Environment control system for controlling environmental conditions in a building

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11985574-B2
Application number	US-202117487501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	May 30, 2018
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an environment control system for controlling environmental conditions in a building. The environment control system comprises a plurality of sensors located in different areas of the building. Each sensor is used for determining a measured value for one of the environmental conditions in the area where the sensor is located. Further at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured for exchanging data with at least one mobile computing device for modifying a target value of one of the environmental conditions for the area where the sensor is located. The environment control system further comprises an environment controller for receiving the measured values and the modified target values from the plurality of sensors. The environment controller is further configured for comparing the measured values with the modified target values for each area of the building and generating commands for each area of the building based on a difference between the measured values and modified target values. The environment control system further comprises a plurality of room controllers, such that each room controller is installed in a room in one of the areas of the building. Each room controller is configured for exchanging data with the environment controller to obtain the measured values of the environmental conditions in the room.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling environmental conditions in a building, the method comprising:
sending by a mobile computing device to a sensor in proximity of the mobile computing device a query message requesting measured values and target values of the environmental conditions for a room where the mobile computing device is located;
upon receipt of the query message from the mobile computing device by the sensor, generating and sending by the sensor the query message to an environment controller requesting the measured values and the target values of at least one environmental condition where the sensor is currently located;
extracting by the environment controller the measured values and the target values of the environmental conditions in the room where the sensor is located, and responding with a response message including the measured values and target values of the environmental conditions in the room;
receiving by the sensor the response message from the environment controller and forwarding in the response message the measured values and the target values for the environmental conditions in the room to the mobile computing device;
receiving by the mobile computing device the response message from the sensor;
extracting by the mobile computing device the measured values and target values of the environmental conditions for the room where the sensor is located and displaying the measured values and target values of the environmental condition for the room where the sensor and the mobile computing device are located on a display of the mobile computing device;
receiving through a user interface of the mobile computing device a modified target value for the at least one environmental condition for the room where the sensor is located, and generating by the mobile computing device and sending to the sensor room controller a command message comprising the modified target value of the at least one environmental condition in the room;
receiving by the sensor the command message;
extracting by the sensor the modified target value of the at least one environmental condition for the room where the sensor is located from the command message;
generating by the sensor the command message for the environment controller comprising the modified target value of the at least one environmental condition for the room where the sensor is located;
receiving by the environment controller the command message from the sensor and extracting the modified target value for the at least one environmental condition for the room where the sensor is located; and
comparing by the environment controller the measured value with the modified target value for the at least one environmental condition in the room and generating a command for at least one controlled appliance controlled by the environment controller based on a difference between the measured value and the modified target value for the room.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment controller further sends an update message to a room controller of the room where the sensor is located informing the room controller of the modified target value for the at least one environmental condition in the room.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the room controller further comprises a display for displaying the measured value of one of the environmental conditions in the room based on the data exchanged with the environment controller.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is co-located with a light fixture.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending by the environment controller a confirmation message to the sensor confirming modification of the target value for the at least one environmental condition for the room where the sensor is located.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
generating and sending by the sensor an update message providing the modified target value for the at least one environmental condition for the room to the mobile electronic device.

Assignees

• Distech Controls Inc

Inventors

• Gagnon Dominic
• Chretien Arthur
• Legault Marc

Classifications

• H04W4/38 Primary

  for collecting sensor information · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H04W4/33

  for indoor environments, e.g. buildings · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title