System and method for obtaining equipment status data over a network

• US 7,529,350 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US11/413,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20060193456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 379/39, 379/42, 379/43, 379/88.12, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/90.01, 379/93.04, 379/93.17, 379/201.01, 379/207.04, 379/207.06, 379/207.07, 340/506, 340/531, 700/276
• US Class Current: 379/42
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding auctioneering devices in packet switching networks H04L12/1804
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 : where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 : Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for equipment status data over a network. Equipment adapted for reporting status data indicative of the status of the equipment is connected to a first network A status file connected to the first network receives the status data from the equipment over the first network. A second network is connected to the status file and to a processor. The processor comprises instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, acquiring the status data from the status file, and processing the status data. Based on the processed status data, the processor may take action to control a device or issue an alert. The action taken by the processor is determined by instructions selected by a user of the processor or the equipment.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining the status of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment over a network comprising:

a telephone status file connected to a telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the telephone, wherein the telephone status is indicative of the on-hook and off-hook status of the telephone and wherein the telephone is connected to the first network;

an HVAC alarm sensor, wherein the HVAC alarm sensor is adapted to provide status data indicative of the status of an HVAC device;

an HVAC device status file for receiving the status data from the HVAC alarm sensor;

a processor connected to the first network and to the telephone status file and the HVAC alarm sensor status file via a second network, wherein the processor comprises instructions for, prior to sending the HVAC alarm sensor'"'"'s status to the telephone over the first network;

reading the HVAC alarm sensor status file;

if the status data of the HVAC alarm sensor have changed, reading the telephone status file;

if the telephone status is off-hook, then reading the telephone status file; and

if the telephone status is on-hook, then sending the status data to the telephone over the first network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network is a local area network and the second network is selected from the group consisting of the PSTN, packet switched network, a cable network, a wireless network, and the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the HVAC equipment comprises a thermostat and wherein the processor further comprises instructions for for receiving a control command from the telephone comprising instructions for adjusting the thermostat setting.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the status data are further indicative of a temperature falling outside a preset range, and wherein the processor further comprises instructions for issuing an alert.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the instructions for issuing the alert comprise instructions for sending a text message to a wireless communication device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the status data comprise instructions for determining whether the HVAC equipment requires maintenance.

7. A system for obtaining the status of equipment over a network comprising:

a telephone status file connected to a telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the telephone, wherein the telephone status is indicative of the on-hook and off-hook status of the telephone and wherein the telephone is connected to the first network;

an alarm sensor, wherein the alarm sensor is adapted to provide status data indicative of the status of a device;

a device status file for receiving the status data from the alarm sensor;

a processor connected to the first network and to the telephone status file and the alarm sensor status file via a second network, wherein the processor comprises instructions for, prior to sending the alarm sensor'"'"'s status to the telephone over the first network;

reading the alarm sensor status file;

if the status data of the alarm sensor have changed, reading the telephone status file;

if the telephone status is off-hook, then reading the telephone status file; and

if the telephone status is on-hook, then sending the status data to the telephone over the first network.

8. A system for obtaining the status of a monitored device over a network comprising:

a telephone status file connected to a telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the telephone, wherein the telephone status is indicative of the on-hook and off-hook status of the telephone and wherein the telephone is connected to the first network;

a monitored device sensor, wherein the monitored device sensor is adapted to provide status data indicative of the status of the monitored device;

a monitored device status file for receiving the status data from the monitored device sensor;

a processor connected to the first network and to the telephone status file and the monitored device sensor status file via a second network, wherein the processor comprises instructions for, prior to sending the monitored device sensor'"'"'s status to the telephone over the first network;

reading the monitored device sensor status file;

if the status data of the monitored device sensor has changed, reading the telephone status file;

if the telephone status is off-hook, then reading the telephone status file; and

if the telephone status is on-hook, then sending the status data to the telephone over the first network.

9. A system for obtaining the status of one of a home or office equipment over a network comprising:

a telephone status file connected to a telephone status monitor for receiving the telephone status from the telephone, wherein the telephone status is indicative of the on-hook and off-hook status of the telephone and wherein the telephone is connected to the first network;

a home or office alarm sensor, wherein the home or office alarm sensor is adapted to provide status data indicative of the status of one of a home or office equipment;

a home or office equipment status file for receiving the status data from the home or office alarm sensor;

a processor connected to the first network and to the telephone status file and the home or office alarm sensor status file via a second network, wherein the processor comprises instructions for, prior to sending the home or office alarm sensor'"'"'s status to the telephone over the first network;

reading the home or office alarm sensor status file;

if the status data of the home or office alarm sensor have changed, reading the telephone status file;

if the telephone status is off-hook, then reading the telephone status file; and

if the telephone status is on-hook, then sending the status data to the telephone over the first network.

10. A system comprising:

a computer configured to store status data and to communicate with a first network and a second network;

a processor configured to communicate with the first network and further configured to;

receive the status data from a monitored device sensor, the status data indicative of a status of at least one monitored device via the second network;

determine a change in the status of the at least one monitored device;

when a change in the status has occurred, determine the on-hook status of a communications device configured to communicate with the second network; and

automatically transmit a notification to the communications device of the change in the status of the at least one monitored device when the on-hook status of the communications device is on-hook.

11. A method comprising:

reading, status data from a status file via a processor, wherein the processor is connected to a first network and to a second network, the status data being received from a monitored device sensor that provides to the status file status data indicative of a status of at least one monitored device via the second network;

processing at least part of the status data by the processor;

determining, based upon the processed status data, a change in the status of the at least one monitored device;

when a change in the status has occurred, determining an on-hook status of a communications device connected to the first network via a communications device status file; and

transmitting a notification of the change in the status of the at least one monitored device to the communications device when the status of the communications device is on-hook.