REMOTE CONTRACTOR SYSTEM WITH CASE MANAGEMENT
First Claim
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 communications port configured to operatively communicate with a plurality of client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of a plurality of client HVAC systems;
a memory for storing received data related to the operation of the plurality of client HVAC systems;
a controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to output via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the operation of one or more of the client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display; and
the controller is further configured to allow a user to open a case, wherein the case is associated with a particular client HVAC system, and wherein one or more alerts associated with the particular client HVAC system are linked to the case.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers'"'"' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may help a contractor pro-actively identify possible issues with its customer'"'"'s building control systems and may output an alert related to an operation of the customer'"'"'s building control systems. Within the system, the contractor may able to open a case associated with the customer'"'"'s building control systems and link related alerts to the case.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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a communications port configured to operatively communicate with a plurality of client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of a plurality of client HVAC systems; a memory for storing received data related to the operation of the plurality of client HVAC systems; a controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to output via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the operation of one or more of the client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display; and the controller is further configured to allow a user to open a case, wherein the case is associated with a particular client HVAC system, and wherein one or more alerts associated with the particular client HVAC system are linked to the case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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:
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a communications port configured to operatively communicate with a plurality of client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of a plurality of client HVAC systems; a memory for storing received data related to the operation of the plurality of client HVAC systems; a controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to output via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the operation of one or more of the client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display; and the controller is further configured to allow a user to create a case, wherein the case is associated with a particular client HVAC system, and wherein the controller is configured to allow a user to assign the case to a particular technician for resolution. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. 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:
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a communications port configured to operatively communicating with a plurality of client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of a plurality of client HVAC systems; a memory for storing received data related to the operation of the plurality of client HVAC systems; a controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to output via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the operation of one or more of the client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display; the controller is configured to allow a user to create a case and to store the case in the memory, wherein the case is associated with a particular client HVAC system; the controller is further configured to populate a case log for display on the display via the communications port, wherein the case log includes a listing of two or more cases created by the user; and wherein the controller is further configured to allow selection of a particular case of the case log, and in response, to display more detailed case information regarding the selected case on the display. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification