Transfer of controller customizations

• US 20050040250A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wruck, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/4492 containing special additives, e.g. grinding agents
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A device and method that may be used at nearly any place to set and adjust a control system such as a thermostat, controller or computer having numerous parameters and options that may be selected for desired operation of an air management system. One may remotely, via a personal digital assistant or computer, configure, commission, select, set or adjust the parameters and options of a control system. The configuration information may be shared with other personal digital assistants in a wireless or non-wireless manner. Further, enhanced diagnostics and repair may be achieved with the sending of configuration information from one PDA or computer to a PDA or computer at a diagnostic and repair facility. New modifications and calibration may be provided for the configuration. Such added information and configuring may be sent back to the originating PDA or computer for the providing to the controller or thermostat.

Claims

1. A configuration transfer system comprising:

a first configuration tool having a first communication port;

a second configuration tool having a second communication port; and

a first link between the first and second communication ports; and

wherein a controller configuration can be transferred via the first link between the first and second configuration tools.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first link is a wireless link.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least another configuration tool having a third communication port; and

a second link between the first and third communication ports; and

wherein the controller configuration can be transferred via the second link between the first configuration tool and the at least another configuration tool.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

the controller is a thermostat; and

the configuration tools are personal digital assistants.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second links are infrared light.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second links are radio frequency radiation.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein one of the first and second links is at least partially a non-wireless link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-wireless links are at least partially optical conductors.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a security mechanism connected to the first configuration tool.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second links are selected from a group of links consisting of optical conveyance, SMS, GMS, Bluetooth, WiFi, LAN, internet and email.

11. A method for configuration transfer management, comprising:

providing a first configuration tool having a controller configuration;

providing a second configuration tool; and

transferring the controller configuration from the first configuration tool to the second configuration tool.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transferring of the controller configuration is wireless.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a controller;

transferring a controller configuration from the controller to the first configuration tool; and

transferring the controller configuration from the first configuration tool to the second configuration tool.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transferring the controller configuration to at least another configuration tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the controller is a thermostat; and

the configuration tool is a personal digital assistant.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a second controller;

transferring the controller configuration from the at least another configuration tool to the second controller.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring is via infrared light.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring is via RF radiation.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring is via at least partially a non-wireless medium.

20. Means for configuration management, comprising:

means for controlling at least one parameter according to a controller configuration;

first means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring a controller configuration;

at least another means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring a controller configuration; and

wherein;

the transferring a controller configuration is between the first means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring and the means for controlling a parameter; and

the transferring a controller configuration is between the first means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring and the at least another means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring.

21. The means of claim 20, wherein the receiving and transferring is via a wireless manner.

22. The means of claim 21, wherein the receiving and transferring is via infrared light.

23. The means of claim 21, wherein the receiving and transferring is via RF radiation.

24. The means of claim 20, wherein the receiving and transferring is via at least partially a non-wireless medium.

25. The means of claim 21, wherein the means for controlling at least one parameter is a thermostat.

26. The means of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring is a personal digital assistant.

27. The means of claim 21, wherein the means for receiving, modifying, holding and transferring is a personal digital assistant.

28. A configuration system comprising:

a controller having a controller customization;

a first configuration tool having a first communication link with the controller; and

a second configuration tool having a second communication link with the first configuration tool; and

wherein;

the controller can provide the controller customization to the first configuration tool; and

the first configuration tool can provide the controller customization to the second configuration tool.

29. The configuration system of claim 28, wherein:

the second configuration tool can modify the controller customization into a second controller customization;

the second configuration tool can provide a second controller customization to the first configuration tool; and

the first configuration tool can provide the second controller customization to the controller.

30. The configuration system of claim 29, wherein:

the first controller customization may be diagnosed with a problem; and

the second controller customization may have the problem removed.

31. The configuration system of claim 30, wherein:

the first communication link is wireless and real-time; and

the second communication link is wireless and real-time.

32. The configuration system of claim 31, wherein the controller is a thermostat having a thermostat customization.

33. The configuration system of claim 32, further comprising at least another configuration tool having a communication link with the first configuration tool.

34. The configuration system of claim 33, wherein the configuration tools are personal digital assistants.

35. A method for providing technical support, comprising:

providing a controller having a configuration;

providing via a first communication link the configuration from the controller to a first configuring tool;

providing via a second communication link to pass the configuration from the first configuring tool to a second configuring tool;

checking and repairing the configuration at the second configuring tool;

returning the configuration from the second configuring tool to the first configuring tool via the second communication link; and

returning the configuration to the controller from the first configuring tool via the first communication link.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first communication link is wireless; and

the second communication link is wireless.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first and second communication links are real-time.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein:

the controller is a thermostat; and

the configuration is a thermostat customization;

39. The method of claim 38, wherein:

the first configuring tool is a personal digital assistant; and

the second configuring tool is a personal digital assistant.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein;

the first communication link is at least partially non-wireless; and

the second communication link is at least partially non-wireless.

41. A configuration transfer system comprising:

a first personal digital assistant; and

at least another personal digital assistant having a wireless link to the first personal digital assistant; and

a controller having a wireless link with at least one personal digital assistant; and

wherein;

the least one personal digital assistant can upload a controller customization from the controller; and

the least one personal digital assistant can pass the controller customization to the at least another personal digital assistant.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller is a thermostat having a thermostat customization.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein an at least one personal digital assistant can configure the thermostat customization.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one personal digital assistant can diagnose and repair or calibrate, as needed, the thermostat customization.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one personal digital assistant contains a plurality of thermostat customizations for downloading to a thermostat.