BACnet Interoperability Workshop 2003

Hosted by Alerton Inc.

< Downloadable Application and Information Sheet>

The BACnet Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) invite you to participate in the fourth BMA-sponsored BACnet Interoperability Workshop, to be held September 16-18, 2003 at the Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport, 17001 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Washington.  The workshop is open to all companies with products that implement BACnet, and other people who are actively involved in the BTL's testing activities at the discretion of the BTL Manager.  There is no charge to participate in the testing for BMA corporate members and BIG-EU producer members; other companies must pay $1,500 to participate.

The Workshop will provide an opportunity for you to test the interoperability of your products with products from other companies that attend.  Last year, nineteen companies brought a wide variety of building automation products, including workstations, controllers of various types, routers, and gateways.  Participants are asked to bring products that are released, at beta or near beta level of development.  During the Workshop, the BTL will ask you to collect data on interoperability problems, which will be used to improve product-testing procedures and to provide feedback to the BACnet committee.

Workshop participants should be intimately familiar with the software and hardware that implements the capabilities being tested and are expected to have a thorough understanding of the BACnet protocol.  The Workshop will be open only to active participants.

HOST AND SPONSOR INFORMATION:

Alerton Inc. is the host and co-sponsor of the Workshop.  Please direct any questions about the content and format of the Workshop to the BTL manager, Jim Butler.  If you have any questions or problems related to logistics, participants can call Kris Schreiber of Alerton at (425) 869-8400.  In case of emergencies after normal business hours, participants can call Bill Swan at (206) 779-9469.

LEGAL TERMS OF PARTICIPATION:

The purpose of the Workshop is to identify interoperability problems in BACnet products and the BACnet Standard, and this requires an environment in which the participants feel comfortable discussing product functionality.  Many participants will bring unreleased products, and other participants are expected to respect their privacy.  All participants agree to keep confidential for a period of one year any information about other companies' products obtained primarily as a result of their participation in the Workshop.  The BTL will collect information on interoperability problems identified during the Workshop, and that information may be discussed among the participants in the BTL's testing activities for purposes that are consistent with the charter of the BTL.  All participants agree that the Workshop is not a forum for discussions related to sales, marketing, business development, distribution, or any related matters.

PRESS:

The BMA plans to issue a press release announcing the Workshop and listing the participants.  There will be no mention of any specific results of the testing in this release.  Please indicate in the Application if you do not want your company’s name included in this press release as a participant.  If you include your public relations person’s name in the application, that contact may be sent a copy of the release.  One or more members of the press may be invited to the Workshop, but you are not obligated to speak to them or provide any information to them.

FORMAT AND SCHEDULE (tentative):

The format of the first two and one-half days will allow each team to test their products with seven other companies' products in "one-on-one" testing sessions.  Each company is responsible for deciding which tests to run.  The format of the optional final testing session on the third day will be determined later, and may include testing using a complex BACnet/IP network or a presentation by the BTL’s test engineer..

The schedule of the workshop is expected to be as follows:

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

7:30 - 8:30       Registration and setup- Please arrive by 8:15 a.m.

8:30 - 11:00     Testing session #1

                        Lunch

12:00 - 2:30     Testing session #2

                        Break

3:00 - 5:30       Testing session #3

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

8:00 - 8:30       Setup

8:30 - 11:00     Testing session #4

                        Lunch

12:00 - 2:30     Testing session #5

                        Break

3:00 - 5:30       Testing session #6

Thursday, September 18, 2003

8:00 - 8:30       Setup

8:30 - 11:00     Testing session #7

                        Lunch

12:00 – 5:00     Testing session #8 (optional)

WHAT TO BRING:

Bring all materials you think would be needed for your testing and connecting to other vendors' equipment.  Some suggested items include Ethernet cables (straight-through and cross), Ethernet hubs, power extension cords, power strips, hand tools, portable oscilloscopes, BACnet protocol analyzers, and BACnet Routers.  It is expected that the interconnection of different vendors' equipment will be done primarily using BACnet/Ethernet or BACnet-IP/Ethernet, but some vendors will want to test communication using MSTP, ARCNET, or PTP.  If you do not have a BACnet router or other device that will permit your equipment to connect to a BACnet/Ethernet or BACnet/IP network, please contact the BTL manager.

EQUIPMENT SHIPPING:

Participants may bring all necessary equipment to the Workshop location, or the equipment may be shipped to:

            Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport

            17001 Pacific Highway South

            Seattle, WA 98188

Please include on your shipping label:

“Hold For BACnet”, Alerton, Sept. 15-19

c/o Renetta Williams

Piece Number 1 of  4, 2 of 4, etc.

Please schedule your equipment to arrive at the Radisson Hotel no earlier than September 12.  Receipt of items by the Radisson Hotel can be confirmed by calling Renetta Williams at (206) 838-1509 during normal business hours.

Please retain shipping information, such as date shipped, shipping method, tracking numbers, and the number of boxes.  Bring all documents necessary for the return of your equipment back to your company after the Workshop.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS:

Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements.  Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is less than one mile from the Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport, and the Radisson provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.  We have reserved a block of guest rooms at the Radisson for workshop attendees—please call Radisson reservations at (800) 333-3333 and tell them that you will be attending the Alerton/BACnet meeting in order to get the discount rate of $89/night (plus tax). After August 6, reservations may also be made on the Internet by following these steps:

1.)    Go to the website www.radisson.com/seattlewa

2.)    Click on “Make a reservation”

3.)    Enter the special promotion code “bacnet” in the special promotion field.

4.)    This will take you to the Alerton reservation page

5.)    Follow the specific instructions to make the reservation

6.)    Receive confirmation code once completed

Please make your hotel reservation as soon as possible.  There are several other hotels that are close to the Radisson if you prefer to stay elsewhere.

REGISTRATION:

To register for this workshop, please complete the following application form carefully.  The deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 27, 2003.  Please mail or fax the completed and signed application form to: < Downloadable Application and Information Sheet>

Jim Butler, BTL Manager

Cimetrics Inc.

55 Temple Place

Boston MA  02111-1300

U.S.A.

Tel. (617) 350-7550 ext. 207, fax (617) 350-7552

Once your application has been received and reviewed, you will receive a confirmation message.

Note that you are also required to send the BTL Manager a BACnet PICS for each product that you intend to test by September 4, 2003.  The BTL needs this information in order to create a testing schedule that matches manufacturers that have products with complementary BACnet functionality.

We can accommodate a maximum of approximately 60 participants for this Workshop.  Each company may bring one or two testing teams, with a maximum of three people per team.  Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the BTL Manager.  If the number of people planning to attend the workshop exceeds the space available, BMA corporate members will have priority.