# US 10,481,045 B2 · Assessing performance of an HVAC system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,045 B2 - Document ID: US10481045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/247,994 - Filed: 2014-04-08 - Published: 2015-10-08 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-08 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Philipp Anton Roosli; Michael Asmussen; Gregory W Howard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481045B2 ## CPC - G01M 99/005: {Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones (testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50)} - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks - F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays - F24F 11/59: for presetting - F24F 11/61: using timers - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract Methods, devices, and systems for assessing performance of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are described herein. One method includes counting a number of interactions with an HVAC system associated with a multi-dwelling unit during a defined period of time, and assessing a performance of the HVAC system based on the number of interactions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for assessing performance of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising: counting, by a computing device, a number of interactions with a thermostat of an HVAC system associated with a multi-dwelling unit during a defined period of time, wherein the number of interactions include at least one of: an adjustment of a heating or cooling setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; an adjustment of a fan setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; and an adjustment of an AUTO mode setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; and assessing, by the computing device, a performance of the HVAC system based on the number of interactions; and detecting or measuring a deterioration or failure of the HVAC system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the number of interactions are made by a user of the thermostat of the HVAC system; and the number of interactions include selecting a setting associated with the Thermostat of the HVAC system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes normalizing the number of interactions by a ratio of the multi-dwelling unit being occupied over the defined period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defined period of time corresponds to a time of day. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defined period of time corresponds to an occupancy period of the multi-dwelling unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein counting the number of interactions includes counting two interactions as a single interaction when an amount of time between the two interactions is below a threshold amount of time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold amount of time is the entire defined period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the performance of the HVAC system includes ranking the performance of the HVAC system versus a performance of an additional HVAC system associated with an additional multi-dwelling unit based on a point value assigned to the HVAC system and the additional HVAC system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the method includes initiating the a performing of maintenance on at least one of the HVAC system and the additional HVAC system based on the ranked performances. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-dwelling unit is located in a first property and the additional multi-dwelling unit is located in a second property different than the first property. ### Claim 11 A machine-readable non-transitory medium storing instructions, executable by a machine to cause the machine to: count a number of interactions with a thermostat of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with a multi-dwelling unit during a defined period of time, wherein the number of interactions include at least one of: an adjustment of a heating or cooling setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; an adjustment of a fan setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; and an adjustment of an AUTO mode setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; assign a point value to each of the number of interactions; assess a performance of the HVAC system based on the point values assigned to each of the number of interactions; and detect or measure a deterioration or failure of the HVAC system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions executable to: sum the point values assigned to each of the number of interactions; and assess the performance of the HVAC system based on the sum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The medium of claim 11, wherein the defined period of time includes a period of time that is at least one of before and after the multi-dwelling unit is occupied. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The medium of claim 11, wherein the defined period of time includes a period of time that is at least one of before and after the multi-dwelling unit is unoccupied. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions executable to assign an additional point value to an interaction that restores a prior setting associated with the thermostat of the HVAC system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions executable to assign an additional point value to an interaction that includes selecting a new setting associated with the thermostat of the HVAC system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The medium of claim 16, wherein the additional point value is higher than the point value. ### Claim 18 A system comprising a processing resource in communication with a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium contains a set of instructions and wherein the processing resource is designed to execute the set of instructions to: count a number of interactions with a thermostat of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with a multi-dwelling unit during a defined period of time, wherein the period of time corresponds to a time of day, wherein the number of interactions include at least one of: an adjustment of a heating or cooling setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; an adjustment of a fan setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; and an adjustment of an AUTO mode setting of the thermostat of the HVAC system; assess a performance of the HVAC system based on the number of interactions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein: the HVAC system is located in a first property; and assessment of the performance of the HVAC system includes comparing the number of interactions to a number of interactions with a thermostat of an additional HVAC system associated with an additional multi-dwelling unit located in a second property.