Abstract:
A control system for operating the HVAC systems within a building to control the environmental conditions within a building having an onsite component networked to a remote offsite component. The onsite component monitors the conditions within the building and operates the HVAC systems, while the offsite component can be used by the system provider to communicate updates to the onsite component and monitor the effectiveness of the control algorithms used to operate the HVAC systems. The invention includes the method of providing tailored HVAC related controls, reports, notices and diagnostic services to a client under various subscription plans.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/647,350 entitled CLOUD BASED BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS and filed May 15, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to control systems for operation heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems based on monitored environmental conditions within the building. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a central control system for HVAC systems having stored control algorithms for operating the HVAC systems and linkable to a cloud for receiving updated control algorithms. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Automated HVAC systems maintain environmental conditions within a building by monitoring environmental conditions within a building and adjusting operation of the HVAC systems accordingly. Typically, environmental conditions measured by sensors or thermostats positioned throughout the building are collected at a central controller, which calculates the appropriate operating instructions for the HVAC systems based on stored control algorithms. As HVAC systems are often highly energy intensive to operate, the control algorithms are typically designed to operate the HVAC systems to minimally achieve the desired environmental conditions so as to minimize the amount energy consumed. 
         [0004]    The inherent challenge of designing control algorithms for HVAC systems is that each building is unique requiring different operating parameters for the HVAC systems. Constant factors such as building dimensions and internal structures can vary the appropriate operating parameters for the HVAC system. Similarly, variable factors such as the daily weather, changing seasonal conditions and varying throughput of people through the building can change the appropriate operating parameters. As a result, control algorithms that can optimally operate the HVAC systems of a first building may less efficiently operate the HVAC systems of a second building. An optimized control algorithm optimized for a building can become inadequate as the building conditions change over time. 
         [0005]    Although the control algorithms can be modified to increase the efficiency of the control system, the implementation process for updating the control algorithms is typically tedious and time consuming. In order to correctly modify the control algorithm, the modifications must be implemented onsite and continually monitored until the system reaches a steady state to determine if the modifications are effective. The large number of factors affecting the operation of the HVAC systems typically requires that the modifications be monitored for an extended period of time to ensure that the modifications address or mitigate as many factors as possible. The onsite modification and extended monitoring is inefficient and can take a substantial amount of time to perform correctly. Moreover, changing conditions in or around the building can render the modifications moot. 
         [0006]    As energy costs rise, there is a need for ensuring that the central controller is operating the HVAC system at the maximum possible efficiency. As such, there is substantial need for means of reducing the tedious modification process to maintain the HVAC systems operating at maximizing efficiency 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a control system for operating HVAC systems within a building to control the environmental conditions within a building and related method of operating. The control system comprises at least one onsite component installed at each building to be controlled and an offsite component networked to each onsite component. The onsite component monitors the conditions within the building and directly operates the HVAC systems, while the offsite component can be used by the system provider to communicate updates to the onsite component and remotely monitor the effectiveness of the control algorithms used to operate the HVAC systems. Accordingly, the system provider can remotely push control algorithm modifications to the onsite component and remotely monitor the effectiveness of the color algorithm modifications. The offsite component comprises at least one offsite server accessible by the system provider for remotely updating the control algorithms and monitoring the conditions within the building. Similarly, the location of the offsite component allows the service provider to provide subscription services such as regular updates or monitoring of the onsite component to monitor the efficacy of the control algorithms. 
         [0008]    Each onsite component comprises a central controller and a plurality of secondary units wirelessly linked to the central controller. The secondary units can include at least one sensor unit comprising a sensor or thermostat for collecting and transmitting information on the current conditions in the building. The secondary units can also comprise at least one secondary controller linked to an HVAC unit for receiving command instructions from the central controller and transmitting information on the current operating conditions of the HVAC unit. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the offsite component comprises a server for receiving and storing control algorithms. The offsite server can be positioned at the service provider allowing the service provider to easily upload new control algorithms and modify existing algorithms stored on the memory component. In this configuration, the building information and the operating conditions can be gathered by the secondary units and transmitted to the central controller. The central controller aggregates the data and retransmits the data to the offsite server. The transmitted data can be processed at the offsite server to create a set of operating instructions for the HVAC systems at the building that are transmitted back to the central controller, which distributes the operating instructions to the appropriate secondary unit. 
         [0010]    Storing the control algorithms at the service provider allows for easy access for the service provider to the control algorithms to make modifications to the algorithms without having to make the changes onsite at the building. The offsite server can be linked to a plurality of onsite components at a plurality of buildings. In certain aspects, global modifications to the control algorithms stored at the central server can be quickly made at the offsite server, rather than requiring trips to each building to apply the modifications at each onsite component. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the control algorithms are stored on site at each onsite component rather than at the offsite server. In this configuration, the offsite server can be accessed by the service provider to remotely transmit modifications to the onsite component of each controlled building. Similarly, the onsite component can be configured to regularly upload the building information to the offsite server for monitoring by the service provider to ascertain the effectiveness of the control algorithms and whether any modifications to the algorithms are necessary. 
         [0012]    A method of maintaining environmental conditions within a building, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing an offsite component networked to an onsite component, wherein the onsite component comprises a central controller wirelessly linking at least one sensor unit and at least one secondary controller linked to an HVAC system. The method further comprises storing at least one control algorithm on the central controller. The method also comprises gathering at least one measurement of environmental conditions within the building and transmitting the measurement to the central controller. The method further comprises processing the measurement through the central controller to generate at least one control instruction for operating the HVAC system. The method also comprises transmitting the instructions from the central controller to the secondary controller to operate the HVAC system according to the control instructions. Finally, the method comprises transmitting at least one programming modification from the offsite component to the central controller and modifying the control algorithm according to the programming modification. 
         [0013]    A method of maintaining environmental conditions within a building, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing an offsite component networked to an onsite component, wherein the onsite component comprises a central controller wirelessly linking at least one sensor unit and at least one secondary controller linked to an HVAC system. The method further comprises storing at least one control algorithm on the offsite component. The method also comprises gathering at least one measurement of environmental conditions within the building and transmitting the measurement to the central controller. The method further comprises transmitting the measurement from the central controller to the offsite component and processing the measurement at the offsite component to generate at least one control instruction for operating the HVAC system. The method also comprises transmitting the instructions from the offsite component to the central controller, wherein the central controller distributes the control instruction to the secondary controller to operate the HVAC system according to the control instructions. Finally, the method comprises modifying the control algorithm at the offsite component to alter operation of the HVAC system at the onsite component. 
         [0014]    A method of providing an energy optimization plan for a building energy management system is also disclosed. Instead of selling hardware and installing into a building, a subscription service is proposed to provide a hardware and software optimization system. By utilizing artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic, the proposed method will continually learn to minimize total energy usage based on each building&#39;s unique and changing characteristics. By placing the software platform on the cloud, onsite requirements are reduced. Existing locations can be retrofitted with specially designed wireless controllers. New systems can be done at less cost by leveraging the wireless capabilities and placing controls outside of the structure on the cloud. The structure would only require a minimum level of internal control in case of a loss of communication. Multiple levels of service can be provided including: scheduler; alarm handler; dynamic graphics; notification of events; trending; user account information; report generator; energy optimization algorithm, diagnostic capabilities and service tools. The method includes allowing the user to choose from a menu of options that would be provided under a subscription plan. 
         [0015]    The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The FIGURE in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention can be completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a control system  10  for controlling environmental conditions within at least one building, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises an offsite component  12  and at least one onsite component  14 . The offsite component  12  may include what is generically known as cloud computing. The offsite component  12  operates as a remote terminal for directly accessing the onsite component  14 . The offsite component  12  comprises at least one server  16  for storing and processing information. The offsite component  12  is positioned at a site remote to each building to be controlled and is linked to the onsite component  14  at each building via a network connection  18 . The network connection  18  can comprise, but is not limited to, hard line and wireless telecommunication means. The network connection  18  can be used to remotely monitor the building conditions and communicate system updates to the onsite component  12 . In certain aspects, a single offsite component  12  can be networked to a plurality of onsite components  14 . Alternatively, a plurality of offsite components  12  can each be linked to a single onsite component  14 , wherein the offsite components  12  are positioned at the same location for convenient access to each single onsite component  14 . 
         [0020]    The onsite component  14  comprises a central controller  20  and a plurality of secondary units  22 . The plurality of secondary units  22  can further comprise at least one sensor unit  24  and at least one secondary controller  26 . Each sensor unit  24  is operably linked to environmental sensor  28  including, but not limited to, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, and a barometer. The environmental sensor  28  collects measurements on the current environmental conditions within the building. Similarly, each secondary controller  26  is operable linked to an HVAC system  30  and is adapted to control the operation of the HVAC system  30  according to at least one control instruction. Each secondary unit  22  is linked to the central controller  20  via a wireless connection  32  allowing for wireless transmission of information between the secondary units and central controller  20 . The wireless connection  32  can comprise radio, BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi or other conventional wireless technology. As the secondary units  22  wirelessly communicate with the central controller  20 , the central controller  20  and secondary units  22  are modular and can be replaced or updated independently of the rest of the onsite component  14 . 
         [0021]    In one aspect, at least one control algorithm for generating control instructions based on the current environmental conditions within the building can be stored on the central controller  20 . In this configuration, the environmental sensor  28  can collect at least one environmental measurement indicative of the current environmental conditions within the building. The environmental measurement can be transmitted to the central controller  20  via the sensor unit  24 . The central controller  20  can process the environmental measurement with the control algorithm to produce at least one control instruction that is transmitted to the appropriate secondary controller  26  for operation of the HVAC system  30 . The environmental sensor  28  can then collect additional environmental measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of the control algorithms. Through fuzzy logic/artificial intelligence processes, the controller  20  can improve efficiencies over time as the controller  20  “learns” the characteristics of the structure. 
         [0022]    In this configuration, the environmental measurements can be transmitted to the offsite component  12  via the network connection  18  and stored on the server  16  for long-term monitoring of the building. A system provider can access the environmental measurements to ascertain the effectiveness of the control algorithms and determine if the control algorithms need to be modified. Any modifications can be transmitted from the servers  16  to the central controller  20  via the network connection  18  to modify the control algorithms stored on the central controller  20 . In one aspect, the modification process can be iterative where multiple cycles of evaluation and modification are performed to reach the desired efficiency. 
         [0023]    In one aspect, the control algorithm can be stored on the server  16  instead of the central controller  20 . In this configuration, the measurements collected by the environmental sensors  28  are gathered by the central controller  20  and transmitted to the server  16  via the network connection  18  for processing. Once the control instructions are generated, the server  16  transmits the instructions back to the central controller  20 , which distributes the instructions to the appropriate secondary controller  26 . The system provider can modify the control algorithms directly at the server  16  to improve the effectiveness of the algorithms. In this configuration, back up control algorithms can be implemented on the central controller  20  for maintaining operation of the onsite component  14  in the event that the network connection  18  to the server  16  is lost. 
         [0024]    A method of maintaining environmental conditions within a building, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing a control system  10  comprising an offsite component  12  networked to an onsite component  14 , wherein the onsite component  14  comprises a central controller  20  wirelessly linking at least one sensor unit  24  and at least one secondary controller  26  linked to an HVAC system  30 . The method further comprises implementing at least one control algorithm on the central controller  20 . The method also comprises gathering at least one measurement of environmental conditions within the building with the sensor unit  24  and transmitting the measurement to the central controller  20 . The method further comprises processing the measurement through the central controller  20  to generate at least one control instruction for operating the HVAC system  30 . The method also comprises transmitting the instructions from the central controller  20  to the secondary controller  26  to operate the HVAC system  30  according to the control instructions. Finally, the method comprises transmitting at least one programming modification from the offsite component  14  to the central controller  20  and modifying the control algorithm stored on the central controller  20  with the transmitted programming modification. 
         [0025]    A method of providing building automation/energy management service by way of wireless communication to cloud servers is also provided herein. Such a method may be by annual fee or through a subscription service. Environmental conditions within a building, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises providing an offsite component  12  networked to an onsite component  14 , wherein the onsite component  14  comprises a central controller  20  wirelessly linking at least one sensor unit  24  and at least one secondary controller  26  linked to an HVAC system  30 . The method further comprises storing at least one control algorithm on the offsite component  12 . The method also comprises gathering at least one measurement of environmental conditions within the building with the sensor unit  24  and transmitting the measurement to the central controller  20 . The method further comprises transmitting the measurement from the central controller  20  to the offsite component  12  and processing the measurement at the offsite component  12  to generate at least one control instruction for operating the HVAC system  30 . The method also comprises transmitting the instructions from the offsite component  12  to the central controller  20 , wherein the central controller  20  distributes the control instruction to the secondary controller  26  to operate the HVAC system  30  according to the control instructions. Finally, the method comprises modifying the control algorithm at the offsite component  12  to alter operation of the HVAC system  30  at the onsite component  14 . Services provided maybe tailored to individual users as required. For example, basic services could be provided in one package while advanced control services utilizing artificial intelligence in another package. 
         [0026]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail. It is understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.