IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,078,325
Granted Patent B2
US 8,078,325 · App. 11/982,001 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Usage monitoring HVAC control method

Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,078,325
App. No.
11/982,001
Granted
Dec 13, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are described for a usage monitoring HVAC control method. A method, includes: receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user, the requesting system user composing a plurality of system users; maintaining a data structure in an on board memory of a programmable thermostat, the data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users; and updating the data structure by adding a duration in units of time to the time associated with the requesting system user.

Claims (18)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user, the requesting system user being one of a plurality of system users;

maintaining a data structure in an on board memory of a programmable thermostat, the data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users; and

updating the data structure by adding a duration in units of time to the time associated with the requesting system user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the time entry associated with the requesting user is updated dynamically in real time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the on board memory can include a member selected from the group consisting of electrically erasable programmable read only memory, flash memory, random access memory, and network storage devices.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user, the requesting system user being one of a plurality of system users;

maintaining a data structure in an on board memory of a programmable thermostat, the data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users;

updating the data structure by adding a duration in units of time to the time associated with the requesting system user; and

reformatting the data structure to a spreadsheet format that is compatible with software on a central billing computer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising uploading the data structure to a central billing computer.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising satisfying the request for the additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for an additional period of heating ventilation and air conditioning system services from a requesting system user, the requesting system user being one of a plurality of system users;

maintaining a data structure in an on board memory of a programmable thermostat, the data structure including a list of time entries, each time entry associated with one of the plurality of system users; and

updating the data structure by adding a duration in units of time to the time associated with the requesting system user,

wherein the data structure includes a first segment associated with personal identification numbers and a second segment associated with time entries.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: MMI CONTROLS, LTD.
To: POTH INVESTMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 069710/0970 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2013
From: POTH, ROBERT J; MCDOWELL, JOHNNIE L
To: MMI CONTROLS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 030099/0335 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 11018667 · Dec 21, 2004
Continuation In Part 10817497 · Apr 2, 2004
Division 09935281 · Aug 22, 2001
Related Publication 20080183335A1 · Jul 31, 2008