HVAC System with Location Determination Capability

• US 20150219349A1
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Trane International Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Means, Stuart Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a system controller having a location determination module configured to cause determination and/or reporting of the location of the HVAC system in response to a first run and/or initialization of the HVAC system. The location determination module may determine and/or report location information via global positioning system (GPS) capability, a service provider (SP), customized data provider (CDP), Internet sites, LAN, WAN, 3G, 4G, and/or any other type of network infrastructure to effect reporting of the location of the HVAC system.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:

a location determination module configured to determine the location of the HVAC system.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination module is carried by a system controller of the HVAC system.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination module is configured to generate latitude and longitude location.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination module is configured to request generation of a location of the HVAC system.

5. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination module is configured to transmit location information.

6. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein a system controller of the HVAC system is configured to selectively communicate information regarding a location of the HVAC system to a home automation provider.

7. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein a system controller of the HVAC system is configured to selectively communicate information regarding a location of the HVAC system to a security provider.

8. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein a system controller of the HVAC system is configured to selectively communicate information regarding the location of the HVAC system to a second HVAC system.

9. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination module is configured to determine location information in response to initialization of the HVAC system.

10. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the location determination model comprises at least one of a global positioning system device and a cellular telecommunication device.

11. A method of operating an HVAC system, comprising:

providing an HVAC system comprising a location determination module;

determining location information of the HVAC system; and

communicating location information to a remote system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining location information of the HVAC system is accomplished in response to the first operation of the HVAC system.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a system controller in the HVAC system, wherein the location determination module is carried by a system controller of the HVAC system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining location information of the HVAC system is accomplished in response to an instruction being received by the system controller.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining location information of the HVAC system is accomplished by generating latitude and longitude coordinates.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote system comprises a home automation provider.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote system is a security provider.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote system is a second HVAC system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote system comprises a smartphone.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein in response to the remote system receiving the location information, the HVAC system changes an operational parameter selected as a function of the location of the HVAC system.