Process and apparatus for individual adjustment of an operating parameter of a plurality of environmental control devices through a global computer network

An apparatus and process for individual adjustment of an operating parameter of a plurality of environmental control devices, such as VAV devices (27, 29) in an HVAC system. The process includes the step of connecting at least one of computers (34) for input of a parameter control set point based signal and a unique VA device identifying signal through an Internet website (71) to the plurality of HVAC devices (27, 29). The computer (34) is, for example, connected to the VAV devices (27, 29) such that the computer (34) can be used to adjust the temperature set point of only one of the plurality of VAV devices (27, 29), most typically the device located in the same space (22) as the communicating computer (34). Such computer (34) can be wired or wireless, and use the global computer network website (71) to connect to the VAV devices (27, 29) through a building computer (24) and local area network (32). In the preferred form, the computers (34) are also capable of retrieving the current temperature set point from the VAV device (27, 29) and the current room air temperature proximate the VAV device (27, 29), outputting or displaying them on a computer output or display device, and thereafter adjusting the temperature set point for the environmental control device, for example, by using graphical interface software.

TECHNICAL FIELD
 The present invention relates, in general, the operation of environmental
 control devices, such as, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)
 systems, lighting, humidifying and noise control systems and more
 particularly, relates to HVAC systems having variable-air-volume (VAV)
 diffusers or VAV boxes with adjustable temperature set point controllers.
 BACKGROUND ART
 The use of variable air volume (VAV) devices in order to control the
 temperature and/or ventilation in large buildings is wide spread. Such
 HVAC systems typically have at least one, and sometimes a plurality of VAV
 devices located in the various spaces, rooms or offices within the
 building for control of the discharge of conditioned air into the offices.
 The air will be provided by a central source, and the volume air
 discharged into each office within the building will be varied in
 accordance with the control mechanism for the VAV device. Such VAV devices
 typically have a damper or set of blades, which is moved by an actuator so
 as to change the area of the opening from which conditioned air is
 discharged from the VAV device. VAV boxes most often are positioned
 upstream of a plurality of passive (damperless) air diffusers, while VAV
 diffusers include actuators and dampers at the structure discharging air
 into the space or office.
 The control assembly for a VAV device will have one or more temperature set
 points which are used as a basis for regulating opening and closing of the
 damper by the actuator so as to drive the room temperature toward the set
 point. One set point may be used, for example, when the system is in a
 heating mode, while another may be used for a cooling mode. In some
 systems, however, the same temperature set point is used for heating and
 cooling.
 In large office buildings, the HVAC system will be coupled to a plurality
 of thermostats located in the various offices or to a central building
 HVAC computer for monitoring and adjusting the set points for the VAV
 devices. In multiple thermostat systems, wiring must be run between
 individual VAV devices and the thermostats. In central computer systems,
 the computer is coupled through an HVAC building computer network that is
 coupled to the VAV devices. The central building control computer,
 therefore, can be used to monitor and adjust the set point temperatures of
 the various actuators in the VAV devices for individual offices.
 One of the major disadvantages of thermostat-based systems is the wiring
 required during installation, which can be tricky in open office
 environments having free-standing work stations and space-dividing
 partition systems. A major disadvantage of building-wide HVAC computer
 monitoring systems is that the temperature set point adjustments must be
 made from a central monitoring station. Thus, the occupants of the
 individual offices in the building are not able to provide direct input as
 to the desired temperature set point for the VAV device effecting their
 office. Instead, occupants typically communicate with the building central
 monitoring and adjustment computer by telephone so as to make their wishes
 known with respect to environmental demands in their office. Often
 temperature set point changes are made by the occupants of offices without
 knowing what the room air temperature in their office actually is at the
 time of the set point change. This can lead to unneeded changes.
 In newer office buildings the central monitoring station can also be
 coupled and configured to control the operation of other environmental
 control devices, such as, humidifiers, lighting and "white" noise or noise
 cancellation devices. Again, communications between individual offices and
 the central monitoring/controlling computer make use of such systems less
 than optimal.
 It would be highly desirable, therefore, to have an environmental control
 system suitable for large buildings in which the individual environmental
 control devices are capable of having their operating parameters set
 independently directly by occupants of the offices. Moreover, the changes
 most preferably would be made by an occupant having knowledge as to the
 current conditions of his or her office and would be made through a method
 other than using telephone communications or wall-mounted thermostats, in
 the case of HVAC systems. Thus, the occupants, who know best what
 environmental conditions are most suited for their office at any given
 time, and knows what the current conditions are, would like to have a way
 of adjusting the environmental control devices in their space without
 having to communicate with a central monitoring operator, and without
 having to go to a wall-mounted controller, such as a thermostat.
 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a process
 and apparatus for individual adjustment of the operating parameters of an
 environmental control device located in an occupant's office without
 affecting other offices and without using a wall-mounted controller or
 having to communicate by telephone to a person at a central computer.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for the
 occupant of a space in the building to easily determine the current room
 air temperature and to adjust the temperature set points of a VAV device
 discharging air into his or her space using computer equipment commonly
 available, such as personal computers, cell telephones and a global
 computer network (the Internet).
 It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a VAV
 device adjustment system which is easy to install, is user-friendly, is
 relatively low in cost and provides a wide range of user flexibility.
 The process and apparatus of the present invention have other objects and
 features of advantage which will become more apparent from, and are set
 forth in more detail in, the following Description of the Best Mode of
 Carrying Out the Invention and the accompanying drawings.
 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
 A process for individual adjustment of an operating parameter of a
 plurality of environmental control devices for a building is provided,
 which is comprised, briefly, of providing at least one computer formed to
 produce an operating parameter set point based signal which is
 communicated through a global computer network to a selected environmental
 control device for a space in the building. The computer can be an office
 personal computer, laptop computer or Internet appliances, such as,
 hand-held wireless communication devices or personal digital assistants
 (PDA's) and wireless telephones meeting wireless application protocols
 (WAP), among other possible computers. The operating parameter is
 preferably the temperature set point of a VAV device located in the user's
 office, and the user can log-on to an Internet website, which is coupled
 to, or can be coupled to, a central building computer. A temperature set
 point based signal from the user's computer can be communicated through
 the Internet to the building computer to control the user's own VAV
 device. Each VAV device is responsive to the temperature set point based
 signal to adjust the temperature set point for the VAV device in the space
 of the selected computer. The method includes further the steps of
 communicating a temperature set point based signal from the selected
 computer to the VAV device by using encoded signals to effect adjustment
 of the temperature set point independently of other VAV devices in the
 building's HVAC system. Most preferably current environmental conditions
 in the space, such as the room air temperature, are also communicated to
 the occupant so that set point adjustments can be made with knowledge of
 the current room conditions.
 The environmental parameter control system of the present invention
 comprises, briefly, a plurality of environmental control devices each
 adapted for receipt of a signal to adjust a parameter for operation of the
 device, at least one computer each adapted to produce signals suitable for
 adjusting the operating parameter, and a global computer network website
 suitable for communication of signals between the computer and
 environmental control devices so as to adjust the operating parameter of a
 selected one of the environmental control devices.
 In the most preferred form, a wireless telephone, desktop, laptop or other
 multipurpose computer of the type commonly employed in business,
 government and educational applications is coupled through an Internet
 website to a central building computer. HVAC systems can be controlled by
 transmitting encoded temperature set point based signals and room
 temperature signals so as to enable determination of the current room
 temperature and current temperature set point, and to enable adjustment of
 the VAV device temperature set point in the office or space.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
 In recent years the multipurpose business or personal computer has become
 omnipresent in modern office buildings. Such computers may take the form
 of desktop, laptop or even hand-held computers. Even more recently, a host
 of devices capable of communicating with the Internet, and various
 computer networks, through modems or through download/upload ports, have
 been developed such as, M-based hand-held computers, wireless or
 cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (PDA's), herein
 collectively referred to as "Internet appliances." In accordance with the
 present invention, such computers, which include Internet appliances, may
 be adapted for use to individually adjust an operating parameter of an
 environmental control device, such as the temperature set point of a VAV
 devices in an HVAC system. Thus, a personal computer or Internet appliance
 can be used, in the apparatus and method of the present invention, to
 monitor the current room temperature and the current temperature set point
 and to adjust the temperature set point(s) of the VAV device as desired.
 Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a typical HVAC system
 installation for an office building is schematically illustrated. Building
 21 has a plurality of offices, rooms or spaces 22 that are air conditioned
 using a plurality of VAV devices supplied with conditioned air from a
 central source 23. The operation of the VAV devices can be monitored and
 adjusted by a central or building computer at monitoring station 24. Ducts
 26 for the flow of supply air from a central air conditioning source 23 to
 the VAV devices are provided. Alternatively, building 21 could be provided
 initially with a plurality of wall-mounted thermostats (not shown) which
 are wired to the various VAV devices so as to control the flow of supply
 air from source 23 being discharged into offices 22.
 VAV devices usually take one of two forms, namely, an air diffuser which
 has an actuator and movable damper assembly in it (graphically symbolized
 in the drawing by a square with diagonal crossed lines), or a VAV box
 (also a square with a cross) upstream of passive or damperless air
 diffusers (squares only) which discharge supply air into spaces 22. A
 large office or space 22a, for example, can include a VAV box 27 employed
 to vary air flow to a plurality of passive air diffusers 28. In smaller
 spaces, such as space 22b, VAV air diffusers 29 having movable dampers
 will more typically be employed.
 Although VAV devices 27 and 29 are not always linked together for
 monitoring by central computer 24 (e.g., when a thermostat system is
 used), in the illustrated HVAC system, central computer 24 is attached to
 an HVAC building system computer network 32, which in turn, is coupled to
 each of the VAV devices 27 and 29. Each of the VAV devices 27 and 29
 includes a control assembly in which there is an actuator and interface so
 that encoded temperature set point based signals received from central
 computer 24 through network 32 can be used to adjust the set point(s)
 temperatures about which a given VAV device operates. The VAV devices may
 be thermally powered, pneumatically powered or electrically powered, and
 typically each VAV device will have one or more temperature set points
 governing its operation. One temperature set point, for example, might be
 used when the central source of conditioned air 23 is in a heating mode,
 while another temperature set point at each VAV device might be employed
 when source 23 is in a cooling mode.
 Such HVAC systems using VAV devices are well-known in the art, and they
 allow central computer 24 to monitor the current temperature set points of
 each of the VAV devices and the current room air temperature in each space
 or office, as well as to send unique or individual identifying encoded
 signals along the HVAC computer network 32 to the VAV devices so as to
 adjust or change the temperature set points, and thus operation of the
 system, on a space-by-space basis.
 The primary drawback of such central computer systems has been that
 occupants in any one of offices or spaces 22 either have little ability to
 adjust the operation of the VAV devices in their office, or they must do
 so through cumbersome techniques, such as telephoning an operator or
 computer at the central computer 24. In thermostat-based systems, the
 occupant must get up from his or her desk and go to the wall thermostat,
 and such thermostat-based systems also have initial installation
 disadvantages in terms of wiring costs, and many prior art systems give
 the user little or no information as to the current room air temperature.
 The present invention utilizes the fact that computer hardware and Internet
 communications are both in wide-spread use in office buildings of the type
 which are air conditioned using VAV devices. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1,
 offices 22 will usually have one or more personal computers 34 located in
 them. In some offices, such as office 22c, computer 34 will be a
 stand-alone computer, while in others, for example office 22a, computers
 34 will be coupled together by a local area network 36. In conventional
 configurations neither the stand-alone computers, nor those coupled
 together through a local area network, will interact or be coupled in any
 manner to building HVAC computer network 32, nor to any of the VAV
 devices. Building computer network 32, therefore, normally is operated
 totally independently of computers 34 in use by the building occupants.
 In the process and apparatus of the present invention, however, a computer
 34 is connected for input of temperature set point based signals directly
 (in the embodiment of FIG. 1), or indirectly through the Internet (in the
 embodiment of FIG. 3), to at least one VAV device. In the FIG. 1
 embodiment computer 34 and VAV device 27, 29 are located in the same
 office or space 23. Thus, computer 34d in space 22d is coupled for the
 direct input of temperature set point based signals to VAV device 29d, and
 computer 34e is coupled to directly input signals to VAV device 29e in
 space 22e.
 As can be seen for space 22a, VAV box 27 is typically located outside space
 22a, but computers 34a in space 22a are coupled to VAV box 27 to enable
 monitoring and adjustment of the set point temperatures for VAV device 27
 so as to vary the discharge of air from passive diffusers 28 in space 22a.
 As used herein, therefore, computers are connected or coupled to the VAV
 device "located for the discharge of air" into the same space or office as
 the computer, even though the VAV device, an upstream control box 27, may
 be located in a space outside that in which the computer is located.
 The direct coupling of computers 34 in spaces 22 to their respective VAV
 devices 27, 29 can be accomplished in several different manners. A
 wireless approach is illustrated in office 22c in which a transmitter, or
 preferably transceiver, graphically shown at 37, at computer 34c
 communicates with receivers, or preferably transceivers, 38 at one or more
 VAV devices. In office 22c, two VAV devices 29c are provided with
 transceivers 38 which can communicate with the transceiver 37 at computer
 34c. The same signal when transmitted from computer 34c will be capable of
 adjusting the set point temperature of each of the VAV devices 29c.
 Computer 34c will include a program which causes the transceiver 37 to
 broadcast signals to the two VAV devices. The VAV devices, in turn, have
 an interface between transceivers 38 and the controller for the diffuser
 actuator so that adjustment of the set point for the controller in each of
 the VAV devices can be accomplished.
 Such interface and diffuser controller technology is well-known in the art.
 The computer 34c, however, normally will not be capable of transmitting a
 signal which would effect a change in the temperature set point of VAV
 device 29d. This can be accomplished easily by using encoded transmissions
 or limiting the power of the transmitter or crippling (limiting) the
 sensitivity of transceivers 38. Computer 34c or transceiver 37 could be a
 radio frequency transceiver dedicated to the task, such as a garage door
 opener transmitter with the capability to receive signals, or it could be
 a more general purpose device, such as a wireless telephone transmitting
 through a cell to call transceiver 38.
 It will be understood, that optical or other forms of transceivers also
 could be employed.
 An alternative manner of directly coupling computers 34 to VAV devices 27
 and 29 would be simply to provide an electrical signal communicating wire,
 link or cable. Thus, in office 22d, a stand-alone computer 34d is coupled
 directly to VAV device 29d by a cable 33 for the communication of signals
 to the controller of VAV device 29d. Still a further approach is shown in
 connection with the computer 34e in space 22e. Computer 34e is coupled by
 cable 35 to a router box 40 which, in turn, enables encoded signals to be
 sent through cable 35 and router 40 and thereafter over building HVAC
 network 32 to VAV device 29e. When this type of coupling technique is
 employed, computer 34e should include software, or another adaptation,
 which causes the output signal from computer 34e to be capable of
 adjusting only the set point of VAV device 29e. An encoded output signal,
 for example, would suffice.
 Local area computer network 36 for computer 34a also can be coupled by
 cable 36a to a router 41 inserted in building management HVAC network 32.
 Encoded signals generated by input at any of computers 34a, therefore,
 would travel through local area network 36, link 36a, router 41 and
 building HVAC network 32 to VAV device 27.
 Still a further direct connector technique is shown in offices 22f and 22g.
 Computers 34 are connected to a local area computer network 42, which can
 then be directly coupled at 43 to diffusers 29. This approach does not
 require connection to building HVAC network 32, but it does require
 encoded signals or the like so that the computer in space 29f does not
 adjust operation of the VAV device in space 22g. It would be possible, of
 course, to link local area network 42 to building network 32, which
 usually would be preferred since less wiring would be required than
 employing a plurality of cable links 43.
 In the preferred direct coupling embodiment, all computers 34 would enable
 communications in both directions so that the occupant in a space 22 can
 poll the VAV devices 27 and 29 to determine what their current temperature
 set points are and to determine the current room air temperature in the
 space. Thereafter computer 34 would send a temperature or parameter set
 point based signal back to the VAV devices together with a unique VAV
 identifying signal, which would cause a selected one of the VAV devices to
 have its temperature set point changed.
 Referring now to FIG. 2, the process for independent adjustment of
 temperature set points of a plurality of VAV. devices in the HVAC system
 of FIG. 1 can be described. The first step 51 of the process is to connect
 or couple each of a plurality of computers to at least one of a plurality
 of VAV devices. Each computer is formed or adapted to produce signals
 suitable for adjustment of a temperature set point of a VAV device. Most
 typically this will be accomplished by providing each computer 34 with a
 VAV temperature set point adjustment software program that can generate an
 encoded output signal suitable for transmission directly to the VAV device
 or communication via a network or a plurality of networks to the VAV
 device. The encoded signal will include both VAV identifying signal (or
 data) and temperature set point based signal (or data).
 It should be noted that in a given building 21 having a plurality of
 offices 22, not all of the offices need to have VAV devices which are
 individually adjusted using individual computers. Thus, a plurality of
 spaces 22, perhaps less than the entire building, may be individually
 adjustable by occupant computers, while another set of spaces or offices
 are not so coupled.
 The second step 52 in the present process is to input into a selected
 computer a temperature set point adjustment input for the VAV device
 discharging air into the space in which the computer is located. Thus, in
 a broad form of the process each computer 34 would merely be capable of
 inputting temperature set points, for example, through a keyboard or
 through a graphical interface displayed at the computer and manipulated
 using a mouse. The graphical display, for example, can simply be a
 thermometer in which the curser driven by the mouse is used to adjust a
 graphical temperature symbol on a screen to change the temperature set
 point.
 While a broad form of the process merely requires inputting, it is most
 preferable that individual computers 34 further be adapted to retrieve
 both the current room air temperature and the current temperature set
 point data from VAV devices 27 and 29. Thus, an optional step 53, prior to
 inputting step 52, would be to retrieve the current room air temperature
 for the user's space and the current temperature set point from the VAV
 device by polling the controller of the VAV device to determine the room
 air temperature and its current temperature set point setting. Once this
 information is retrieved, an additional optional step 54 in the present
 process would be to display the retrieved current temperature and the
 temperature set point, either as a numeric display or a graphic display.
 Having retrieved the current room air temperature and the current
 temperature set point setting and displayed them, the present process
 would then proceed with user inputting step 52, for example, through the
 keyboard or mouse of computer 34, for adjustment of the temperature set
 point for the VAV device discharging air into the space having the
 communicating computer 34. Finally, the software in computer 34
 communicates, at step 56, the new temperature set point to the VAV device
 27 or 29 in the form of a temperature set point based signal, usually
 encoded with VAV identifying data, directly to the VAV device through
 direct links or network links.
 While the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2 have been described in connection with
 an HVAC system, it will be understood to be applicable to other
 environmental control devices such as humidifiers, lighting systems and
 white noise generators, to name only a few alternatives. In such systems
 an operating parameter, such as the humidifier humidity set point, and a
 current space parameter, such as the current humidity level in the room,
 would be retrieved and then the set point adjusted by the individual
 through his computer and one of the above-described communication links,
 or through the global computer network (Internet) system described below.
 The current room humidity would allow the user to make a better decision
 as to the need for and amount of the operating parameter set point
 adjustment, particularly for a space parameter, such as humidity which is
 somewhat less intuitive than temperature.
 In FIG. 3, the process and apparatus of the present invention are
 implemented using the Internet and a website that is configured to enable
 control of environmental control devices in building 21. Thus, a website
 71 provided through Internet Service Provider 72 is used to communicate
 operating parameter signals to the user's environmental control device
 through building computer 24. Temperature set point based signals, for
 example, can be selectively retrieved from and communicated to the user's
 VAV device using Internet website 71, as can the current room air
 temperature of user's space 22.
 In FIG. 3, office spaces 22f and 22g are used, as shown in FIG. 1, except
 that computers 34 are not directly wired to VAV devices 29 nor directly
 connected to building local area network 32. Instead, computers 34 are
 shown as being connected through the Internet and Internet Service
 Provider 72 to a network website 71. As schematically illustrated in FIG.
 3, a communications "line 73" is shown, such as a telecommunications line,
 but as is well known, the "line" 73 also can be a wireless connection to
 website 71 through an ISP. Thus, as used herein "computer" also shall
 specifically include Internet appliances, such as cell telephones and
 hand-held wireless computers with appropriate programming. Website 71, in
 turn, is formed for connection through a "line" 74 to building computer
 24, which connection also can be a wireless connection. Internet website
 71 will include its own software, which can be available or connected to
 building control computer 24, or be formed to be responsive to an input
 from either an individual computer 34, or from building computer 24 to
 connect website 71 to building computer 24.
 Typically, website 71 will be provided on the Internet by the company
 installing the environmental control equipment. Building computer 24 can
 be connected by a DSL line 74 so as always to be accessible for
 communications to and from website 71, and each of plurality of computers
 34 can selectively log in, with an identifying password, to website 71 for
 communication of signals affecting operation of the environmental control
 device, e.g., the HVAC, lighting, humidifier, etc.
 In the preferred form of the illustrated system, individual computers 34
 will log onto Internet website 71 and request the current space parameter,
 such as room air temperature, and the current operating parameter set
 point of the environmental control device in a space used by the
 individual (based upon, for example, the user's password which identifies
 a selected one of spaces 22). This request will be communicated from
 website 71 through link 74 to building computer 24, which in turn will
 poll the VAV, or other device, for the current conditions in the space and
 the current set point, using local network 32. The current set point will
 be communicated back to the requesting computer 34 through building
 computer 24, network 32, link 74, website 71 and link 73. Thus, the
 computers 34 can access the current space parameters and the current
 operating parameter set points of the equipment in their space through
 Internet website 71. In the preferred embodiment, the temperature set
 point controlling of VAV diffuser operation can be changed, but as
 described above, other environmental control devices can be similarly
 controlled.
 In the most preferred implementation, the current space parameter (room air
 temperature) and the current operating parameter set points can be stored
 in a storage device in building computer 24 periodically, and website 71
 can be used to poll the building computer 24 for the stored data for the
 individual's own space, as determined by input of the user's password. An
 alternative embodiment would be to store such data at website 71.
 For example, each time the operating parameter set point is changed by the
 building computer, or by any node (user computer 34), the old set point in
 a database in computer 24 will be replaced by the new set point so that
 the building computer database always has the current operating parameter
 set point stored therein in a manner correlated to the individual
 environmental control devices. Similarly, each environmental control
 device 29 can be formed to communicate to building computer 24 the current
 space parameter value, such as the current room air temperature, which
 also can be stored in a manner correlating the space parameter for each
 environmental control device in the building. The stored space parameter
 values can be changed each time the environmental control device senses
 that the space parameter has changed by a predetermined amount. For VAV
 devices sensing room air temperature in spaces 22, that amount can be as
 small as 0.1.degree. F. VAV devices which are capable of transmitting
 space parameter signals to a building computer upon the occurrence of a
 0.1.degree. F. change in room air temperature for storage and later
 retrieval are described in detail in commonly owned U.S. patent
 application Ser. No. PCT/US99/29587, which is incorporated herein by
 reference. These VAV devices employ thermal actuators that are
 electrically controlled using resistance heaters so as to open and close
 the diffuser damper blades.
 Referring now to FIG. 4, the process steps of the system of FIG. 3 can be
 described. The first step 81 is to provide at least one and preferably a
 plurality of computers 34 each formed to produce an operating parameter
 set point based signal for communication to an environmental control
 device located in one of a plurality of spaces in a building. As a next
 step, at least one of the plurality of computers is connected at step 82
 through a global computer network to the plurality of environmental
 control devices, such as VAV devices 29. Thus, an individual logs into
 website 71 which is linked via the Internet to the building computer 24
 and polls the storage database in the building computer for the current
 operating parameter set point of a particular environmental control
 device, such as the VAV device 29 in the user's space, most typically the
 same space as the computer. User's computer 34 is thereby connected or
 coupled to VAV device 29.
 Normally the user will also perform a retrieval or determining step 64 in
 which the current set point and current space parameter are retrieved from
 the building computer database through the Internet connection. They can,
 however, simply change the set point of the environmental control device
 without retrieving current parameter data. Thus, the user inputs a
 temperature set point, or other operating parameter, adjustment using the
 computer keyboard, graphical interface, etc., at step 52, which is
 communicated to VAV device 29 through link 73 to Internet website 71 and
 thereafter through link 74 to building computer 24 and through network 32
 to VAV device 29, at step 56a.
 Communicating step 56a is preferably accomplished in the HVAC system of
 FIG. 3 by sending an encoded signal through Internet website 71 to the
 building computer and thereafter to the identified environmental control
 device. The encoded temperature set point based signal and environmental
 control device identifying signal on network 32 will normally be reacted
 to by only one environmental control device, for example, the controller
 for VAV diffuser 29 in office 22f. The temperature set point for this VAV
 diffuser is thereby determined and changed. It will be understood that a
 plurality of environmental control devices could be programmed to react to
 the same unique control device identifying signal.
 When current operating conditions are to be retrieved, optional steps 64
 and 54 may be performed. Building computer 24 can respond to the user's
 identifying password to communicate signals back to the user's computer
 indicating what data is stored in the building computer for the current
 set point and the current room air temperature for the HVAC device
 identified by the user's unique password. Thus at step 64 the current
 parameters are determined, and at step 54 they are output, usually by a
 visual display.
 Thus, wired or wireless computers or Internet communication devices are
 connected to VAV devices through an Internet network website so that users
 can monitor and display the temperature set point and current room air
 temperature for the VAV device which discharges air into their office or
 space. The occupant of an office is able to make an adjustment of only the
 VAV device which affects his or her environment, without leaving his or
 her desk or work station, or when wireless communications are made, even
 before the user arrives at his or her office. The only requirement is
 wired or wireless connection of the occupant's computer through the
 Internet to the VAV device.
 The present apparatus and process, therefore, allow the individual
 occupants of offices to monitor and adjust their environment at their work
 stations using conventionally available equipment, such as a multipurpose
 business or personal computer or a cell telephone, Internet connections,
 and rather simple parameter set point programs.
 Finally, while the apparatus and process of the present invention may be
 implemented using an HVAC system which employs VAV devices having thermal
 actuators that are electrically controlled, using resistance heaters.
 Other VAV devices, including pneumatically controlled and motor-driven
 diffusers and VAV boxes, also are suitable for use in the system of the
 present invention. Additionally, the present invention also can be
 implemented using HVAC systems in which the supply air temperature is
 varied, instead of the supply air volume.