IP Library Granted Patent US 11,703,238
Granted Patent B2
US 11,703,238 · App. 16/827,369 · Granted Jul 18, 2023

Remote access control of HVAC system

Inventors: John W. Uerkvitz (Valley Center, KS); Theresa N. Gillette (Wichita, KS); Brian D. Rigg (Douglass, KS); Shaun B. Atchison (Wichita, KS)
Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
F24F11/30F24F11/52F24F11/56F24F11/64F24F11/65G05B19/0426F24F2120/12F24F2120/20G05B2219/2614
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,703,238
App. No.
16/827,369
Granted
Jul 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive an input indicative of a user location, perform a verification that the user location is within a determined distance from the HVAC system, and control access to system settings of the HVAC system based on the verification.

Claims (28)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive an input indicative of a user request to access a first predefined version of a system settings menu of the HVAC system; receive an input indicative of a user location; output a first signal to enable access to a first mode of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the user location is within a determined distance from the HVAC system, wherein the first mode comprises access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system, and cause a user interface to display the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system; block access to the first mode of the HVAC system and the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system after a period of time since enabling access to the first mode of the HVAC system is elapsed, and output a second signal to enable access to a second mode of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the user location is not within the determined distance from the HVAC system, wherein the second mode comprises access to a second predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system, and cause the user interface to display the second predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system,

wherein the first mode comprises a dealer mode, a diagnostic mode, or both, the second mode comprises a status mode, and the second predefined version of the system settings menu is configured to enable viewing of less information than the first predefined version of the system settings menu.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the input indicative of the user location from a global positioning system (GPS).

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein the global positioning system (GPS) is a component of a mobile device having the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the determined distance is calculated based on a location of a thermostat of the HVAC system.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the determined distance is one mile or less.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive an input indicative of a homeowner authorization; and

enable access to the first mode of the HVAC system based on the homeowner authorization.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to output a signal to cause a user device to provide a prompt configured to receive the homeowner authorization.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to output a third signal to cause the user interface to display a notification indicative of blocked access to the first mode of the HVAC system in response to the determination that the user location is not within the determined distance from the HVAC system.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the period of time based on a type of the HVAC system, a type of thermostat of the HVAC system, a type of work to be performed on the HVAC system, an input provided by an owner of the HVAC system, or a combination thereof.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the first predefined version of the system settings menu is configured to enable viewing of one or more settings of the HVAC system and enable adjustment of the one or more settings of the HVAC system, and the second predefined version of the system settings menu is configured to enable viewing of the one or more settings of the HVAC system and block adjustment of the one or more settings of the HVAC system.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the determined distance based on at least two of: a type of the HVAC system, a type of thermostat of the HVAC system, a type of work to be performed on the HVAC system, and an input provided by an owner of the HVAC system.

12. A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: a thermostat configured to at least partially control operation of the HVAC system; and a controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive an input indicative of a user request to access a first predefined version of a system settings menu of the HVAC system; receive an input indicative of a user location; output a first signal to enable access to a first mode of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the user location is within a determined distance from the HVAC system, wherein the first mode comprises a dealer mode, a diagnostic mode, or both, configured to enable access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system, and cause a user interface to display the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system; block access to the first mode of the HVAC system and the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system after a period of time since allowing access to the first mode of the HVAC system is elapsed; and output a second signal to enable access to a second mode of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the user location is not within the determined distance from the HVAC system, wherein the second mode comprises a status mode configured to enable access to a second predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system, and cause the user interface to display the second predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system,

wherein the second predefined version of the system settings menu is configured to enable viewing of less information than the first predefined version of the system settings menu.

13. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the first mode is configured to enable adjustment of equipment settings of the HVAC system.

14. The HVAC system of claim 13 , wherein the thermostat comprises a graphical user interface configured to display the first predefined version of the system settings menu.

15. The HVAC system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive an input indicative of a homeowner authorization; and

enable access to the first mode of the HVAC system based on the homeowner authorization.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive an input indicative of a user request to access a first predefined version of a system settings menu of the HVAC system; receive an input indicative of a user location; output a first signal to enable access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system in a first mode and to cause a user interface to display the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the user location is within a determined distance from the HVAC system; deny access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system after a period of time since allowing access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system is elapsed; and output a second signal to enable access to a second predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system in a second mode in response to a determination that the user location is not within the determined distance from the HVAC system, wherein the second predefined version of the system settings menu is configured to enable viewing of less information than the first predefined version of the system settings menu,

wherein the first mode comprises a dealer mode, a diagnostic mode, or both, and the second mode comprises a status mode.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the input indicative of the user location from a global positioning system (GPS).

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the global positioning system (GPS) is a component of a mobile device having the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive an input indicative of an additional user location after outputting the first signal to enable access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system and cause the user interface to display the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system; and

deny access to the first predefined version of the system settings menu of the HVAC system in response to a determination that the additional user location is not within the determined distance from the HVAC system.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2025
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 072298/0096 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2025
From: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS LIGHT COMMERCIAL IP GMBH
Reel/Frame 070179/0435 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
To: TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067832/0947 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2022
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
Reel/Frame 058959/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2021
From: UERKVITZ, JOHN W.; GILLETTE, THERESA N.; RIGG, BRIAN D.; ATCHISON, SHAUN B.
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057058/0153 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62988753 · Mar 12, 2020
Related Publication 20210285668A1 · Sep 16, 2021