Method for wireless data exchange for control of structural appliances such as heating, ventilation, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems

• US 7,437,150 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Mark, Chaturvedi, Gayatri, Canizo, Luiz, Morelli, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Huy D
• Application Number:
  US09/684,174
• Time in Patent Office: 2,930 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/556.2, 455/569.1, 455/517, 455/558, 455/419, 455/550.1, 455/462, 455/466, 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/426.2
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

A method for remote control of structural appliances includes the steps of communicating a structural appliance with a server programmed to accept mobile device commands; communicating a mobile device with the server; issuing the mobile device commands from the mobile device to the server; converting the mobile device commands to structural appliance commands; and issuing the structural appliance commands from the server to the structural appliance, whereby wireless control of the structural appliance is established.

Claims

1. A method for remote control of structural appliances, comprising the steps of:

communicating a structural appliance with a server programmed to accept mobile device commands;

communicating a mobile device with said server;

issuing said mobile device commands from said mobile device to said server;

converting said mobile device commands to structural appliance commands; and

issuing said structural appliance commands from said server to said structural appliance, whereby wireless control of said structural appliance is established, wherein said server is communicated with said structural appliance through a gateway, further comprising the steps of;

storing structural appliance information at one of said structural appliance, said gateway and said server; and

transmitting said structural appliance information from said server to said mobile device, and wherein said structural appliance information is provided in structural appliance format to said gateway, wherein said gateway converts said structural appliance format to mobile device format, and wherein said server transmits said structural appliance information to said mobile device in said mobile device format.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said structural appliance information comprises at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of diagnostic information, maintenance information, operating parameters, environmental information and combinations thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said structural appliance is selected from the group consisting of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, building control and elevator appliances.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device is a web enabled device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said mobile device is communicated with said server utilizing wireless application protocol.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device and said structural appliance are communicated with said server by a global satellite messaging network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said server is communicated with said global satellite messaging network by a global computer network.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said mobile device issues said mobile device commands in wireless application protocol, and further comprising the step of converting said wireless application protocol to structural appliance protocol commands.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said server is adapted to display a plurality of options on said mobile device, whereby a user of said mobile device can select from said plurality of options so as to issue said mobile device commands.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device is communicated with said server from a remote location.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said server is a wireless-accessible server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating said structural appliance with said server comprises communicating a plurality of structural appliances with said server, and wherein said step of communicating said mobile device with said server includes presenting a selection of said plurality of structural appliances at said mobile device.

13. A method for allowing wireless control of structural appliances, comprising the steps of:

communicating a structural appliance with a server;

programming said server to accept mobile device commands;

converting said mobile device commands into structural appliance commands; and

issuing said structural appliance commands to said structural appliance, wherein said server is communicated with said structural appliance through a gateway, further comprising the steps of;

storing structural appliance information at one of said structural appliance, said gateway and said server; and

transmitting said structural appliance information from said server to said mobile device, and wherein said structural appliance information is provided in structural appliance format to said gateway, wherein said gateway converts said structural appliance format to mobile device format, and wherein said server transmits said structural appliance information to said mobile device in said mobile device format.

14. A method for remote control of an HVAC system, comprising the steps of:

communicating a HVAC system with a server programmed to accept mobile device commands;

communicating a mobile device with said server;

issuing said mobile device commands from said mobile device to said server;

converting said mobile device commands to HVAC system commands; and

issuing said HVAC system commands from said server to said HVAC system, whereby wireless control of said HVAC system is established, wherein said server is communicated with said HVAC system through a gateway, further comprising the steps of;

storing HVAC system information at one of said HVAC system, said gateway and said server; and

transmitting said HVAC system information from said server to said mobile device, and wherein said HVAC system information is provided in HVAC system format to said gateway, wherein said gateway converts said HVAC system format to mobile device format, and wherein said server transmits said HVAC system information to said mobile device in said mobile device format.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said HVAC system is a non-central HVAC system.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said mobile device is operated by an energy provider and wherein said HVAC system comprises a plurality of HVAC systems of customers of said energy provider.