Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
  • H04M11/007—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with remote control systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
  • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
  • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
  • F24F11/49—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
  • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
  • F24F11/52—Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
  • G06F11/07—Responding to the occurrence of a fault, e.g. fault tolerance
  • G06F11/0703—Error or fault processing not based on redundancy, i.e. by taking additional measures to deal with the error or fault not making use of redundancy in operation, in hardware, or in data representation
  • G06F11/0706—Error or fault processing not based on redundancy, i.e. by taking additional measures to deal with the error or fault not making use of redundancy in operation, in hardware, or in data representation the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment
  • G06F11/0748—Error or fault processing not based on redundancy, i.e. by taking additional measures to deal with the error or fault not making use of redundancy in operation, in hardware, or in data representation the processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
  • G06F11/07—Responding to the occurrence of a fault, e.g. fault tolerance
  • G06F11/0703—Error or fault processing not based on redundancy, i.e. by taking additional measures to deal with the error or fault not making use of redundancy in operation, in hardware, or in data representation
  • G06F11/0766—Error or fault reporting or storing
  • G06F11/0769—Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
  • G06F11/07—Responding to the occurrence of a fault, e.g. fault tolerance
  • G06F11/0703—Error or fault processing not based on redundancy, i.e. by taking additional measures to deal with the error or fault not making use of redundancy in operation, in hardware, or in data representation
  • G06F11/0766—Error or fault reporting or storing
  • G06F11/0784—Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/005—Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
  • G08B25/08—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using communication transmission lines
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M11/00—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
  • H04M11/002—Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems with telemetering systems

Definitions

• the invention relates to monitoring systems, and more specifically to networks for remotely monitoring the condition of devices such as those employed in heating, ventilating, and cooling (HVAC) systems.
• HVAC heating, ventilating, and cooling
• preventive maintenance and/or that may require rapid response time should a catastrophic failure occur.
• the components of a building's HVAC system must be monitored or checked frequently.
• Preventive maintenance must be performed on a constant basis, particularly with larger systems. Fault or failure conditions may vary in degrees of severity, however the contractor responsible for maintaining the HVAC equipment should be made aware of each failure in due course. Since a contractor, in all likelihood, is responsible for the care and maintenance of the installations of multiple clients, and since
• fault conditions may occur at any time of day or night, it is not practical for a contractor to remain on-site all the time.
• Remote detection at a central location (for example, the contractor's office) of fault conditions is desirable and often crucial. It is also desirable to know the approximate failure rate or frequency of failure of each piece of equipment.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,629,687 to Sutton et al. describes a universal interface for remotely-monitored security or alarm systems.
• a local control unit at a monitored site can, under an event condition, initiate a telephone call to a central control unit to alert a human operator of an event such as an intrusion, fire, or other emergency at the site.
• the local control unit via the telephone link, sends a serial number indicative of the specific site and emergency to the monitoring center computer.
• the monitoring center computer receives the serial number and alerts a human operator as to the emergency.
• the human operator can then act accordingly, e.g., establish one- or two-way communication with the local site.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,748,104 to Argyroudis et al. describes a wireless remote telemetry system which provides real-time reading and remote control of devices such as electricity meters.
• a home base unit communicates with remote metering units via cellular telephone lines.
• the home base unit also communicates with a central controller operated by the electric utility. When the utility determines that there is too much load on the power grid, for example, the central controller can send messages to an appliance to turn off.
• a customer could also remotely activate or deactivate an appliance via a cellular phone through the home base unit.
• U.S. Patent No. 5,061,916 to French et al. describes a system for remotely reporting, in graphical format, alarms or other conditions in a building's automation system. Sensors in a building are hooked up via a telephone line to control module which is, in turn, hooked up to a central controller. When a sensor detects a fault condition, graphical information is compiled at the central controller and transmitted to one or more remote facsimile machines.
• a customer that has an HVAC system with a monitoring network may want to send certain non-emergency condition notifications (e.g., filter needs cleaning) to certain individuals (e.g., contractor/maintenance personnel) via a certain medium (e.g., e-mail) and emergency condition notifications (e.g., low or high refrigerant pressure) to other individuals (building owner, contractor, etc.) via other means (e.g., via beeper or other personal communication device).
• a certain medium e.g., e-mail
• emergency condition notifications e.g., low or high refrigerant pressure
• Such a list of who to contact via what means depending on which fault has occurred may be referred to as a "message profile”.
• the conventional device/contractor interface requires a dedicated land line at both the HVAC device and the contractor; that is, the HVAC system requires its own phone line, and the contractor must have a dedicated modem line as well. Moreover, the conventional system does not allow for easy customer modifications to the message profile. The conventional systems also do not allow the user to determine the failure rate of the equipment or to determine which pieces of equipment are best suited for a specific site.
• the steps include determining a state of at least one parameter of at least one piece of remote equipment, communicating messages regarding the state to a central location as incoming messages, and forwarding exception messages based on the incoming messages to at least one user-defined end device.
• a state of at least one parameter of multiple pieces of remote equipment is determined.
• the state of the parameter of each piece is communicated to one communication substation.
• the communication substation sends messages regarding the state to a central location as incoming messages. Exception messages are forwarded based on the incoming messages to at least one user-defined end device.
• the step of communicating with the communication substation is performed over a local radio network, and the step of communicating messages to a central location is performed over a cellular network.
• the invention also includes a method of monitoring remote heating, ventilating, and cooling equipment.
• a state of at least one parameter of at least one piece of remote equipment is determined.
• Messages are communicated regarding the state to a central location as incoming messages.
• Outgoing exception messages are forwarded based on the incoming messages to at least one user-defined communication device.
• At least one of the incoming messages and outgoing exception messages are stored at the central location.
• An information data base is created about the remote equipment being monitored by enabling the stored messages to be sortable by at least one equipment criterion, such as brand, model, installation date, site climate, site weather conditions, etc.
• the inventive system includes a sensor in communication with a piece of remote equipment, and an interface unit, connected to the sensor, having a message generating mechanism.
• a central computer server is in communication with the interface unit and is adapted to receive messages generated by the interface unit.
• the interface unit When the sensor detects an exception condition in the piece of remote equipment (i.e., an operating condition that is either out of the ordinary or beyond nominal parameters), the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server.
• the server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined end device based on the incoming exception message.
• the inventive system includes sensors each respectively in communication with pieces of remote equipment, local transmitters each respectively connected to the sensors that send respective signals from the sensors, and an interface unit, receiving the signals, the interface unit having a message generating mechanism.
• a central computer server is in communication with the interface unit and is adapted to receive messages generated by the interface unit.
• the local transmitter sends a signal to the interface unit.
• the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server.
• the server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined end device based on the incoming exception message.
• the local transmitter is a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and the interface unit communicates to the server via cellular telephone or digital PCS means.
• RF radio frequency
• the respective states of a plurality of parameters of at least one piece of remote equipment are determined via a plurality of sensors.
• the information detected or gleaned from the sensors is grouped via ladder logic, preferably in the form of a programmable logic controller (PLC).
• PLC programmable logic controller
• Messages regarding the grouped information are communicated from the remote equipment to a central location as incoming messages.
• Outgoing exception messages are forwarded based on the incoming messages to at least one user-defined communication device.
• the inventive system includes a plurality of sensors each monitoring a different parameter of the remote equipment.
• An interface unit is provided having a PLC connected to the sensors; the PLC performs Boolean expressions on signals received from the sensors and has a predetermined configuration.
• the interface unit also has a message generating mechanism.
• the system also includes a central computer server in communication with the interface unit adapted to receive messages generated by the interface unit.
• the PLC of the interface unit performs Boolean expressions on the signals in accordance with its predetermined configuration, and the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server.
• the server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined communication device based on the incoming exception message.
• the system can contact a customer or contractor via a number of different media (fax, e-mail, pager, etc.) in case of an equipment failure.
• the contractor can determine which people to contact and which medium to use for which equipment failure. For example, if the condition is not very serious (e.g., filter needs cleaning), the contractor can set up the system to send a message via e-mail; if, however, it is serious (e.g., low/high refrigerant pressure), then the system can page the contractor and/or send a text message over his personal cornmunication service (PCS).
• PCS personal cornmunication service
• the system includes the capability to send multiple messages to multiple recipients via differing media simultaneously for a given exception condition.
• the system includes a centralized electronic message delivery device or server that routes the various incoming exception messages to the desired individuals via the desired electronic media in accordance with the predetermined message profile. More preferably, the contractor or consumer can access the centralized message server via the Internet and modify the message profile through software on the device.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of a system according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of a link between the monitored equipment and the system according to the invention.
• Figs. 3a-d are schematics of links between an end-user's machine and the system according to the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a schematic of a preferred embodiment of the electronic message delivery server according to the invention.
• Fig. 5 is a flow chart depicting the operation of the system according to the invention.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic of a local RF network linking several pieces of equipment together in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 7 is a ladder logic diagram in accordance with the invention for an exemplary air conditioning unit.
• Equipment that needs to be monitored frequently preferably operates within certain acceptable parameters. Some of these parameters are more crucial to the operation and/or life span of the equipment than are other parameters. For example, a low battery condition might be a lot less serious than a low coolant level condition. Whenever a piece of equipment operates outside its preferred parameters, an "exception" condition is created or said to exist. An exception condition can also be indicative of a regularly scheduled event occurring too often, too infrequently, or not at all. An exception condition could also be indicative of a measured value being beyond the design specification for the equipment.
• a monitored piece of equipment When a monitored piece of equipment detects an exception condition, it activates its interface to the cellular phone network.
• the interface effectively acts as a cell phone in a roaming condition.
• the interface "attempts" to make a telephone call; because it is not recognized as being a resident of the local cell, the local cell (via the cellular network or mobile switching center) contacts the "home cell" of the interface to insure that the interface is in good standing to complete the "call."
• the local cell When the local cell is contacting the message routing service, it transmits the following information: the serial number of the interface; the multi-digit "phone number” assigned to the interface; and the multi-digit phone number that the interface is "attempting to call.”
• the message routing service tells the local cell that the interface is okay and should not be blacklisted, that the call need not go through, and that the interface should be removed from the "okay to roam" list immediately.
• the interface is not really trying to call anyone; the multi-digit phone number it was trying to call represents a multi-digit code of information that is being sent to the message routing service and may represent fault information (e.g., 212-555-1212 means "filter needs cleaning").
• the phone number assigned to the interface (which is also sent along with the phone number it is "trying to contact") may not only indicates which unit is doing the transmitting but may also convey fault information, since many of the devices being monitored do not have a large number of different fault conditions.
• This type of technology in which information is transmitted in the handshaking portion of a cellular transmitter communicating to a local cell, appears in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,594,740 to LaDue and 5,546,444 to Roach, Jr. et al., and is commonly referred to as using control channel data.
• LaDue the Aeris version
• the exception or status information is embedded in the
• the exception or status information is embedded in the electronic serial number (ESN) of the interface, a number which identifies the physical hardware of the device.
• ESN electronic serial number
• the information which identifies which interface has sent a message may be embedded in the mobile identification number (MIN) assigned to the interface unit.
• MIN mobile identification number assigned to the interface unit.
• the ESN may also contain interface identification information.
• the present invention expands on this technology and includes the message delivery technique mentioned above.
• the Aeris or Bell South Cellemetry router transmits the exception data to the inventive message delivery system which forwards the information to the contractor who is responsible for maintaining the faulty equipment.
• the contractor is provided with an account on the message delivery system that he can access via the Internet.
• the contractor sets up the specific parameters of which exception conditions are reported to which individuals.
• the contractor also sets up by which media (fax, e-mail, PCS) these individuals are to be notified. Multiple individuals may be alerted as to a exception condition. All of this data constitutes the contractor's message profile.
• both the contractor and the owner of the premises might be signaled if there is a low/high refrigerant condition, however perhaps only one of them would be notified if a filter required cleaning.
• the user may also set, as part of the message profile, that different messages be delivered to different individuals at different times of the day, week, month, season, or year. For example, a high priority exception message may be directed to one repair/maintenance entity during regular business hours but be directed to a different repair/maintenance entity at night. Similarly, the same person could be contacted by different means (e.g., fax or PCS) at different times.
• the content of the messages may also vary as a function of time.
• the interface may be programmed to check in once a day with an "all systems okay" message.
• This "okay” message also gets routed to the message delivery system.
• the "okay" message is checked by a missing message subroutine.
• the missing message subroutine checks the entire list of HVAC interfaces that are supposed to signal "okay" from the message delivery system database.
• the missing message subroutine compares the entire list to the list of HVAC interfaces that actually checked in as "okay".
• the message delivery system sends out the appropriate messages to the proper individuals via the selected media, all in accordance with the user's message profile lodged in the user's account with the message delivery system.
• the periodic "okay” or status message is not merely limited to providing a status "heartbeat" for the equipment but may also be employed to transmit information about the monitored piece of equipment.
• the status message only requires a portion of its digits to convey equipment identification information, thus allowing other information to be transmitted as well.
• the status message may include statistical information about the equipment such as how many cycles it has performed since the last message, the run time of the motor, etc.
• the status message may also serve as a reminder for routine maintenance, or it may report very minor or low-priority conditions that are not time sensitive.
• the format of the message sent from the failing device to the local cell to the router to the message delivery system is a multi-digit code.
• the first digit can be for message format (e.g., status message, exception message, etc.).
• the sub-address is a digit or two reserved to identify to which unit that a transceiver interface is assigned is experiencing an exception condition; i.e., one transceiver interface may be assigned to a building having nine HVAC units, all connected to the transceiver via a bus line, or one interface may be part of a local RF network where each of multiple HVAC units has its own transmitter.
• the final digits would indicate the specific exception condition.
• the multi-digit message received by the message delivery system is normalized, converted into a regular text message, and forwarded to the user/contractor.
• Information can also include model, brand, installation date, and climate and weather data for the site. Alternatively, much of this type of equipment criteria can be stored at the central data base so that only the equipment identification information need be transmitted.
• a number of pieces of equipment may be linked to a single cellular interface via a local RF network. This is advantageous because many buildings have multiple pieces of HVAC equipment, and the provision of each piece with its own cellular interface is expensive. The deployment of a local RF network is also advantageous when the multiple HVAC units are fairly remote and a hardwired connection to a common bus line would be impractical or impossible.
• Figure 1 shows an overall view of the inventive system 50.
• An existing piece of equipment may be monitored, for example; an air-conditioner 2, boiler 3, motor starter 4, heater 5, or any other piece of equipment they may be desired to be monitored.
• the existing piece of equipment is fitted with an interface unit 10.
• the interface unit 10 sends to the message delivery server 1 a status signal to let the message delivery server 1 know that the equipment being monitored and the interface unit 10 are functioning correctly.
• the interface unit 10 sends an incoming exception message to the message delivery server 1.
• the message delivery server 1 then routes the message as an outgoing exception message to the appropriate user interface; e-mail 6, fax 7, pager 8, voice 9, etc., according to the message profile as configured by the user of the system 21 via the Internet 122.
• the inventive system can be deployed on existing pieces of remote equipment.
• Various sensors can be added to an air conditioner, a boiler, etc. that can detect various conditions.
• different sensors can be provided throughout the system each to detect a different condition such as low or high pressure , a condensate spill, air flow, fan motion, compressor function, etc.
• Any and all conventional sensors are contemplated as being usable in the invention, including but not limited to pressure sensors, pitot tubes, motion sensors, photosensors, electrical resistance sensors, moisture sensors, magnetic sensors, and the like.
• the various sensors in a monitored piece of equipment are preferably arranged in ladder logic configurations in programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Each sensor is responsible for detecting a certain condition or monitoring a certain parameter. These sensors can be grouped via Boolean logic operators (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, etc.) to provide the circumstances under which an exception condition is defined.
• PLCs programmable logic controllers
• a ladder logic PLC for a typical air conditioning unit is shown in Fig. 7.
• Sensor 604 detects low pressure in the coolant
• sensor 605 detects high pressure in the coolant
• sensor 606 detects if the fan is working
• sensor 607 detects if the compressor is working
• sensor 608 determines if a condensate spill has occurred
• sensor 609 detects if the compressor is working.
• Some of the logic is direct and simple. For example, if sensor 605 detects a high pressure condition, high pressure message 101 is sent via the message generating mechanism of interface unit 10. Similarly, if sensor 608 detects a condensate spill, message 102 is sent.
• the dip switches are provided to allow certain portions of the logic to be disabled if a customer is not interested in receiving a certain type of message. For example, a sensor could be set to detect if a compressor is cycling fast and to send a "fast cycle" message in that event. However, if the user has the compressor deliberately set up to cycle fast, the user will not want to receive a constant stream of messages informing him that the compressor is cycling fast. Instead, a dip switch can be set to disable that message from being sent.
• the conventional dip switch is adjustable on-site. The invention contemplates also enabling the user to set up virtual dip switches via the Internet at a central server as will be explained below.
• Each PLC can be different for each unit, type of unit, brand, model, etc.
• the PLC may be hard wired at the remote installation site.
• the various sensors can be linked via computer software at a web site that interacts with system 21. For example, instead of sending out a low pressure message 100 for a low pressure condition and a high pressure message 101 for a high pressure condition, a user can OR the outputs of sensors 604 and 605 together for the sending out of an "abnormal pressure" message.
• a user can adjust a logic ladder in the same or similar fashion as one would edit a message profile, e.g., by menu-driven websites, by an automated telephone response system, etc. The user can, of course, request an initial hardwired configuration of the system installer and have that adjusted on-site as needed.
• each piece of equipment 1-4 is provided with its own interface unit 10.
• Another configuration is shown in Fig. 6.
• four air conditioners 2A-D are each provided with sensor 600 and an RF transmitter 601.
• transmitter 601 transmits an RF signal 610 to a common interface unit 10 A.
• Common interface unit 10A includes antenna A for receiving signals 610.
• Unit 10A sends incoming messages to the electronic message delivery server 1 via link 11 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1.
• FIG. 1 is for receiving incoming exception and status messages from interfaces 10 which are in regions wired for sending data via the dialed digits control channel; link l ib forwards messages along the ESN channel to the message server 1.
• FIGs 3a- d show a more detailed view of the various outbound links 12a-d that connect the server 1 to the various electronic media.
• server 1 sends the message over a telephone line 18a to the Internet 122 and deposits the message in the user's e-mail box 6.
• server 1 sends the message over a telephone line 18b through the public telephone switched network (PTSN) 19 to the user's fax machine 7.
• PTSN public telephone switched network
• server 1 sends the message over a telephone line 18c to the user's pager service 53 and thence to the user's pager or PCS 8.
• server 1 sends the message over a telephone line 18d through the PTSN 19 to the user's voice mail box 9.
• the same message may also be sent to a number of other devices as configured by the user 121 over the Internet 122.
• the same message that is being sent to a fax machine 7 as described above may also simultaneously be sent to an e-mail 6 recipient via the Internet.
• different messages can be sent to different individuals simultaneously for the same fault condition; for example, the owner of the premises may receive a less-detailed message than the contractor.
• a user's message profile can also be configured to store messages on server 1 for delivery at a later time or after certain conditions are met. For example, a contractor may not want his beeper activated every time server 1 receives an incoming exception message.
• the user profile can be configured to deliver messages on groups or only after several messages have accumulated for the same user/contractor.
• an outgoing exception message may be generated only after several of the same type of incoming message are received; a portion of the memory of server 1 may be devoted to the storing and/or accumulating of messages.
• a single outgoing exception message may be generated in response to several incoming messages.
• the user can configure virtual dip switches to enable or disable certain error messages.
• Conventional hardwired dip switches must be adjusted on site at the remote equipment.
• Virtual dip switches are software subroutines stored in server 1 which allow the user to toggle on or off certain portions of the ladder logic of the PLCs controlling the sensors of the remote equipment.
• the user can go to a website on the Internet 122 and, through menu-driven commands, enable or disable sections of the ladder logic just as he would be able to by flipping conventional dip switches at the installation site of the remote equipment. Additionally, the user will be able to configure the logic of the PLC remotely via the Internet as well.
• a user may also control the functioning of a remote device in this way, via the Internet.
• the user can enter commands at the website or other Internet interface, and those commands are forwarded to the server 1.
• a command message may be sent to the remote device through interface unit 10.
• Such command messages allow the user to activate, deactivate, and otherwise control the appliance.
• the interface unit 10 can receive these command messages because the means by which the unit 10 communicates with the server, e.g., the cellular telephone network, is bi-directional. As a result of this bi-directionality, incoming links 1 la-d may also be used to communicate with the devices through their respective interface units 10.
• FIG. 4 shows the details of the message delivery server 1.
• server 1 includes four hardware devices 200, 300, 400, and 500.
• Device 200 is responsible for receiving incoming messages, processing them in accordance with the user's preferences, and routing them for output. Messages may be temporarily stored or accumulated on device 200 before being transmitted to the user if the user's message profile is set up accordingly.
• Device 300 enables the user 121 to access server 1 and create or edit his message profile residing in relational data base 21 of device 200.
• Device 400 includes the various drivers 33 which are responsible for transmitting the various messages to the various media (fax, e-mail, etc.).
• Device 500 includes billing computer 38 for keeping track of the charges and fees associated with the user's use of the service.
• a relational data base 21 At the core of server 1 is a relational data base 21. Incoming messages are received by a specific service designed to handle both the transport method and message formatting. Every interface unit 10 is provided, like a cellular telephone, with an electronic serial number (ESN, to identify the specific interface unit sending the message) and a mobile
• the dialed digits control channel module 25 specifically receives messages that are encoded in the control channel's dialed digits (see US Patent 5,594,740).
• the ESN control channel module 24 receives messages that are encode in the electronic serial number of the message (US Patent 5,546,444). It is preferable to have both a dialed digits module 25 and an ESN module 24, because some geographic regions employ dialed digit data coding, while other regions employ ESN data coding.
• Information may be transmitted via the MIN of the interface 10 and also received by message delivery server 1. Services are also available to receive messages for analog modems connected to the public telephone switched network 23, and the cellular digital packet data network 22. As additional methods of transmitting data become available, they can be added to the services layer.
• All incoming messages are normalized at the normalization module 26 so that all incoming messages can then be processed without regard to their incoming medium. All incoming messages are passed to the normal message subroutine 27, exception messages are passed on for processing and routing via the user's configuration through the data base 21, and periodic status messages are queued.
• the missing message subroutine 28 compares received status messages with a list of expected messages. Status messages that are not received have an error message generated by the missing message subroutine 28 which are then delivered as configured by the user in his message profile as recorded in the relational database 21.
• Messages to be delivered are placed in a message queue 32; as message traffic permits the appropriate drivers 33 request messages from the message queue 32 and route the messages over the appropriate transport. Numeric pages, faxes, voice and DTMF 34 are sent over the PTSN 12b-d, e-mail 35 is sent over the Internet 122.
• a driver 33 has successfully delivered, a record is made in the data base 21 by the delivery confirmation subroutine 31 showing time and date of successful deliveries. Undeliverable messages are routed back to the database for generation of undeliverable message errors.
• Users 121 connect to an Internet information server 30 via the Internet 122.
• the Internet information server presents to the user the information pertaining to that user's interfaces. Requests to alter the user's data are passed through active server pages 29 to protect both the integrity and security of the data base 21. All messages and transactions that pass through the system are logged in section 36, the transaction and message logs are then interfaced by section 37 to a billing system 38.
• a portion of the memory in relational data base 21 is preferably used to compile data regarding the devices being monitored over time.
• data is sortable by any number of different criteria, including brand of equipment, specific models of equipment, installation date (and thus the age of the equipment), the general local climate in which the equipment is installed (e.g., arid, humid, warm, rainy, etc.), local weather conditions in a given period of time, and the like.
• This information is usable in a number of different ways.
• a user can log in via the Internet, for example, and find out the maintenance history of his specific units to see which are the most reliable or most unreliable. Alternatively, a user can check to see which brands or models generally are the most reliable for any given conditions (age, climate, weather, etc.).
• the information may be collated and processed by the operator of data base 21 and published by any number of different criteria. Any of the various messages may be stored for this purpose, e.g., the incoming messages from the interface units, the normalized messages output from the normalization module, the outgoing messages, normal status messages, etc.
• An example of the system's operation is as follows.
• a user-contractor 121 first signs up with the system 50, he receives an account on the electronic message delivery server 1. Via the Internet, the contractor 121 is prompted through software to enter the pager numbers, cellular telephone numbers, facsimile machine numbers, and Internet addresses of any individuals who are to be contacted in the event of an exception condition in building equipment 2-5 for which the contractor is responsible.
• the user-contractor 121 may also set the software to notify him of the periodic successful routine status check messages conveyed from equipment 2-5.
• Fig. 5 depicts a flow chart of the basic steps that occur when a message is received by server 1.
• step S 1 the message is received.
• normalization module 26 removes the required elements from the incoming message and arranges them in a normalized format and stores them as a record in a table.
• Server 1 can now examine a specific element in a message of any received media type.
• step S3 it is determined what type of error message has been received. If it is an exception message that requires immediate action, it is passed onto a process to begin configuration of a readable message at step S4 for delivery at step S5. If not, server 1 determines if the received message is a "unit checking in” or a "system ok" status message at step S6.
• a storing/accumulating step (not shown) may occur between steps S4 and S5. Undefined messages are handled at step S7. If it is configured as a periodic message received to indicate normal operation of a unit, the message is stored at step S8 for use at a
• step S8 the list of units that have reported in at step S8 and the list of active units expected to report in (part of database 21) are compared at step S9. Units on the active list that do not appear on the checked-in units list are processed, and units that failed to report in have messages created at step S10. These messages are then posted for further processing and message delivery at step S5.
• the invention is designed to be adaptable to all forms of electronic communication, be they cellular telephone, land line telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, text page, voice mail, etc. All forms of electronic media are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. Also, multiple formats of incoming and outgoing messages are contemplated as included within the scope of the claims and the invention. The user can adjust the format and content of the messages he receives by setting up his message profile accordingly.
• the invention is also not limited to use in monitoring HVAC equipment but is contemplated to be useful for maintaining all forms of remote equipment. For example, the inventive system and method would prove extremely expedient is monitoring and replacing warning lights on cellular towers, radio transmitter towers, and other remote structures.

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• 2000
  • 2000-01-07 BR BR0007425-0A patent/BR0007425A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
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  • 2000-01-07 CA CA002358536A patent/CA2358536A1/en not_active Abandoned
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