Patent ID: 7003378
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: F24F,G05B,G06Q,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: providing a usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system, the usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system including a programmable digital thermostat with an on board memory; issuing personal identification numbers to each of a plurality of system users; associating each of the plurality of system users with at least one of a plurality of user types; storing the personal identification numbers in a first data structure in the on board memory; and linking each one of a plurality of entries in the first data structure by reference to at least one of a plurality of entries in a second data structure in the on board memory, the second data structure including a list of user types; and recording and accruing usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system usage data in the on board memory of the programmable digital thermostat according to each of the plurality of system users' personal identification numbers, wherein hours of additional usage monitoring heating ventilation and air conditioning control system usage for each of the plurality of system users is accrued in the on board memory of the programmable digital thermostat according to each user's personal identification number.