CONTRACTOR DISPATCH SERVICE

• US 20150302414A1
• Filed: 06/02/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Cox, Steven A., Layton, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/728,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20150302414A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system and method include a monitoring system that monitors operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location and that generates an alert or service request based on the operating parameters. A server is in communication with the monitoring system and receives the alert or service request from the monitoring system, compares the alert or service request to a listing of alerts and service requests covered under a service plan associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, determines whether the alert or service request is covered under the service plan based on the comparison, and schedules and dispatches a contractor to perform service under the service plan when the alert or service request is covered under the service plan.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a monitoring system that monitors operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location and that generates at least one of an alert and a service request based on the operating parameters;

a server in communication with the monitoring system that receives the at least one of the alert and the service request from the monitoring system, that compares the at least one of the alert and the service request to a listing of alerts and service requests covered under a service plan associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, that determines whether the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan based on the comparison, and that schedules and dispatches a contractor to perform service under the service plan when the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a customer device associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, wherein the server generates a notification of service to be performed under the service plan when the server determines that the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan, and wherein the customer device receives the notification of service to be performed under the service plan.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service plan includes a payment of a monthly service plan fee.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the service plan includes a set of predefined repair and maintenance tasks covered under the service plan.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service plan includes a designated preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the service plan includes a prioritized list of preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan for the customer.

7. A method comprising:

monitoring, with a monitoring system, operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location;

generating, with the monitoring system, at least one of an alert and a service request based on the operating parameters;

receiving, with a server in communication with the monitoring system, the at least one of the alert and the service request from the monitoring system;

comparing, with the server, the at least one of the alert and the service request to a listing of alerts and service requests covered under a service plan associated with the HVAC system at the customer location;

determining, with the server, whether the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan based on the comparison; and

scheduling and dispatching, with the server, a contractor to perform service under the service plan when the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating, with the server, a notification of service to be performed under the service plan when the server determines that the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan; and

receiving, with a customer device associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, the notification of service to be performed under the service plan.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the service plan includes a payment of a monthly service plan fee.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the service plan includes a set of predefined repair and maintenance tasks covered under the service plan.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the service plan includes a designated preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the service plan includes a prioritized list of preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan for the customer.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor for:

monitoring, with a monitoring system, operating parameters of an HVAC system at a customer location;

generating, with the monitoring system, at least one of an alert and a service request based on the operating parameters;

receiving, with a server in communication with the monitoring system, the at least one of the alert and the service request from the monitoring system;

comparing, with the server, the at least one of the alert and the service request to a listing of alerts and service requests covered under a service plan associated with the HVAC system at the customer location;

determining, with the server, whether the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan based on the comparison; and

scheduling and dispatching, with the server, a contractor to perform service under the service plan when the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further storing instructions executable by a processor for:

generating, with the server, a notification of service to be performed under the service plan when the server determines that the at least one of the alert and the service request is covered under the service plan; and

receiving, with a customer device associated with the HVAC system at the customer location, the notification of service to be performed under the service plan.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the service plan includes a payment of a monthly service plan fee.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the service plan includes a set of predefined repair and maintenance tasks covered under the service plan.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the service plan includes a designated preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the service plan includes a prioritized list of preferred contractor to perform service under the service plan for the customer.