Server integration with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system

A method for operating a server in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network using one or more processors, the method comprising:

• receiving a registration request from a control unit, wherein:
• the control unit is implemented in hardware;
• and
• the registration request includes an installation report comprising:
• a serial number for an HVAC unit communicatively coupled to the control unit;
• a serial number for an interactive display communicatively coupled to the HVAC unit;
• a plurality of operating parameters for the HVAC unit;
• a geographic address of a location of the control unit;
• and
• a user name and login password for accessing the control unit;
• and
• authenticating the control unit based on the registration request;
• registering a primary user device associated with the control unit;
• registering a secondary user device associated with the control unit;
• establishing a control link between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices, wherein the control link facilitates communication of control commands between the control unit and the primary and secondary user devices;
• establishing a notification connection with the control unit, wherein the notification connection is configured for sending notifications to the control unit;
• establishing a control connection with the control unit, wherein the control connection is configured for sending requests to the control unit;
• storing the installation report in a server database;
• receiving a request from an HVAC dealer to access operating parameters for the HVAC unit;
• transmitting an authorization request to the primary user device in response to receiving the request;
• receiving an authorization approval message from the primary user device in response to transmitting the authorization request;
• transmitting the operating parameters for the HVAC unit from the server database to the HVAC dealer in response to receiving the authorization approval message;
• and
• storing the operating parameters for the HVAC unit at the HVAC dealer in response to the HVAC dealer receiving the operating parameters.

A method for communicating with a server in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) network using an HVAC control unit implemented in hardware, the method comprising:

• connecting, using a processor, to a control server over the Internet using a Wi-Fi network;
• registering with the server, wherein registering comprises:
• transmitting, to the server, a serial number for an HVAC unit, the HVAC unit communicatively coupled to the HVAC control unit;
• transmitting, to the server, a geographic location of a location of the HVAC control unit;
• transmitting a user name and password for accessing the HVAC control unit from the server using a first user device;
• establishing a notification connection with the HVAC control unit, wherein the notification connection is configured for sending notifications to the control unit;
• establishing a control connection with the HVAC control unit, wherein the control connection is configured for sending requests to the control unit;
• receiving a request from an HVAC dealer to access operating parameters for the HVAC unit;
• transmitting an authorization request to the primary user device in response to receiving the request;
• receiving an authorization approval message from the primary user device in response to transmitting the authorization request;
• and
• transmitting the operating parameters for the HVAC unit from a server database to the HVAC dealer in response to receiving the authorization approval message;
• and
• storing the operating parameters for the HVAC unit at the HVAC dealer in response to the HVAC dealer receiving the operating parameters.