INTELLIGENT COMFORT MANAGEMENT USING NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING TO INTERFACE WITH A COMFORT SYSTEM CONTROLLER

• US 20130138250A1
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mowery, Keith, Khiani, Sunil K., Lazar, Steve, Vendt, Steve
• Application Number:
  US13/687,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

Advantageously employing natural language processing for operating comfort systems is disclosed herein. A method of operating a comfort system for an enclosed space, a management system and a HVAC apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) receiving from a user a natural language input associated with the comfort system, (2) determining a response to the natural language input based on the comfort system and (3) providing the response, the response including at least one of initiating an operation of the comfort system and communicating with the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a comfort system for an enclosed space, comprising:

receiving from a user a natural language input associated with said comfort system;

determining a response to said natural language input based on said comfort system; and

providing said response, said response including at least one of initiating an operation of said comfort system and communicating with said user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said natural language input is vocally entered.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said determining includes determining at least one comfort management identifier from said natural language input and from a knowledge reservoir of said comfort system.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said comfort management identifier is a phrase, a word or a letter.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said comfort management identifier corresponds to operating commands for said comfort system.

6. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said comfort management identifier corresponds to management commands for said comfort system.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said comfort system is a HVAC system, a lighting system, an audio system or a video system of said enclosed space.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said providing said response includes directing said operation of said comfort system according to said response.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said response is an action, a question or an answer.

10. A management system for a comfort system of an enclosed space, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a natural language input from a user and associated with said comfort system; and

a responder configured to receive said natural language input and employ a knowledge reservoir of said comfort system to determine a response thereto, wherein said response includes at least one of initiating an operation of said comfort system and communicating with said user.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said natural language input is a vocal input from said user.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a translator configured to translate said natural language input from audio to text.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said responder is configured to determine a comfort management identifier from said natural language input based on said knowledge reservoir and determine said response based on said comfort management identifier.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said comfort management identifier corresponds to operating commands, management commands, maintenance commands or installation commands for said comfort system.

15. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said responder is configured to generate said response based on said natural language input and said knowledge reservoir.

16. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said responder is configured to determine said response from stored responses in said knowledge reservoir.

17. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said responder is further configured to direct said operation of said comfort system according to said response.

18. A HVAC apparatus of an HVAC system for an enclosed space, comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a vocal natural language input from a user associated with a function of said HVAC system; and

a responder configured to provide a natural language audio response based on said vocal natural language input, wherein said natural language audio response is determined from a knowledge reservoir of said HVAC system and said vocal natural language input and corresponds to action performed by or to said HVAC system.

19. The HVAC apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said HVAC apparatus is a sensor or a thermostat of said HVAC system.

20. The HVAC apparatus as recited in claim 18 further comprising an occupancy detector configured to determine a location of said user with respect to said enclosed space, wherein said action is related to said location.