REMOTE CONTRACTOR SYSTEM WITH SITE SPECIFIC ENERGY AUDIT CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. A remote system configured to communicate with an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller is for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system of a building, the remote system comprising:
- a communications port for sending and/or receiving data related to operation of one or more HVAC controllers;
a memory for storing information comprising data related to the operation of one or more HVAC controllers;
a controller coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to analyze at least some of the received data related to operation of an HVAC system controlled by an HVAC controller over time, and based at least in part on the analysis, develop a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by the HVAC system; and
the controller is further configured to provide an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system based at least in part on the thermal model, and to output a result of the energy audit to a user via the communications port.
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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 include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote system configured to communicate with an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller is for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system of a building, the remote system comprising:
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a communications port for sending and/or receiving data related to operation of one or more HVAC controllers; a memory for storing information comprising data related to the operation of one or more HVAC controllers; a controller coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to analyze at least some of the received data related to operation of an HVAC system controlled by an HVAC controller over time, and based at least in part on the analysis, develop a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by the HVAC system; and the controller is further configured to provide an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system based at least in part on the thermal model, and to output a result of the energy audit to a user via the communications port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A remote system configured to communicate with an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller is for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system of a building, the remote system comprising:
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a communications port for sending and/or receiving data related to operation of one or more HVAC controllers; a memory for storing information comprising data related to the operation of one or more HVAC controllers; a controller coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller is configured to analyze at least some of the received data related to an operation of an HVAC system controlled by one or more of the HVAC controllers over time, and based at least in part on the analysis, output a building report graphically depicting operation of the HVAC system over time. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A remote contractor system comprising:
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a communications port for sending and/or receiving data related to operation of two or more HVAC controllers of two or more HVAC systems, each servicing one of two or more buildings, wherein the received data includes one or more of indoor temperature data, indoor humidity data, temperature setpoint data, outdoor temperature data, outdoor humidity data, heating activity data, and cooling activity data; a memory for storing received data related to the operation of the two or more HVAC systems; a controller coupled to the communications port and the memory; wherein the controller is configured to perform an analysis of the received data over time, and based at least in part on the analysis, identify a customized thermal model for each of the two or more buildings; wherein the controller is further configured to generate a predicted HVAC system run time for each of the two or more buildings based, at least in part, on the corresponding customized thermal model; and wherein the controller is configured to output a report for each of the two or more buildings that is based at least in part on an actual HVAC system run time versus the predicted HVAC system run time. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification