Limited access comfort control
First Claim
1. A process for collecting information for the control of one or more systems that provide conditioned air to a plurality of locations, said process comprising the steps of:
- providing for the entry of at least one level of comfort in a plurality of data entry devices at each location;
requiring that the entry of at least one level of comfort at each data entry device be accompanied by an entry of an identification of the person making the entry of comfort level; and
verifying that the entered identification is recognized by the data entry device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data collection system allows occupants in one or more locations to provide indications as to their respective levels of comfort. The indications as to comfort level are preferably provided through personal computers in these locations. Each computer is programmed to display a menu of comfort level options that may be selected by the user of the computer. Each computer is operative to require that any selected comfort level be accompanied by a verification as to the user making the one or more selections. The verification preferably requires an entry of an identification that may be checked against a stored identification. Each computer is operative to timely provide the selections as to comfort level by a recognized user to a network computer. The network computer is operative to analyze the comfort level information from these computers and send one or more commands to an HVAC system providing conditioned air to the locations.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A process for collecting information for the control of one or more systems that provide conditioned air to a plurality of locations, said process comprising the steps of:
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providing for the entry of at least one level of comfort in a plurality of data entry devices at each location;
requiring that the entry of at least one level of comfort at each data entry device be accompanied by an entry of an identification of the person making the entry of comfort level; and
verifying that the entered identification is recognized by the data entry device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for providing conditioned air to a plurality of locations, said system comprising:
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a plurality of data entry devices at each location, each data entry device being operative to provide for the selection of at least one level of comfort at the location, each data entry device being furthermore operative to require that the selection of at least one comfort level be accompanied by the entry of an identification of the person using the data entry device;
at least one computer in communication with the plurality of data entry devices, said computer being operative to collect information as to the selections of comfort level entered at the data entry devices that are accompanied by a verified entry of an identification of the person using the device and being furthermore operative to determine overall levels of comfort for each location from the collected information; and
at least one HVAC control being operative to control the provision of conditioned air to the locations in response to the determination of overall levels of comfort for each location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
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15. A system for providing conditioned air to at least one location, said system comprising:
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a plurality of data entry devices at the location, each data entry device being operative to provide for the selection of at least one level of comfort at the location, each data entry device being furthermore operative to require that the selection of at least one comfort level be accompanied by the entry of an identification of the person using the data entry device;
at least one computer in communication with the plurality of data entry devices, said computer being operative to collect information as to the selections of comfort level entered at the data entry devices that are accompanied by a verified entry of an identification of the person using the device and being furthermore operative to determine an overall level of comfort for the location from the collected information; and
at least one HVAC control being operative to control the provision of conditioned air to the location in response to the determination of an overall level of comfort for the location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification