Alarm and diagnostics system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC system, an HVAC user interface and an HVAC data processing and communication network. In one embodiment, the HVAC system includes: (1) an HVAC device configured to generate HVAC notification information pertaining to the HVAC system and (2) a user interface configured to communicate the HVAC notification information to at least one alert device located remote from the HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an HVAC device configured to generate HVAC notification information pertaining to said HVAC system; and   a user interface configured to communicate said HVAC notification information to at least one alert device located remote from said HVAC system.   
     
     
         2 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said HVAC device includes an HVAC component configured to provide an HVAC function. 
     
     
         3 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said HVAC notification information includes information related to an alarm message from said HVAC device or to an alert associated with said HVAC system. 
     
     
         4 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said user interface is configured to receive a filter criteria for delivery of said HVAC notification information and transmit said HVAC notification information based thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said filter criteria directs delivery of said HVAC notification information according to a type of said HVAC notification information, a recipient of said HVAC notification information or a characteristic of said HVAC device. 
     
     
         6 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said alert device is an apparatus selected from the group consisting of:
 a cellular telephone, 
 a pager, 
 a personal digital assistant, 
 a television display, 
 a computer, and 
 a computing platform running an e-mail program. 
 
     
     
         7 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said user interface is configured to transmit said HVAC notification information via an e-mail message or a mobile device messaging service. 
     
     
         8 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said user interface is configured to transmit said HVAC notification information per a particular medium according to a type of said HVAC notification information or a recipient of said HVAC notification information. 
     
     
         9 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said HVAC notification information provides prognostics, diagnostics or both with respect to said HVAC system. 
     
     
         10 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said HVAC notification information provides advanced warning of a malfunction of said HVAC system or indicates a possible performance deterioration of a product of said HVAC system. 
     
     
         11 . The HVAC system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said user interface is a gateway configured to filter and transmit said HVAC notification information to said alert device. 
     
     
         12 . A user interface of a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an input interface configured to receive filter criteria for HVAC notification information; and   a communication port configured to transmit said HVAC notification information to remote alert devices according to said filter criteria.   
     
     
         13 . The HVAC user interface as recited in  claim 12  wherein said communication port is further configured to receive said filter criteria from a remote, non-native HVAC device. 
     
     
         14 . The HVAC user interface as recited in  claim 12  wherein said communication port is further configured to transmit tracking data to a remote user, wherein said tracking data is employed for performance analysis of said HVAC system. 
     
     
         15 . The HVAC user interface as recited in  claim 12  wherein said communication port is configured to transmit said HVAC notification information per a particular medium according to a type of said HVAC notification information or a recipient of said HVAC notification information. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC user interface as recited in  claim 12  wherein said HVAC notification information is an alert or an alarm of said HVAC system or includes information related to an alarm message from a device of said HVAC system or an alert message associated with said HVAC system, and wherein said HVAC notification information is presented to a user in natural language by said remote alert devices. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC user interface as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said alarm message is associated with a minor, moderate or critical alarm of said HVAC device. 
     
     
         18 . A heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) data processing and communication network, comprising:
 a system device configured to receive a control message from a data bus and operate according to a control setting communicated thereby and generate an alarm in the event that said device enters an alarm state in response to an alarm condition; and   a user interface gateway configured to receive said alarm message, generate HVAC notification information based thereon and transmit said HVAC notification information to at least one alert device external to said HVAC network.   
     
     
         19 . The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in  claim 18  wherein said user interface gateway is further configured to receive filter criteria for said HVAC notification information from a remote device external to said HVAC network and transmit said HVAC notification information according to said filter criteria. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC data processing and communication network as recited in  claim 19  wherein said user interface gateway is coupled to said system device via a data bus of said HVAC network and is further configured to receive reply data in response to said HVAC notification information.