Remote testing of hvac systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334783-A1
Application number	US-201615224171-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 13, 2004
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A number of methods for testing an HVAC system for a building structure from a remote location outside of the building structure are disclosed. Generally, the HVAC system has a primarily active component and a primarily dormant component. The method includes the steps of transmitting a test request to the HVAC system from the remote location, performing a test on the primarily dormant component of the HVAC system in response to the test request, and producing a test result. The test result can then be transmitted to a location outside of the building structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A remote contractor system configured to communicate with a plurality of client HVAC controllers over a network, wherein each of the client HVAC controllers is part of a corresponding client HVAC system that services a corresponding client building, the remote contractor system comprising:
a communication port configured to operatively communicate with a plurality of client HVAC controllers over the network; a controller operatively coupled to the communication port, wherein the controller is configured to:
transmit one or more test requests to each of a plurality of client HVAC controllers via the communication port;
receive test results from each of the plurality of client HVAC controllers via the communication port resulting from the one or more test requests; and
determine which of the plurality of client HVAC systems need service based at least in part on the received test results.

2 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies to a contractor which of the plurality of client HVAC systems need service.

3 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , further comprising a customer database that identifies each of the client HVAC controllers.

4 . The remote contractor system of claim 3 , wherein the customer database stores information for each of the client HVAC controllers, wherein the information includes one or more of an account number, a client address, an alarm threshold, a messaging option, a contractor, and received test results.

5 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , further comprising a customer database that stores information for each of a plurality of client HVAC controllers, the customer database also links a particular contractor to each of at least some of the plurality of client HVAC controllers.

6 . The remote contractor system of claim 5 , wherein the customer database is accessible by two or more contractors, wherein a particular contractor can only access information for those client HVAC controllers that are linked to that particular contractor.

7 . The remote contractor system of claim 6 , wherein the controller transmits one or more test requests in response to a test request from a contractor, and the one or more test requests are transmitted to less than all of the client HVAC controllers that are linked to the contractor that made the test request.

8 . The remote contractor system of claim 6 , wherein a contractor selects which of the client HVAC controllers linked to the contractor that the one or more test requests are to be transmitted.

9 . The remote contractor system of claim 3 , wherein the customer database identifies a geographic location of each of the client HVAC controllers, and the controller is configured to transmit one or more test requests to client HVAC controllers that are located in a designated geographic area.

10 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , wherein the remote contractor system comprises a server, and the controller is part of a server.

11 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to schedule maintenance for at least some of the client HVAC systems that are determined to need service.

12 . The remote contractor system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit a first test request to run a first test to a first one of the plurality of client HVAC controllers and to transmit a second test request to run a second test to a second one of the plurality of client HVAC controllers, wherein the first test is different from the second test.

13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to:
transmit one or more test requests to each of a plurality of client HVAC controllers via the Internet; receive test results from each of the plurality of client HVAC controllers via the Internet resulting from the one or more test requests; and determine which of the plurality of client HVAC systems need service based at least in part on the received test results.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , further causing the computer to access a customer database that stores information for each of the client HVAC controllers, wherein the information includes one or more of an account number, a client address, an alarm threshold, a messaging option, a contractor, and received test results.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , further causing the computer to access a customer database that stores information for each of the client HVAC controllers, and links a particular contractor to each of at least some of the plurality of client HVAC controllers.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , further causing the computer to allow access to the customer database by two or more contractors, wherein a particular contractor can only access information for those client HVAC controllers that are linked to that particular contractor.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , further causing the computer to transmit one or more test requests in response to a test request from a contractor, and the one or more test requests are transmitted to less than all of the client HVAC controllers that are linked to the contractor that made the test request.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , further causing the computer to allow the contractor to select which of the client HVAC controllers linked to the contractor that the one or more test requests are to be transmitted.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to:
transmit one or more test requests to each of a plurality of client HVAC controllers via the Internet, wherein each of the client HVAC controllers is part of a corresponding client HVAC system that services a corresponding client building, and wherein at least one of the one or more test requests is configured to test a dormant HVAC component of the corresponding client HVAC system, wherein the dormant HVAC component is a heating component during the cooling season or a cooling component during the heating season; receive test results from each of the plurality of client HVAC controllers via the Internet resulting from the one or more test requests; and identify which of the plurality of client HVAC systems need service based at least in part on the received test results.

20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further causing the computer to schedule maintenance for at least some of the client HVAC systems that are determined to need service.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Simons Richard

Classifications

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F11/30

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• F24F3/00

  Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems (room units F24F1/00) · CPC title

• G05D23/1917

  using digital means · CPC title