SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATING EQUIPMENT OPERATING PARAMETER MODIFICATIONS

• US 20100305718A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Cold Chain LP
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sarma, Magesh, Clark, E. Todd, Mitchell, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23199 Reference value, setpoint for regulator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

A method and system is provided that includes receiving a current setpoint value from a controller that operates at least one piece of equipment according to the current setpoint value, the current setpoint value being set by a first user, comparing the current setpoint value with a benchmark setpoint value, and outputting the current setpoint value and the benchmark setpoint value on a terminal when the current setpoint value is different than the benchmark setpoint value. The method and system also includes receiving, with the terminal, input from a second user indicating one of approval of the current setpoint value or rejection of the current setpoint value, notifying the first user that the current setpoint value has been rejected when the input from the second user indicates rejection of the current setpoint value, and communicating, to the terminal, input from the first user indicating one of agreement or disagreement with the rejection of the current setpoint value.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller that operates at least one piece of equipment according to a current setpoint value;

a setpoint monitor in communication with said controller that monitors said current setpoint value and compares said current setpoint value with a benchmark setpoint value;

a first terminal in communication with said setpoint monitor, said first terminal outputting said current setpoint value and said benchmark setpoint value and receiving input indicating one of approval of said current setpoint value or rejection of said current setpoint value;

a second terminal in communication with said setpoint monitor, said second terminal outputting an indicator indicating that said current setpoint value has been rejected when said input to said first terminal indicates rejection of said current setpoint value, and said second terminal receiving input indicating one of agreement or disagreement with said rejection of said current setpoint value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when said input to said first terminal indicates rejection of said current setpoint value, said first terminal receives data related to an explanation for said rejection.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said second terminal receives data related to an explanation for said disagreement with said rejection of said current setpoint value.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said setpoint monitor sends a notification indicating rejection of said current setpoint value.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said notification includes an email notification.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said setpoint monitor monitors a plurality of current setpoint values and compares each current setpoint value of said plurality with a corresponding benchmark setpoint value, and said first terminal receives input indicating one of approval of each said current setpoint value or rejection of each said current setpoint value.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein, when a plurality of said current setpoint values have been rejected, said setpoint monitor groups said plurality of said current setpoint values that have been rejected according to at least one of a corresponding system or a corresponding contractor associated with each said current setpoint value that has been rejected.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said setpoint monitor sends a notification corresponding to each grouping of said plurality of said current setpoint values that have been rejected.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said notification includes an email notification.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller operates said at least one piece of equipment according to said benchmark setpoint value when said indicator indicates that said current setpoint value has been rejected.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a current setpoint value from a controller that operates at least one piece of equipment according to said current setpoint value, said current setpoint value being set by a first user;

comparing said current setpoint value with a benchmark setpoint value;

outputting said current setpoint value and said benchmark setpoint value on a terminal when said current setpoint value is different than said benchmark setpoint value;

receiving, with said terminal, input from a second user indicating one of approval of said current setpoint value or rejection of said current setpoint value;

notifying said first user that said current setpoint value has been rejected when said input from said second user indicates rejection of said current setpoint value;

communicating, to said terminal, input from said first user indicating one of agreement or disagreement with said rejection of said current setpoint value.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, when said notification indicates that said current setpoint value has been rejected, said notification directs said first user to change said current setpoint value for said controller to said benchmark setpoint value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, when said input from said second user indicates rejection of said current setpoint value, said input from said second user includes data related to an explanation for rejection of said current setpoint value.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein, when said input from said first user to said terminal indicates disagreement with said rejection of said current setpoint value, said method further comprises communicating input from said first user to said terminal related to an explanation for said disagreement with said rejection of said current setpoint value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said notifying said first user includes sending an email notification to said first user.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining an energy consumption loss associated with a difference between said current setpoint value and said benchmark setpoint value.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising monitoring a plurality of current setpoint values, each current setpoint value being set by a corresponding first user, comparing each current setpoint value of said plurality with a corresponding benchmark setpoint value, and receiving input from a second user indicating one of approval of each said current setpoint value or rejection of each said current setpoint value.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining a plurality of energy consumption loss values associated with a difference between each said current setpoint value of said plurality of current setpoint values and said corresponding benchmark setpoint value.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said plurality of current setpoint values are set by a plurality of first users, said method further comprising ranking said plurality of first users based on said plurality of energy consumption loss values.