Abstract:
An HVAC service assistance device assists individuals with troubleshooting their climate control systems and with contacting an HVAC contractor for service when necessary. Stored within the device is HVAC troubleshooting information that is conveniently provided to users on demand via an audio speaker and/or a visual display. The device may also store contact information for an HVAC contractor which can be conveniently accessed by the user when the climate control system next requires servicing. By recording (or having prerecorded) their contact information in the service assistance device of the present invention, HVAC contractors may increase their opportunities for receiving repeat business from customers. The service assistance device may further include a service call button which, when depressed, automatically sends a call for service to an HVAC contractor over a communication network, such as a telephone or computer network, using prerecorded contact information for the HVAC contractor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to servicing heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems, and more particularly to troubleshooting and scheduling service of such systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is not uncommon for an HVAC contractor, after servicing a customer&#39;s climate control system, to leave behind a sticker bearing the contractor&#39;s name and phone number. This is done in the obvious hope that the customer will reference the sticker and again call upon the HVAC contractor when the customer&#39;s climate control system is next in need of service. For best visibility, the contractor may place (or attempt to place) such a sticker on or near the customer&#39;s thermostat. However, these stickers are generally regarded as unattractive by customers. Therefore, many customers quickly remove the stickers, while others demand that they not be used in the first place. Consequently, the next time these customers require the services of an HVAC contractor, they might not call upon the same HVAC contractor as they did in the past, primarily since they might not recall which particular contractor they used. Not only does this result in lost opportunities for the contractor, it also represents an increased burden on the customer, who must bother with finding a new HVAC contractor, such as by selecting from an unfamiliar list of contractors in a telephone business directory. 
     On a related note, many customers try to identify the nature of any problem with their climate control system prior to calling an HVAC contractor for service. However, there is typically little if any troubleshooting information available to the customer when needed. While a product manual for a new furnace or air conditioner may contain a troubleshooting chart listing fault symptoms and possible solutions, for the average individual, the whereabouts of this product manual will be unknown when a need for the troubleshooting information arises. Similarly, some climate control devices indicate the nature of detected system faults in an encoded format using a set of indicating lights. However, determining the nature of a fault based on which lights are illuminated requires reference to a chart or table which might also provide helpful troubleshooting information, but which must first be located by the customer, if possible, when needed. 
     As recognized by the inventor hereof, what is needed is a means for customers to conveniently obtain HVAC troubleshooting information upon demand, for customers to readily contact an HVAC contractor when service is needed, and for HVAC contractors to increase the volume of their repeat business from customers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to solve these and other needs in the art, the inventor hereof has designed an HVAC service assistance device which assists individuals with troubleshooting their climate control systems, and with contacting an HVAC contractor for service when necessary. Stored within the device is HVAC troubleshooting information that is conveniently provided to users via an audio speaker and/or a visual display in a non-encoded format that can be readily understood by users without resort to separate charts, tables, product manuals and the like. This troubleshooting information is preferably provided to users on demand, and not simply when a problem with a climate control system is detected. The service assistance device may also store contact information for an HVAC contractor, such as the name and phone number of the contractor that installed or last serviced the user&#39;s climate control system. This information can then be conveniently accessed by the user when the climate control system next requires servicing. At the same time, by recording (or having prerecorded) their contact information in the service assistance device of the present invention, HVAC contractors may increase their opportunities for receiving repeat business from customers over time. Additionally, the service assistance device may include a service call button which, when depressed, automatically sends a call for service to an HVAC contractor over a communication network, such as a telephone or computer network, using prerecorded contact information for the HVAC contractor. The service assistance device may be embodied within a thermostat for a climate control system. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a service assistance device for a climate control system includes an input device via which a user can initiate an automated call for service of the climate control system, a memory device for storing contact information for an HVAC contractor, a communication network interface for connecting the service assistance device to a communication network, and a processor operatively connected to the input device, the memory device, and the communication network interface. The processor is configured to contact the HVAC contractor, through the communication network using the communication network interface and the contact information stored in the memory device, in response to the user initiating the automated call for service via the input device. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of assisting a user in troubleshooting a climate control system includes the steps of providing a service assistance device having troubleshooting information for the climate control system stored therein, the service assistance device including an input device via which the user can provide a request for assistance; receiving a request for assistance provided by the user via the input device; and providing troubleshooting information for the climate control system to the user in response to the received request for assistance. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method of assisting a user in obtaining service for a climate control system includes the steps of providing a service assistance device having contact information for an HVAC contractor stored therein, the service assistance device including an input device via which the user can provide a request for assistance; receiving a request for assistance provided by the user via the input device; and providing the contact information for the HVAC contractor to the user in response to the received request for assistance. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for scheduling service of a climate control system includes the steps of receiving an automated call for service provided by a device in response to input from a user, the automated call for service relating to a need for service of the user&#39;s climate control system; determining contact information for the user; contacting the user using the determined contact information; and scheduling service of the user&#39;s climate control system. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, a computer-readable medium has computer-executable instructions recorded thereon for implementing any one or more of the devices and methods described herein. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a service assistance device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the service assistance device of FIG. 1 as embodied within a thermostat for a climate control system. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred manner in which the service assistance device of FIG. 1 processes a user request for assistance. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred manner in which the service assistance device of FIG. 1 processes a user&#39;s automated call for service. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred manner in which an HVAC contractor processes a user&#39;s automated call for service. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding features throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A device for assisting a homeowner, business owner or other user with servicing a climate control system according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  1  and indicated generally by reference character  100 . As shown in FIG. 1, the service assistance device  100  includes a processor  102 , a memory device  104 , two user input devices  106 ,  108 , a communication network interface  110 , an audio speaker  112 , and a visual display  114 . The processor  102  may comprise one or more computer processors. Similarly, the memory device  104  may comprise one or more static and/or dynamic memory elements, and preferably stores, among other things, computer instructions for execution by the processor  102 . 
     As further explained below, user input devices  106 ,  108  are provided for a user to input a request for automated assistance and/or a call for service by a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (“HVAC”) contractor, respectively. Preferably, the user input devices  106 ,  108  are push-button momentary switches, whereby a user may provide input to the service assistance device  100  simply by depressing the push-button switches as necessary. As should be apparent, however, other types of user input devices, including other types of switches, touch screens, keyboards, touch pads, mouses, joysticks, voice recognition devices, etc., can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. It should also be apparent from the description below that a greater or lesser number of user input devices may be employed in any given implementation of the invention. 
     The communication network interface  110  is provided to enable automated communications over a communication network between the service assistance device  100  and one or more remotely situated HVAC contractors. In one preferred embodiment, the communication network interface  110  is a telephone interface (e.g., a modem) for enabling automated communications with a remotely situated HVAC contractor over a telephone network. Alternatively, the communication network interface  110  may be, for example, a computer network interface device for permitting the service assistance device  100  to communicate with remote HVAC contractors through a computer network including, for example, through the Internet via email. 
     The audio speaker  112  and the visual display  114  are included in the service assistance device  100  for providing troubleshooting and other information to users in audio and/or visual formats. The visual display  114  is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the service assistance device  100  may be embodied within a thermostat  200  for a climate control system. The thermostat  200  includes a housing  201 , a push-button switch  202  (corresponding to user input device  106 ) by which a user can input a request for automated assistance, a push-button switch  204  (corresponding to user input device  108 ) by which a user can input a call for service by an HVAC contractor, an LCD  206  and an audio speaker  208 . The thermostat  200  also includes up/down push-button switches  210 ,  212  by which a user may, for example, navigate through troubleshooting information displayed on the LCD  206 . Alternatively, the service assistance device  100  may be embodied in a device other than a thermostat, or implemented as a standalone device (e.g., for installation adjacent to a thermostat for a climate control system). 
     A preferred manner in which the service assistance device  100  processes a user request for automated assistance will now be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.  3 . The process is initiated in block  302  of FIG. 3 when the service assistance device  100  receives a request for assistance input by a user via the user input device  106 . In the case where the user input device  106  is a push-button switch, the user may preferably input the request for assistance simply by depressing the push-button switch once. In block  304 , troubleshooting information is provided to the user in response to the request for assistance. This troubleshooting information is preferably stored in the memory device  104  and retrieved by the processor  102  on an as-needed basis for providing to the user, either in an audio format via the audio speaker  112 , a visual format via the visual display  114 , or both. Regardless of the format, the troubleshooting information is preferably provided in a readily understandable format (in contrast to an encoded format requiring resort by the user to separate charts, tables or the like for understanding). 
     The troubleshooting information provided by the service assistance device  100  in block  304  of FIG. 3 may be relatively general information, such as that prompting the user to ensure that the thermostat for the climate control system is set to “on” or “auto,” and/or to check an electric circuit breaker for the climate control system. More detailed troubleshooting information may also be provided, including by way of visual or voice menus through which the user can navigate to obtain any desired troubleshooting information. 
     In block  306  of FIG. 3, the service assistance device  100  prompts the user for further input in the event further assistance is required. For example, it may instruct the user to again depress the push-button switch  202  shown in FIG. 2 within a certain time interval, or twice (depending on the implementation), if the provided troubleshooting information does not resolve the problem with the climate control system. If input by the user, the request for further assistance is received by the service assistance device  100  in block  308  of FIG.  3 . 
     Processing then proceeds to block  310 , where the user is preferably advised that the thermostat for its climate control system is covered under a warranty. As a result, the user may be more likely to call in an HVAC contractor for servicing the climate control system, with the hope or expectation that the problem is thermostat-related and will therefore be resolved at no (or a reduced) charge to the user. In block  312  of FIG. 3, the user is provided with contact information for an HVAC contractor. This contact information is preferably stored in the memory device  104  and retrieved by the processor  102  as necessary. The contact information may include the name, phone number, post office address and/or email address of the HVAC contractor, or any other information which may assist the user with contacting the HVAC contractor for service. 
     By advising the user that the thermostat for the user&#39;s climate control system is covered under a warranty, and contemporaneously providing contact information for an HVAC contractor, the likelihood of the user placing a call for service to that particular HVAC contractor is markedly improved. Thus, in addition to addressing needs of the user, the service assistance device  100  of the present invention also provides a means for HVAC contractors to improve repeat-business opportunities. For example, when an HVAC contractor is called upon to install a new thermostat, the HVAC contractor may install a thermostat which embodies the service assistance device  100 . The HVAC contractor may also record its name and phone number in the memory device  104  (or procure the thermostat with such information already stored therein). As a result, contact information for the installing HVAC contractor remains readily (yet inconspicuously) accessible to the user, and is advantageously provided to the user at a critical time, namely, when the user requires HVAC assistance. The likelihood that the user will call upon that particular HVAC contractor can be further improved by indicating, in the prerecorded contact information, that such HVAC contractor is authorized to perform service under the thermostat warranty, thus suggesting that other HVAC contractors might not be so authorized. 
     With further reference to FIG. 3, the user is preferably prompted in block  314  to initiate an automated call for service to the HVAC contractor corresponding to the contact information provided in block  312 . For instance, the service assistance device  100  may instruct the user to depress the push-button switch  204  of FIG. 2 in order to place the automated call for service. Thus, if outside service is desired, the user in this particular embodiment need merely press a button to place a call for such service. In addition to simplifying for the user the service procurement process, enabling the user to initiate an automated call for service further improves the likelihood that any call for service will be directed to the particular HVAC contractor whose contact information is stored in the service assistance device  100 . 
     A preferred manner in which the service assistance device  100  processes a user&#39;s automated call for service will now be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.  4 . The process is initiated in block  402  when the service assistance device  100  receives the automated call for service. As noted above, this automated call for service may be provided to and received by the HVAC contractor over any suitable type of communication network, including wired and wireless phone networks, computer networks, etc. The process continues in block  404  where the processor  102  preferably accesses prerecorded contact information for a particular HVAC contractor from the memory device  104 . In block  406 , the accessed contact information is used to contact the HVAC contractor. As an example, the accessed contact information may be a phone number for the HVAC contractor which is automatically dialed by the processor  102  working in conjunction with the communication network interface  110  (which, in this specific example, would be a telephone interface). In block  408 , the service assistance device preferably provides a prerecorded message to the HVAC contractor over the communication network. This prerecorded message may include information identifying the user&#39;s name, address and/or telephone number, information identifying the user&#39;s climate control system (such as by type, serial number, date of installation, etc.), information identifying when the HVAC contractor last performed service on the user&#39;s climate control system (assuming the HVAC contractor recorded such information in the service assistance device  100  when service was last performed), etc. The prerecorded message may be a voice message, text message, series of tones or pulses, etc. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, contact information for only one HVAC contractor is stored in the service assistance device  100 . Alternatively, the device  100  may store contact information for multiple HVAC contractors, and the user may be allowed to choose among these multiple HVAC contractors when preparing to call for HVAC service. 
     The flow chart of FIG. 5 illustrates one preferred manner in which an HVAC contractor processes an automated call for service received from the service assistance device  100  of FIG.  1 . The process is initiated in block  502  of FIG. 5 when the automated call for service is received by the HVAC contractor (including by the contractor&#39;s answering service or otherwise on behalf of the contractor). The process then continues in block  504  of FIG. 5, where the HVAC contractor determines contact information for the user associated with the automated call for service received in block  502 . This contact information may be determined in a variety of ways. For example, in the case where the automated call for service is made over a telephone network, the HVAC contractor may use a caller identification service for determining the originating phone number of the user&#39;s automated call for service. If instead the automated call for service is received via email, the HVAC contractor may obtain contact information (including but not limited to a return email address for the user) from the automated email message. The HVAC contractor may also obtain contact information for the user via any prerecorded message which accompanies the user&#39;s automated call for service. Using this contact information, the HVAC contractor may contact the customer, as indicated in block  506  of FIG. 5, and then schedule service on the user&#39;s climate control system, as indicated in block  508 . 
     While FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  illustrated the preferred steps for the processes described therein, it should be understood that many of these steps can be altered, replaced with other steps, or simply omitted in any given implementation of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. 
     When introducing elements or features of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those listed. 
     As various changes could be made in the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.