US7839275B2 — Methods, systems and computer program products fo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 210 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building, the method comprising: receiving sensed data at a local processor in the building, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; comparing, at the local processor, the received sensed data with corresponding predictive data, the predictive data being based on the climate in the building and other buildings, weather outside the building and other buildings and/or occupants of the building and other buildings; and adjusting, at the local processor, at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the predictive data, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to adjust the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute adjustments within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and other buildings.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 210 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building, the method comprising: receiving sensed data at a local processor in the building, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; comparing, at the local processor, the received sensed data with corresponding predictive data, the predictive data being based on the climate in the building and other buildings, weather outside the building and other buildings and/or occupants of the building and other buildings; and adjusting, at the local processor, at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the predictive data, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to adjust the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute adjustments within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and other buildings.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: comparing, at the local processor, the received sensed data with local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building, wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting at least one parameter associated with the climate based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 94 words

The method of claim 2 , further comprising: receiving, at the central processor coupled to the local processor, the sensed data associated with the building and sensed data associated with at least one other building; analyzing, at the central processor, the received sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building; receiving, at the local processor from the central processor, a control modification based on the analyzed sensed data; and modifying, at the local processor, the local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building based on the control modification.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 3 : wherein receiving further comprises receiving non-sensed data associated with the building and non-sensed data associated with the at least one other building; wherein analyzing, at the central processor, further comprises analyzing the received sensed and non-sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building; and wherein receiving, from the central processor, further comprises receiving a control modification based on the analyzed sensed and non-sensed data, at the local processor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 83 words

The method of claim 3 : wherein comparing, at the local processor, the received sensed data with local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building further comprises comparing, at the local processor, the received sensed data with the modified local performance metrics and/or specifications; and wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting at least one parameter associated with the climate based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the modified local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 3 , further comprising modifying, at the local processor, the predictive data based on the control modification.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein receiving, at the central processor coupled to the local processor, the sensed data associated with the building is preceded by: processing the sensed data, at the local processor, such that the sensed data reflects physical attributes of the building.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein receiving, at the central processor, is preceded by anonymizing the sensed data associated with the building and/or the occupants of the building and the at least one other building and/or occupants of the at least one other building.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, at the local processor, a request for a thermal comfort condition and/or an indoor air quality condition, wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on the received request so as to allow achievement of the requested thermal comfort condition and/or the indoor air quality condition.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising converting, at the local processor, the received request for the thermal comfort condition and/or the indoor air quality condition into a form usable by the local processor to adjust the at least one parameter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting the at least one parameter to maintain a predetermined pressure differential between an interior of the building and an exterior of the building.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting to maintain further comprises maintaining the predetermined pressure differential by allowing controlled amounts of air into the interior of the building.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 1 carried out by a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 3 carried out by a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 4 carried out by a computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 215 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building, comprising: receiving a request for a thermal comfort condition and/or an indoor air quality condition at a local processor in the building; converting, at the local processor, the request for the thermal comfort condition and/or the request for the indoor air quality condition into parameters used by the local processor to control the climate in the building; and changing, at the local processor, at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on the converted request for the thermal comfort condition and/or the request for the indoor air quality condition and reference data associated with the building and at least one other building, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the at least one other building; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to change the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute changes within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and the at least one other building.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 215 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building, comprising: receiving a request for a thermal comfort condition and/or an indoor air quality condition at a local processor in the building; converting, at the local processor, the request for the thermal comfort condition and/or the request for the indoor air quality condition into parameters used by the local processor to control the climate in the building; and changing, at the local processor, at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on the converted request for the thermal comfort condition and/or the request for the indoor air quality condition and reference data associated with the building and at least one other building, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the at least one other building; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to change the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute changes within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and the at least one other building.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 227 words

A system for controlling a climate in a building, the system comprising: a local receiving module at a local processor in the building configured to receive sensed data, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; a comparison module, at the local processor, configured to compare the received sensed data with corresponding predictive data, the predictive data being based on the climate in the building and other buildings, weather outside the building and other buildings and/or occupants of the building and other buildings; and a local adjustment module, at the local processor, configured to adjust at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the predictive data, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to adjust the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute adjustments within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and other buildings.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 227 words

A system for controlling a climate in a building, the system comprising: a local receiving module at a local processor in the building configured to receive sensed data, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; a comparison module, at the local processor, configured to compare the received sensed data with corresponding predictive data, the predictive data being based on the climate in the building and other buildings, weather outside the building and other buildings and/or occupants of the building and other buildings; and a local adjustment module, at the local processor, configured to adjust at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the predictive data, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with a central processor associated with the building and the other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to adjust the at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building for real-time minute-to-minute adjustments within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and other buildings.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system of claim 17 : wherein the comparison module is further configured to compare, at the local processor, the received sensed data with local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building; and wherein the local adjustment module is further configured to adjust at least one parameter associated with the climate based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 118 words

The system of claim 18 , further comprising: a central receiving module, at the central processor coupled to the local processor, configured to receive the sensed data associated with the building and sensed data associated with at least one other building; a central analyzing module, at the central processor, configured to analyze the received sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building, wherein the local receiving module is further configured to receive, from the central processor, a control modification based on the analyzed sensed data; and a local data processing module, at the local processor, configured to modify the local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building based on the control modification.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 86 words

The system of claim 19 : wherein the central receiving module is further configured to receive non-sensed data associated with the building and non-sensed data associated with the at least one other building; wherein the central analyzing module is further configured to analyze the received sensed and non-sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building; and wherein the local receiving module is further configured to receive a control modification based on the analyzed sensed and non-sensed data, at the local processor.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 19 : wherein the local comparison module is further configured to compare the received sensed data with the modified local performance metrics and/or specifications; and wherein the local adjustment module is further configured to adjust the climate based on a result of the comparison of the received sensed data and the modified local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 19 , wherein the local data processing module is further configured to modify the predictive data based on the control modification.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 19 , wherein the local data processing module is further configured to process the sensed data, at the local processor, such that the sensed data reflects physical attributes of the building before the sensed data associated with the building is received by the central receiving module.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 19 , wherein the local data processing module is further configured to anonymize the sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building before the sensed data associated with the building and the at least one other building is received by the central receiving module.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 17 : wherein the local receiving module is further configured to receive a request for a thermal comfort condition; and wherein the local adjustment module is further configured to adjust at least one parameter associated with the climate of the building based on the received request so as to allow achievement of the requested thermal comfort condition.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 25 , wherein the local data processing module is further configured to convert the received thermal comfort condition into a form usable by the local processor to adjust the at least one parameter.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 237 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building using a collective performance model based on data associated with a plurality of buildings, the method comprising: receiving sensed data at a local processor in the building, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; providing the received sensed data to a central processor, the central processor being configured to receive sensed data from the building and a plurality of other buildings, analyze the received sensed data from the building and the plurality of other buildings and provide control modifications to the building based on the analyzed sensed data; receiving, at the local processor from the central processor, the control modifications; and modifying, at the local processor, local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building based on the control modification, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with the central processor associated with the building and the plurality of other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to modify local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building for real-time minute-to-minute modifications within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and the plurality of other buildings.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 237 words

A method for controlling a climate in a building using a collective performance model based on data associated with a plurality of buildings, the method comprising: receiving sensed data at a local processor in the building, the sensed data being associated with the climate in the building, weather outside the building and/or occupants of the building; providing the received sensed data to a central processor, the central processor being configured to receive sensed data from the building and a plurality of other buildings, analyze the received sensed data from the building and the plurality of other buildings and provide control modifications to the building based on the analyzed sensed data; receiving, at the local processor from the central processor, the control modifications; and modifying, at the local processor, local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building based on the control modification, wherein the local processor in the building communicates with the central processor associated with the building and the plurality of other buildings; wherein the local processor in the building is further configured to modify local performance metrics and/or specifications associated with the building for real-time minute-to-minute modifications within the building and control the climate of the building without communicating with the central processor; and wherein the central processor is configured to update information at each of the local processors of each building based on data associated with the building and the plurality of other buildings.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein the control modifications comprise a statistical representation of the sensed data and control processes associated with the building and the plurality of other buildings.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the central processor is further configured to transmit rate incentives and/or other instructions from the utility to the local processor of the building and other buildings.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2013-11-22	2014-05-24	2014-11-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2017-11-22	2018-05-24	2018-11-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2021-11-22	2022-05-24	2022-11-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods, systems and computer program products for controlling a climate in a building

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