The present inventions pertains to the field of automatic control systems based on computer technology, and essentially relates to a structured system for monitoring and controlling the engineering equipment in an installation, mainly a building comprising several floors. The system includes a central computer module with an input-output device as well as a plurality of monitoring and/or measuring and/or control sensors and/or control devices for the units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building. The module consists of a programmable computer server station having functions, according to the software, that provide for the centralized reception of monitoring data through information channels within a single network protocol, as well as for the processing of said data and for the output of control signals towards the control devices for the units and apparatus of the engineering equipment in the building. This system further includes controllers connected in a "star" circuit to the input-output device of the central computer module. Each controller has a plurality of remote input-output modules connected serially thereto, while each of said modules has a corresponding sensor or a control device connected thereto. At least one additional computer station is connected through its input-output module to the corresponding controller that ensures, according to the software, the local monitoring and the control of the units and apparatus in at least one functionally independent section of the engineering equipment in the building.

A geosynchronous satellite control and telemetry communication system has branch modules distributed throughout the satellite which serially interface clusters of control and/or analog nodes to the central command and data handling processor. Each branch module is connected to the central command and data handling processor by serial data channels. The branch modules are physically located close to the control/telemetry nodes for which they serve as interfaces to the central command and data handling processor and where appropriate are integrated into the satellite subsystems themselves.

Systems and methods, including modem communications software, for controlling and/or monitoring one or more machines having an control board, such as, for example, compressors, from a remote location is disclosed. The systems and methods provide for each machine being controlled and/or monitored by an operator from the remote location. The machines are controlled and/or monitored using the modem communications software, presently preferably, resident on a personal computer (PC) at the remote location. The methods and systems, including the modem communications software, provide communications between the PC and the machine(s) through transmissions over a communications link established through a modem from a remote PC to a modem connected to the control board of a machine to provide instructions to or receive information from the machine control board and for the remote diagnosis of operating problems, such as, for example, compressor system operating problems, among other features.