Remote HVAC control with user privilege setup
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A web enabled building control appliance, comprising:
- a controller;
a first port coupled to the controller, the first port configured to communicate over a first network;
a web server implemented by the controller and coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web-pages on the first network via the first port;
a second port coupled to the controller, the second port configured to be coupled to one or more thermostats via a second network, wherein each of the one or more thermostats are configured to communicate with the controller over the second network;
the web server is configured to provide one or more web-pages via the first port that allow a user to log into the web enabled building control appliance; and
once the user is logged into the web enabled building control appliance, the web server is configured to provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive user rights privileges for each of at least two users, wherein once the user rights privileges are set, the user rights privileges are used by the web enabled building control appliance to control what information can be changed via the web server and/or what information can be displayed via the web server for each of the at least two users when each of the at least two users are logged into the web enabled building control appliance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC control system that accommodates and/or facilitates control from a remote location. The HVAC control system may include a web-enabled building control appliance with a controller, a first port and a second port. The controller may implement a web server that is coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web pages on a first network and for receiving a number of responses. The controller may be coupled to the second port so as to communicate with one or more communicating thermostats via a second network. The web server may provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive user rights privileges.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A web enabled building control appliance, comprising:
-
a controller; a first port coupled to the controller, the first port configured to communicate over a first network; a web server implemented by the controller and coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web-pages on the first network via the first port; a second port coupled to the controller, the second port configured to be coupled to one or more thermostats via a second network, wherein each of the one or more thermostats are configured to communicate with the controller over the second network; the web server is configured to provide one or more web-pages via the first port that allow a user to log into the web enabled building control appliance; and once the user is logged into the web enabled building control appliance, the web server is configured to provide one or more web-pages via the first port that solicit and receive user rights privileges for each of at least two users, wherein once the user rights privileges are set, the user rights privileges are used by the web enabled building control appliance to control what information can be changed via the web server and/or what information can be displayed via the web server for each of the at least two users when each of the at least two users are logged into the web enabled building control appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13)
-
-
11. A web enabled building control appliance, comprising:
-
a controller; a first port coupled to the controller, the first port configured to communicate over a first network; a web server implemented by the controller and coupled to the first port for serving up one or more web-pages on the first network via the first port; a second port coupled to the controller, the second port configured to be coupled to two or more HVAC control devices via a second network, wherein each of the two or more HVAC control devices are configured to communicate with the controller over the second network; the web server is configured to provide one or more web-pages via the first port that allow a user to log into the web enabled building control appliance; and once a user is logged into the web enabled building control appliance, the web server is configured to access user rights privileges, wherein the user rights privileges control, at least in part, what information can be viewed by the logged in user via the web server. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14)
-
-
15. A method of configuring privileges for a web enabled building control appliance that is either directly or indirectly coupled to an HVAC system of a building, the method comprising:
-
providing one or more web-pages via the web enabled building control appliance that display information related to the operation of the HVAC system of the building; controlling what information can be accessed by a first user based, at least in part, on defined user rights privileges assigned to the first user, wherein the first user can access at least some information; and controlling what information can be accessed by a second user based, at least in part, on defined user rights privileges assigned to the second user, wherein the second user can access more information that the first user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of configuring privileges for a web enabled building control appliance that is coupled to one or more HVAC control devices, the method comprising the steps of:
-
permitting a user, via a web page provided by the web enabled building control appliance, to enter a user name for an individual; permitting the user, via a web page, to enter a user group of the individual; and assigning user rights privileges to the individual based on the user group of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of operating a building control appliance that is configured to control an HVAC system of a building, the method comprising:
-
providing one or more web-pages via the building control appliance that display information on a user interface that is related to the operation of the HVAC system of the building, the user interface being located remotely from the building; controlling what information can be displayed on the user interface by a first user based, at least in part, on defined user rights privileges assigned to the first user, wherein the first user has access to at least some information; and controlling what information can be displayed on the user interface by a second user based, at least in part, on defined user rights privileges assigned to the second user, wherein the user rights privileges of the second user allow access to more information than the user rights privileges of the first user. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification