CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130297075A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Land, Joseph George III
• Application Number:
  US13/888,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23136 Display all subsystems, select one and display screen corresponding to subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

Spaces in a building may be classified into one or more classifications. Rules for managing devices in the spaces may be established. A property manager and a tenant or owner may control the settings of the devices via a controller. The controller may adjust the settings of the devices with accordance with the rules.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a classification module configured to classify a plurality of spaces in a building into one or more classifications, wherein each of the classifications define rules for managing a plurality of settings of a plurality of devices in the plurality of spaces;

a property manager module to manage the settings of a first, portion of the devices in the building,

a tenant/owner module to manage the settings of a second portion of the devices in the building, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices is in the first portion and in the second portion; and

a controller to communicate the settings from at least one of the property manager module and the tenant/owner module to at least one of the devices according to the rules defined by the classifications.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the spaces are in at least one of a hotel, an apartment building, a condominium complex, a dormitory, an assisted living facility, a nursing home, a retirement home, a commercial office building, and a storage garage.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer that includes the classification module, the property manager module, and the tenant/owner module, wherein the computer is remotely located from the building.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the classifications is a common area and another one of the classifications is a housing unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a rules module to manage the rules for each of the classifications, wherein the rules for each of the classifications include at least one difference from one another.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transfer module configured to transfer control of the devices from the tenant/owner module to the property manager module when one of the housing units becomes unoccupied.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the devices include at least one of a door lock, a thermostat, a camera, an open/close sensor, a temperature/humidity sensor, a motion sensor, a light sensor, an audible and visual enunciator, an energy sensor, a load controller, a light switch, a dimmer, an irrigation control, and a pool control.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a smartphone and a tablet computer configured to communicate with the controller to adjust the settings of at least one of the devices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the property manager module is configured to set boundaries for at least one of the devices controllable by the tenant/owner module.

10. A method, comprising:

classifying a plurality of spaces in a building into one or more classifications, wherein each of the classifications defines a first hierarchy of rules and a second hierarchy of rules to manage a plurality of settings or a plurality of devices in the plurality of spices;

managing the settings of a portion of the devices in the building according to the first hierarchy of rules;

managing the settings of a portion of the devices in the building according to the second hierarchy of rules; and

controlling, with a controller, the settings of at least one of the devices according to one of the first hierarchy of rules and the second hierarchy of rules.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

managing the rules for each of the classifications, wherein the rules for each of the classifications include at least one difference from one another.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transferring, with a transfer module, control of the devices from a tenant/owner account to a property manager account when one of the housing units becomes unoccupied.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adjusting the settings of at least one of the devices with one of a smartphone and a tablet computer.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing, with the first hierarchy of rules, boundaries for the second hierarchy of rules for at least one of the devices.

15. A method, comprising:

assigning a space within a building a control classification;

establishing a first hierarchy of rules for managing settings of a device in the space, wherein the first hierarchy of rules are associated with a property manager account;

establishing a second hierarchy of rules for managing settings of the device in the space, wherein the second hierarchy of rules are associated with a tenant owner account; and

configuring a setting on the device in accordance with the rules.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the space is a housing unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first hierarchy of rules establishes boundaries for the second hierarchy of rules.

18. A system, comprising:

a master control device to control a plurality of devices in a plurality of housing units in ₄. building;

a classification module configured to assign classifications to the housing units;

a rules module configured to establish a first hierarchy of rules and a second hierarchy of rules for each the housing units;

a property manager module configured to manage settings of the devices according to the first hierarchy of rules by communicating with the master control device; and

a tenant/owner module configured to manage the settings of the devices according to the second hierarchy of rules by communicating with the master control device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a server configured to provide a cloud service, wherein the cloud service includes at least one of the master control device, the classification module, the rules module, the property manager module, and the tenant/owner module.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one of a smartphone and a tablet computer configured to change at least one of the settings of the one of the devices.