Remote testing of HVAC systems

• US 8,589,111 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Simons, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, ADITYA S
• Application Number:
  US13/673,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 702/122
• US Class Current: 702/122
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/00 Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems room units F24F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A number of methods for testing an HVAC system for a building structure from a remote location outside of the building structure are disclosed. Generally, the HVAC system has a primarily active component and a primarily dormant component. The method includes the steps of transmitting a test request to the HVAC system from the remote location, performing a test on the primarily dormant component of the HVAC system in response to the test request, and producing a test result. The test result can then be transmitted to a location outside of the building structure.

Claims

1. A remote device configured to communicate with an HVAC controller, wherein the HVAC controller is for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the remote device comprising:

a communications port for sending and/or receiving information;

a memory for storing information; and

a controller coupled to the communications port and the memory, the controller configured to transmit a request to the HVAC controller via the communications port of the remote device requesting that a test be executed on a dormant component of the HVAC system, the controller is further configured to receive a test result from the HVAC controller via the communications port after the requested test on the dormant component has been executed.

2. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote device includes a cellular phone.

3. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote device includes a computer.

4. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote device includes a web server.

5. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to communicate with the HVAC controller, at least in part, over the internet.

6. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote device is configured to communicate with the HVAC controller, at least in part, over a wireless network.

7. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the controller of the remote device is configured to determine if the dormant component needs maintenance based, at least in part, on the test result received via the communications port.

8. The remote device of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to schedule a maintenance visit if it is determined that the dormant component needs maintenance.

9. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a report based, at least in part, on the test result received via the communications port.

10. A computer readable medium having stored thereon in a non-transitory state software for use by a remote device connectable to a network, the software causing the remote device to execute a method for testing an HVAC system of a building from a remote location outside of the building structure, the HVAC system having an active component and a dormant component, the method comprising:

transmitting a test request to an HVAC system over a network, the test request requesting the HVAC system perform a test on the dormant component of the HVAC system, wherein the test includes activating the dormant component;

receiving a test result indicative of one or more HVAC parameters of the dormant component from the HVAC system via the network; and

determining, based at least in part on the test result, if the dormant component needs maintenance or not.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the remote device includes a cellular phone.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the remote device includes a web server.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the remote device includes a computer.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising requesting a maintenance visit if it is determined that the dormant component needs maintenance.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the network includes a wireless network.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the network includes the internet.

17. An HVAC controller for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system comprising:

an input/output port for sending and/or receiving information;

a memory;

a controller coupled to the input/output port and the memory, the controller configured to perform a self-test on a dormant HVAC component of an HVAC system to produce a test result, the controller further configured to transmit the test result to a remote device for analysis.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to perform the test during a specified period of time.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to perform the test when the building is expected to be unoccupied.

20. The HVAC controller of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to perform the test when occupants of the building are expected to be sleeping.

21. A method for testing an HVAC system having an active component and a dormant component, the method comprising:

receiving a test request from a remote device;

activating the dormant component of the HVAC system in response to the test request;

producing a test result indicative of a response of the dormant component during the test; and

transmitting the test result to the remote device for subsequent analysis.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising scheduling a maintenance visit if during the subsequent analysis, it is determined that the dormant component needs maintenance.