In some embodiments, the memory 204 may store data and instructions executable by the processor(s) 202 to perform the method steps for managing temperature control in the indoor environment 110, as discussed herein throughout the disclosure. The memory 204 may further include, but not limited to, a non-transitory computer-readable storage media such as various types of volatile and non-volatile storage media, including but not limited to, random access memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic tape or disk, optical media and the like. Further, the non-transitory computer-readable storage media of the memory 204 may include executable instructions in a form of the modules 206 and a database to store data. The modules 206 may include a set of instructions that may be executed to cause the one or more processors 202 to perform any one or more of the methods managing temperature control in an indoor environment, as disclosed herein throughout the disclosure. Specifically, the one or more modules 206 may be configured to perform the steps of the disclosure using the data stored in the database of the memory 204 for managing temperature control in an indoor environment. In another embodiment, the modules 206 may be one or more hardware units that may be outside the memory 204. In one embodiment, the memory 204 may communicate via a bus within the processor(s) 202.

In one or more embodiments, the communication interface 208 may include a transmitter and a receiver, and may be configured to communicate with one or more components of the HVAC equipment 140, such as the zone panel 146, the plurality of temperature sensors 141, and/or the fan and condenser unit 144, via the communication network 150. The communication via the communication network 150 may be based on a wireless communication protocol. The communication interface 208 coupled with the one or more processors 202 may be configured to transmit an alert indicating malfunctioning of the HVAC equipment within one or more zones of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c. The communication interface 208 may be configured for communicating internally between internal hardware components and with external devices, e.g., the HVAC equipment 140, via one or more networks (e.g., radio technology). The communication interface 208 may include an electronic circuit specific to a standard that may enable wireless communication.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to manage temperature control in the indoor environment 110. In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to manage temperature control in each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, within the indoor environment 110. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to detect a current temperature value of a corresponding zone of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to process the readings received from the temperature sensor 141 of the corresponding zone in order to detect the current temperature value of the corresponding zones.

The current temperature value may be indicative of an actual temperature within the corresponding zone that is being sensed by the temperature sensor 141 installed in the corresponding zones. For instance, considering zones 110a to 110c, the current temperature value of the zone 110a may be the actual temperature of the zone 110a that is detected by the temperature sensor 141 installed within the zone 110a.

In an embodiment, for each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, one or more temperature set point ranges may be stored in the memory 204. The HVAC equipment 140 may be configured to maintain the actual temperature of the corresponding zones within the set point range based on the readings of the temperature sensor 141 installed within the corresponding zones.

In an embodiment, set point ranges for one of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c may be different from set point ranges for another zone among the plurality of zones 110a to 110c. In an embodiment, the set point range may be selected to be in a range between 50° F. to 88° F. for heating and the set point range may be selected to be in a range between 52° F. to 90° F. for cooling. For instance, the set point range for zone 110a may be set as 70-71° F., and the HVAC equipment 140 may be configured to maintain the temperature for zone 110a at 70-71° F. In case the actual temperature of zone 110a is 65° F. as sensed by the temperature sensor 141, the HVAC equipment 140 may provide conditioned air to the zone 110a to increase the temperature to the set point range.

In an embodiment, for each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, threshold temperature values may be stored in the memory 204. In particular, a first threshold value and a second threshold value may be stored in the memory 204. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to compare the current temperature value of the corresponding zones with one of the first threshold value and the second threshold value.

In an embodiment, the HVAC system 120 may be configured to operate in a heating mode and a cooling mode. In the heating mode, the HVAC system 120 may provide conditioned air to heat the indoor environment 110. In the cooling mode, the HVAC system 120 may provide conditioned air to cool the indoor environment 110.

In an embodiment, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to operate in the heating mode or the cooling mode based on a user input. The one or more processors 202 may be configured to receive the user input corresponding to one of the heating or cooling of the corresponding zone. The user input may correspond to an input provided by a user of the HVAC system 120. The input may correspond to a selection of a heating operation or a cooling operation for heating or cooling the corresponding zones. Based on the reception of the user input, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to maintain the actual temperature within the set point range for the corresponding zone. Further, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to detect the current temperature value and compare the current temperature value with one of the first threshold value or the second threshold value based on the received user input. In an embodiment, the user input may be received via a user device, such as a smart phone, a remote device, or a pre-installed device within the corresponding zones, such as a thermostat or a smart sensing device.

When the HVAC system 120 is being operated in the heating mode, i.e., when heating of the indoor environment is being performed, the first threshold value for a corresponding zone may be greater than the set point range for the corresponding zone. Further, the second threshold value for the corresponding zones may be greater than the first threshold value. As an example, the set point range for the zone 110a may be 70-71° F., the first threshold value may be 78° F., and the second threshold value may be 90° F. Accordingly, when heating is performed by the HVAC system 120 for a corresponding zone among the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, the second threshold value may be greater than the first threshold value and the set point range.

When the HVAC system 120 is being operated in the cooling mode, i.e., when cooling of the indoor environment is being performed, the first threshold value for a corresponding zone may be less than the set point range for the corresponding zone. Further, the second threshold value for the corresponding zones may be less than the first threshold value. As an example, the set point range for zone 110a may be 70-71° F., the first threshold value may be 62° F., and the second threshold value may be 50° F. Accordingly, when cooling is performed by the HVAC system 120 for a corresponding zone among the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, the second threshold value may be less than the first threshold value and the set point range.

The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to determine whether the current temperature value of the corresponding zone reaches one of the first threshold value or the second threshold value. For instance, in the heating mode, when the current temperature value is less than the first threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may be further configured to determine whether the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to trigger a first control action for the corresponding zones in response to the determination that the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value.

In one or more embodiments, the first control action may relate to a controlling movement of the damper mechanism associated with the one or more dampers 143-1 to 143-3 that are installed within the corresponding zones, respectively. As described above herein, each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c may be provided with conditioned air via the ductwork arrangement 142 and the one or more dampers 143-1 to 143-3 may be installed to control the flow of air into the corresponding zone of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to control the movement of the damper mechanism to close the damper, for example, one of the dampers among the one or more dampers 143-1 to 143-3, and restricts the flow of the air into the corresponding zones where the damper is installed. Accordingly, in response to the determination that the current temperature value of the corresponding zones reaches the first threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may be further configured to trigger the first control action to cause the damper within the corresponding zone to be closed.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 202 may be further configured to generate a first alert notification when the first control action is triggered. The first alert notification may be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the HVAC system 120. For instance, the HVAC system 120 may comprise a thermostat and/or a smart sensor device installed within each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, and for the corresponding zones, the first alert notification may be displayed by the thermostat. In one or more embodiments, the first alert notification may be indicative of a malfunction within a corresponding zone among the plurality of zones 110a to 110c. For instance, the first alert notification may comprise information related to error codes and error messages that allows the user within the corresponding zone to be aware of possible malfunction scenarios. In a non-limiting example, if there is only one zone or no dampers are available in the HVAC equipment 140, error code may be displayed as 140 indicating a system monitor alert. Further, if the malfunction is happened in Zone 110a a fault error code 141 would be displayed. Similarly, If the malfunction is happened in Zone 110b a fault error code 142 would be displayed and so on.

In an embodiment, in the heating mode, when the current temperature value is greater than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to determine whether the current temperature value reaches the second threshold value. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to trigger a second control action for the corresponding zones in response to the determination that the current temperature value reaches the second threshold value.

In an embodiment, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to automatically monitor a change in the current temperature value for one of the heating or cooling of a particular zone among zones 110a to 110c. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to determine whether the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value for the particular zone based on the monitoring of the change in the current temperature value. The one or more processors 202 may be further configured to trigger, in response to the determination that the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value, the first control action for the particular zone for which the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value. In a non-limiting example, in heating, if there is a heating call received from the zone 110a and the one or more processors 202 detects that the actual temperature of the zone 110a reaches the first threshold value, then the one or more processors 202 may trigger the first control action for the zone 110a. In another non-limiting example, in heating, if there is no any heating call received from the zone 110a and the one or more processors 202 detects that the actual temperature of the zone 110a reaches the first threshold value, then the one or more processors 202 may not trigger the first control action for the zone 110a.

In an embodiment, the second control action relates to shutting down the HVAC equipment 140 of the HVAC system 120. The one or more processors 202 may be configured to control the operation of the HVAC system 120 to cease or shut down the HVAC equipment 140. As a result, the heating for the entire indoor environment 110 is ceased. That is, for all of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c, the heating by the HVAC equipment 140 may be ceased when the one or more processors 202 determines that the current temperature value reaches the second threshold value.

Accordingly, in response to the determination that the current temperature value of the corresponding zone reaches the second threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to trigger the second control action to cease the heating operation for each zone of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c.

In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 202 may be configured to generate a second alert notification when the second control action is triggered. The second alert notification may be displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the HVAC system 120. As described above, the HVAC system 120 may comprise a thermostat and/or a smart sensor device installed within each of the plurality of zones 110a to 110c and the second alert notification may be displayed at the thermostat. In one or more embodiments, the second alert notification may be indicative of a malfunction within the corresponding zone where the current temperature reached the second threshold value. For instance, the second alert notification may comprise information related to error codes and error messages that allows the user within the corresponding zone to be aware of possible malfunction scenarios.

In one or more embodiments, the current temperature value for the corresponding zones may reach the first threshold value and/or the second threshold value because of certain hardware malfunctions and/or software malfunctions. For instance, a hardware malfunction may be associated with the one or more dampers 143-1 to 143-3 associated with the corresponding zones such that the one or more dampers 143-1 to 143-3 may not properly restrict the flow of conditioned air 145 into the corresponding zones. Further, a software malfunction may be associated with software error such that the one or more processors 202 may not accurately determine the temperature readings, damper open/close status, user inputs or heating or cooling, and the like.

Although the triggering of the first and second control actions are described with reference to the HVAC system 120 being operated in the heating mode, the one or more processors 202 may be further configured to trigger the first and second control actions when the HVAC system 120 is operated in the cooling mode. For instance, in the cooling mode, when the current temperature value is greater than the first threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may further determine whether the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value and may trigger the first control action upon determining that the current temperature value reaches the first threshold value. Further, when the current temperature value is less than the first threshold value and greater than the second threshold value, the one or more processors 202 may determine whether the current temperature value reaches the second threshold value and may trigger the second control action upon determining that the current temperature value reaches the second threshold value.

Referring to Tables 1-4 as shown below herein, various exemplary use-case scenarios of the HVAC system 120 to manage temperature control in the indoor environment are provided. The exemplary scenarios shown below relate to the operation of the HVAC system 120 in the heating mode.

As can be seen in Table 1, the HVAC system 120 maintains the current temperature of the corresponding zones to the set points. The damper status the corresponding zones may be open so that each of the zones 110a, 110b, and 110c are maintained at the set point.

TABLE 1

Set
Current
Damper

Point
Temperature Value
Status

Zone 110a
70
70
Open

Zone 110b
71
71
Open

Zone 110c
72
72
Open

As can be seen in Table 2, the current temperature value in zone 110a is below the set point, and thus, the HVAC system 120 is operating to increase the temperature in the zone 110a to the set point. The conditioned air would flow into the zone 110a as the damper status is open. For zones 110b and 110c, the dampers are closed as there is no requirement to further heat the zones.

TABLE 2

Set
Current
Damper

Point
Temperature Value
Status

Zone 110a
70
68
Open

Zone 110b
70
70
Closed

Zone 110c
72
72
Closed

As can be seen in Table 3, at time T1, the current temperature value in zone 110a is below the set point, and thus, the HVAC system 120 is operating to increase the temperature in the zone 110a to the set point. Further, the current temperature value in zone 110c is above the set point but below the first threshold value (78° F.). In zone 110c, there is a hardware malfunction with the associated damper 143-3 because of the reverse wiring of the damper 143-3. As the damper is wired backward, the damper status may be noted as closed, however, the damper 143-3 may be open in the zone 110c. As the damper 143-3 in zone 110c is open, the zone 110c is being heated above the set point.

At time T2, the current temperature value in zone 110a is still below the set point and the HVAC system is operating to increase the temperature in the zone 110a to the set point. However, because the damper 143-3 in zone 110c is open, the zone 110c is being heated as well. At T2, the temperature of the zone 110c reaches 78° F., i.e., the first threshold value. The HVAC system 120 may be unable to close the damper because of the reverse wiring.

At time T3, the current temperature value in zone 110a is still below the set point and the HVAC system 120 is operating to increase the temperature in the zone 110a to the set point. The damper 143-3 in zone 110c is still open and the zone 110c is heated to reach a temperature of 90° F. which is the second threshold value. When the temperature in zone 110c reaches the second threshold value, the HVAC system ceases the heating operation in all the zones and shuts down the HVAC equipment 140. An alert notification may be displayed on a GUI associated with the HVAC system 120, the alert notification may comprise details related to possible errors and malfunctions. The user may thus view the notification and may take necessary step to resolve the errors and malfunctions.

TABLE 3

Set
Current
Damper

Point
Temperature Value
Status

T1
Zone 110a
70
64
Open

Zone 110b
70
70
Closed

Zone 110c
70
74
Closed (open)

T2
Zone 110a
70
65
Open

Zone 110b
70
70
Closed

Zone 110c
70
78
Closed (open)

T3
Zone 110a
70
69
Open

Zone 110b
70
70
Closed

Zone 110c
70
90
Closed (open)

Referring to Table 4, the HVAC system 120 may be facing a software malfunction and may inaccurately process user inputs for heating the indoor environment 110. For instance, the HVAC system 120 may process user inputs to determine that heating of the zones 110a and 110b is required. At time T1, the current temperature value at zone 110b is above the set point, however, the HVAC system 120 may not determine that the damper for zone 110b is to be closed. Because of the software malfunction, the HVAC system 120 may determine the damper 143-2 for zone 110b to be closed even though the damper 143-2 is open.

At time T2, the HVAC system 120 is heating zone 110a as the current temperature of zone 110a is below the set point. However, for zone 110b, the current temperature value reaches 75° F. as the damper is open. At time T3, the current temperature value at zone 110b reaches the first threshold value, i.e., 78° F. The first control action is thus triggered and the HVAC system 120, in particular, the control device 130 of the HVAC system 120 closes the damper 143-2 for zone 110b. Additionally, an alert notification may be generated to alert a user regarding possible errors and malfunctions. Further, the current temperature value at zone 110c may be increased because of residual heat from other areas of the indoor environment 110.

At time T4, as the damper 143-2 for zone 110b is closed, the current temperature value falls closer to the set point. In absence of the first control action being triggered, the current temperature value for zone 110b may be raised further. At time T5, as the damper 143-2 for zone 110b is closed, the current temperature value continues to fall closer to the set point and the HVAC system 120 may operate normally.

TABLE 4

Set
Current
Damper

Point
Temperature Value
Status

T1
Zone 110a
70
61
Open

Zone 110b
70
71
Open (Closed)

Zone 110c
70
70
Closed

T2
Zone 110a
70
65
Open

Zone 110b
70
75
Open (Closed)

Zone 110c
70
71
Closed

T3
Zone 110a
70
67
Open

Zone 110b
70
78
Closed

Zone 110c
70
72
Closed

T4
Zone 110a
70
69
Open