System for monitoring optimal equipment operating parameters

• US 20040088069A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Cold Chain LP
• Original Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Abtar
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/005 of safety devices F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence
• 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: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system for monitoring equipment operating parameters of a remote system includes a monitor that communicates with a controller of the remote system, and at least one piece of equipment operable within the remote system, and that communicates with the controller. The equipment has at least one associated operating parameter. The monitor compares a present value of the associated operating parameter to a previous value to determine a difference therebetween. The difference is associated with a cost, measuring the cost of operating the equipment at the present operating parameter.

Claims

1. A set-point monitoring system in communication with a controller of a remote system having at least one piece of equipment operating at an associated set-point, the set-point monitoring system comprising:

a monitor in communication with the controller and the at least one piece of equipment, said monitor monitoring a present value of the associated set-point and compares said present value to a previous value of said associated set-point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor continuously monitors the associated set-point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor periodically monitors the associated set-point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor is alerted to a change in the associated set-point.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said previous value is a benchmark value.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said previous value is a previously monitored value.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor records said present value if different than said previous value.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication network enabling communication between said monitor and the remote system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said communication network is the internet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor associates a cost based on comparing said present value to said previous value.

11. A method of monitoring optimal equipment operating parameters of a remote system, comprising:

monitoring an operating parameter of a piece of equipment of the remote system;

comparing a present value of said operating parameter to a previous value;

indicating a change if said present value is different than said previous value; and

communicating said operating parameter, said present value to a monitoring system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising accessing said monitoring system via a communication network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said previous value is a benchmark value.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said previous value is a previously monitored value.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said monitor records said present value if different than said previous value.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said operating parameter is a set point.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a communication network to enable communication between said monitoring system, and the remote system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication network is the internet.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a controller associated with the remote system, said controller communicating with said monitoring system.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a difference between said present value and said previous value; and

associating said difference with a monetary value to indicate a change in cost as a result of said difference.

21. A method of monitoring optimal equipment set-points of a plurality of remote systems, comprising:

monitoring set-points associated with equipment of the plurality of remote systems;

comparing present values of said set-points to corresponding previous values;

indicating respective changes if said present values are different than said previous values; and

communicating said present values and said previous values of said set-points to a monitoring system.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising accessing said monitoring system via a communication network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said previous values are benchmark values.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said previous values are previously monitored values.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said monitor records said present values if different than said previous values.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a communication network to enable communication between said monitoring system and the plurality of remote systems.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said communication network is the internet.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing controllers associated with each of the plurality of remote systems, said controllers communicating with said monitoring system.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining respective differences between said present values and said previous values; and

associating said differences with monetary values to indicate a change in costs as a result of said differences.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising totaling said monetary values to determine one of an aggregate increased and decreased cost.