Management and communication system for non-centralized air conditioners

A method for operating an HVAC unit for a target space, wherein the HVAC is configured to receive control commands via infrared (IR) signals from a remote control device and lacks communications capability for remote control, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a communication hub equipped with an IR relay in a communication system over a wide-area network from a remote control device, a user desired setpoint value for the operation of the HVAC unit, wherein the communication system further comprises a thermostat and an infrared (IR) relay having a transmitter;
• wherein the IR relay comprises a transmitter that is configured to intercept a signal from the remote control device to reach the HVAC unit;
• wherein the signal intercepted by the IR relay comprises the user desired set point value;
• transmitting, by the communication hub, the user desired set point value to the thermostat, and wherein the signal is addressed to the HVAC unit lacking communication capability to the remote control device;
• receiving, by the thermostat, the user desired set point value;
• adjusting, by the thermostat, the user desired set point value based on measured temperature and/or measured humidity for the target space;
• and
• transmitting, by the thermostat, the adjusted user desired set point value as a command to the communication hub;
• wherein the thermostat receives the measured temperature and/or measured humidity for the target space from distributed sensors that are not integrated into the thermostat.

A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• receive, by a communication hub equipped with an infrared (IR) relay comprising a transmitter in a communication system, a user desired set point value for the operation of an HVAC unit, wherein the communication system further comprises a thermostat, and wherein the HVAC unit is configured to receive control commands via infrared (IR) signals from a remote control device and lacks communication capability for remote control;
• intercept, by the IR relay, a signal from the remote control device, wherein the signal intercepted by the IR relay comprises the user desired set point value, and wherein the signal is addressed to the HVAC unit lacking communication capability to the remote control device;
• transmit, by the communication hub, the user desired set point value to the thermostat;
• receive, by the thermostat, the user desired set point value;
• adjust, by the thermostat, the user desired set point value based on measured temperature and/or measured humidity for the target space;
• and
• transmit, by the thermostat, the adjusted user desired set point value as a command to the communication hub, wherein the thermostat receives the measured temperature and/or measured humidity for the target space from distributed sensors that are not integrated into the thermostat.