were used.
See Fig. 2 and 3.

Coupling with DDCs from various manufacturers

In 1980, ITT (from 1981 JCI) introduced the “Smart/Intelligent
Miniterminals” (SMT/IMT). For communication with these, a serial coupling
for BACS/1 was developed in Essen by Peter Fischer (later Prof. Dr.
Fischer) and other software developers. Around this time, Karl Leber (ISC
/ INNOVISION) came together with David Fisher (American Auto-Matrix) to
IBM to acquire business. Since then, contact with David (today PolarSoft)
and Karl has never been lost. David Fisher later became very active within
ASHRAE in the development of BACnet and is still very active in answering
questions on the BACnet-L blog. Karl Leber was initially responsible for the
trade-fair concept within BIG-EU.

The first IBM-PC-based BACS

In 1982, I commissioned Ulrich Drechsler of DL-Technik Berlin to develop
supervisory system software for the IBM PC on a UNIX basis (QNX). He had
previously created an energy management system on the Commodore PET.
PC-BACS was deployed in all five IBM plants in Germany. Drechsler marketed
the system as DL-Technik “LEICOM” (“Leit-” (supervisory) computer). In
1996, Ulrich Drechsler sold the license to Kieback & Peter, where the system
was marketed as KRD-ZLT.
Fig. 3: 1981 implementation of the BACS/1 project; we chose
the environmental protection theme because it was easier to finance In 1983, Honeywell introduced its “Excel DDC” automation, for which I
at top-management level. again commissioned a data coupling to BACS/1. The protocol developer on
Abb. 3: 1981 Umsetzung des Projekts BACS/1, den Umweltschutz-Gedanken wählten
wir wegen der dafür einfacheren Finanzierbarkeit the Honeywell side again was Peter Fischer. For development and testing,
beim oberen Management. we provided Honeywell in Maintal with an IBM Series/1 for Ulrich Möhl’s
team (†2023).

The first standardized data protocol for building automation

In March 1983, IBM plant management tasked me with presenting my
BACS solution and the communication with JCI and Honeywell at a “Global
IBM Facilities Site Manager Review Meeting” (FSMR) in Böblingen. IBM’s
top real-estate executive, Mr. Armstrong from headquarters in Armonk,
NY, said it was very good, but he could not imagine maintaining dedicated
communication with all approximately 25 DDC vendors worldwide. He
therefore decided that I would be responsible for ensuring that IBM had “a
data protocol” for all DDC suppliers for its BACS. In 1984, I was seconded
to a team at IBM Atlanta.

See Fig. 4.

There, under the leadership of Walter Houle, the FACN communication
protocol (Facilities Automation Communication Network) was developed
for IBM BACS, marketed as GPAX-D (General Purpose Automation Execu-
tive – Distributive), based on the experience gained in Germany.

How Local Operating Network (LON) came about

The head of IBM’s neighboring “telephone systems” (PSTN) department in
Atlanta was former ROLM founder Kenneth (Ken) Oshman (July 9, 1940
– August 6, 2011). We often discussed building automation, FACN and
Fig. 4: 1983 The IBM FSMR
Abb. 4: 1983 Das IBM FSMR sensor/actuator technology in the cafeteria. In 1986, Ken informed me

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