Usage monitoring HVAC control system

• US 6,741,915 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Inventors: Poth, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US09/935,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/237
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for a usage monitoring HVAC control system. A method, includes: providing a usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system, the usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system including a programmable digital thermostat with an on board memory, issuing personal identification numbers to each of a plurality of system users; associating each of the plurality of system users with at least one of a plurality of user types; storing the personal identification numbers in a first data structure in the on board memory; and linking each one of a plurality of entries in the first data structure by reference to at least one of a plurality of entries in a second data structure in the on board memory, the second data structure including a list of user types. A method, includes regulating user access to an interactive user interface of a programmable thermostat, each user identified by a personal identification number associated with a user type such as, for example, building owners, maintenance personnel, building tenants, and manufacturers.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system including a programmable digital thermostat with an on board memory;

issuing a plurality of personal identification numbers to a plurality of system users;

storing a plurality of personal identification numbers in a first data structure in the on board memory;

linking each one of the plurality of personal identification numbers in the first data structure by reference to at least one of a plurality of entries in a second data structure in the on board memory, the second data structure including a plurality of user types;

receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user;

maintaining another data structure in the on board memory of the programmable thermostat, the another data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users;

updating the another data structure by adding a duration in units of time to a time associated with the requesting system user; and

uploading the another data structure to a central billing computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of user types is associated with at least one of a plurality of function sets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the on board memory includes a member selected from the group consisting of electrically erasable programmable read only memory, flash memory, random access memory, and network storage devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically updating the first data structure; and

dynamically updating the second data structure.

5. A method, comprising

regulating user access to an interactive user interface of a programmable thermostat, each of a plurality of system users identified by a personal identification number i) stored in a data structure of an on board memory of the programmable thermostat and ii) associated with a user type selected from the group consisting of building owners, maintenance personnel, building tenants, and manufacturers;

receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting user;

maintaining another data structure in the memory of the programmable thermostat, the another data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users;

updating the another data structure by adding a duration in units of time to a time associated with the requesting system user; and

uploading the another data structure to a central billing computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each personal identification number belongs to exactly one user type.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein access to the interactive user interface is regulated using at least one of a plurality of software filters.