# US 2018/0320916 A1 · Hvac management system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320916 A1 - Document ID: US20180320916A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/770,982 - Filed: 2016-10-21 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-04 - Assignees: Carrier Corporation - Applicants: Carrier Corporation - Inventors: Antonio M. Vincitore; Nicholas Charles Soldner; Sanjay Bajekal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320916A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - G05D 23/1931: {to control the temperature of one space} - F24F 2110/50: Air quality properties - F24F 2110/70: Carbon dioxide - F24F 2120/10: Occupancy - F24F 2130/30: Artificial light - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - 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) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A HVAC management system includes a space having an atmospheric condition to be controlled. Also included are air manipulation components to alter the atmospheric condition of the space. Further included is a sensor assembly located proximate the space for approximating a number of occupants present in the space based on a number of mobile devices located within the space. The sensor assembly includes a receiver capable of detecting communication data associated with a mobile device. The HVAC management system yet further includes a controller in operative communication with the air manipulation components and the sensor assembly, the controller receiving information from the sensor assembly comprising temperature data and the number of mobile devices, the controller controlling the air manipulation components based on the information received from the sensor assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) management system comprising: a space having an atmospheric condition to be controlled; a plurality of air manipulation components to alter the atmospheric condition of the space; a sensor assembly located proximate the space for approximating a number of occupants present in the space based on a number of mobile devices located within the space, the sensor assembly comprising a receiver capable of detecting communication data associated with a mobile device; and a controller in operative communication with the plurality of air manipulation components and the sensor assembly, the controller receiving information from the sensor assembly comprising temperature data and the number of mobile devices, the controller controlling the plurality of air manipulation components based on the information received from the sensor assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, wherein the mobile devices are cellular phones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is plugged into a power outlet of the space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The HVAC management system of claim 3, wherein the sensor assembly is in wired connection with the controller via the power outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is in wireless connection with the controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises an antenna operatively coupled to the receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a GSM (global system for mobile communications) receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, the sensor assembly being Wi-Fi enabled to detect the mobile devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, the sensor assembly being Bluetooth enabled to detect the mobile devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The HVAC management system of claim 1, the sensor assembly further comprising at least one additional occupancy detection component for detection based on at least one of light sensing, carbon dioxide sensing, vibration sensing, indoor air quality sensing, toxic gas sensing and smoke sensing. ### Claim 11 A method of managing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising: controlling an atmospheric condition of a space with a plurality of air manipulation components; approximating a number of occupants present in the space based on a number of mobile devices located within the space with a sensor assembly, wherein approximating the number of occupants comprises detecting communication data associated with a mobile device with a receiver of the sensor assembly; measuring a temperature of an area of the space proximate the sensor assembly with a temperature sensor of the sensor assembly; sending data comprising the temperature measured and the number of mobile devices from the sensor assembly to a controller in operative communication with the sensor assembly and the plurality of air manipulation components; and controlling the plurality of air manipulation components with the controller based on the data received from the sensor assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor assembly is in wired communication with the controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly is plugged into a power outlet of the space to establish the wired communication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor assembly is in wireless communication with the controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the receiver comprises a GSM (global system for mobile communication) receiver.