Server integration with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209062-A1
Application number	US-201514712361-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, a server for operating an HVAC network includes an interface operable to receive a registration request from a control unit, wherein the registration request includes an installation report comprising a serial number for an HVAC unit communicatively coupled to the control unit, a serial number for an interactive display communicatively coupled to the HVAC unit, a plurality of operating parameters for the HVAC unit, a geographic address of a location of the control unit, and a user name and login password for accessing the control unit. The server may also include a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to authenticate the control unit based on the registration request, register a primary user device associated with the control unit, register a secondary user device associated with the control unit, establish a control link between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices, wherein the control link facilitates control commands between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices, and store the installation report in a server database.

First claim

1 . A server for operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network, comprising:
an interface operable to:
receive a registration request from a control unit, wherein the registration request includes an installation report comprising:
a serial number for an HVAC unit communicatively coupled to the control unit;
a serial number for an interactive display communicatively coupled to the HVAC unit;
a plurality of operating parameters for the HVAC unit;
a geographic address of a location of the control unit; and
a user name and login password for accessing the control unit; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the interface and operable to:
authenticate the control unit based on the registration request;
register a primary user device associated with the control unit;
register a secondary user device associated with the control unit;
establish a control link between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices, wherein the control link facilitates control commands between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices; and
store the installation report in a server database.

2 . The server of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive a temperature change request from the secondary user device; establish a notification link with the control unit; transmit a first notification alert to the control unit over the notification link; receive a first retrieve request from the control unit over the notification link; and transmit the temperature change request over the control link to the control unit.

3 . The server of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive a confirmation notification from the control unit over the notification link; transmit a second notification alert to the secondary user device over the notification link; receive a second retrieve request from the secondary user device; and transmit the confirmation notification from the control unit to the secondary user device over the notification link.

4 . The server of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
transmit the second notification alert to the primary user device; receive a retrieve request from the primary user device; and transmit the confirmation notification from the control unit to the primary user device.

5 . The server of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive a request from an HVAC dealer to access the control unit; transmit an authorization request to the primary user device; receive an authorization approval message from the primary user device; and transmit the plurality of operating parameters for the HVAC unit from the server database to the HVAC dealer.

6 . The server of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
detect that the control unit is operating using an old firmware version; establish a download link with the control unit; transmit an updated firmware version to the control unit; and terminate the download link.

7 . The server of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive from a weather server, weather data associated with the geographic address of the location of the control unit; store the weather data in a weather database; and transmit the weather data to the control unit at predetermined intervals.

8 . The server of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive from a weather server, weather data associated with geographic address of the location of the control unit; store the weather data in a weather database; receive a weather request from the control unit; and transmit the stored weather data to the control unit.

9 . A method for operating a server in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network using one or more processors, the method comprising:
receiving a registration request from a control unit, wherein the registration request includes an installation report comprising:
a serial number for an HVAC unit communicatively coupled to the control unit;
a serial number for an interactive display communicatively coupled to the HVAC unit;
a plurality of operating parameters for the HVAC unit;
a geographic address of a location of the control unit; and
a user name and login password for accessing the control unit; and
authenticating the control unit based on the registration request; registering a primary user device associated with the control unit; registering a secondary user device associated with the control unit; establishing a control link between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices, wherein the control link facilitates communication of control commands between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices; and
store the installation report in a server database.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a temperature change request from a secondary user device; establishing a notification link with the control unit; transmitting a first notification alert to the control unit; receiving a retrieve request from the control unit; and transmitting the temperature change request over the control link to the control unit.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving a confirmation notification from the control unit; transmitting a second notification alert to the secondary user device; receiving a retrieve request from the secondary user device; and transmitting the confirmation notification from the control unit to the secondary user device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting the second notification alert to a primary user device; receiving a retrieve request from the primary user device; and transmitting the confirmation notification from the control unit to the primary user device.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a request from an HVAC dealer to access the control unit; transmitting an authorization request to the primary user device; receiving an authorization approval message from the primary user device; and transmitting data from the server database to the HVAC dealer.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting that the control unit is operating using an old software version; establishing a download link with the control unit; transmitting an updated software version to the control unit; and terminating the download link.

15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving from a weather server, weather data associated with the weather based on the geographic address of the location of the control unit; storing the weather data in a weather database; and transmitting the weather data to the control unit at predetermined intervals.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, from a weather server, weather data associated with the weather based on the geographic address of the location of the control unit; storing the weather data in a weather database; receiving a weather request from the control unit; and transmitting the stored weather data to the control unit.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving a request for the weather data from the primary user device; and transmitting the stored weather data to the primary user device.

18 . A method for communicating with a server in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network using an HVAC control unit, the method comprising:
connecting, using a proc

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Castillo Daniel A
• Charavda Jayprakash
• Ho Nguyen T
• Khiani Sunil K

Classifications

• H04L12/283

  Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network · CPC title

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• G05B2219/21157

  Broken, open line, cable, circuit, faulty connection · CPC title

• H04L2012/285

  Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title