Method and apparatus for connecting to HVAC device

A system for remotely monitoring and controlling at least one HVAC device, comprising:

• a server with bi-directional communications access to an entry device and said at least one HVAC device and containing stored information relating to the status of at least one HVAC device and further containing stored information that includes a password and a user name associated with said at least one HVAC device which must be properly identified before stored status information can be accessed by the entry device;
• querying means in said server for querying said at least one HVAC device for status information for storage in said server;
• means for sending said status information to said entry device in response to said querying means;
• means residing in said server for checking for messages from said at least one HVAC device;
• means residing in said server for sending an alarm message to said entry device when an alarm message is received from said at least one HVAC device;
• means for automatically sending alarm messages from said at least one HVAC device through said server to said entry device;
• means for automatically updating said stored information on a regular basis in the absence of said message form said entry device;
• and
• means for changing settings on said at least one HVAC device from said entry device.

A method for remotely monitoring and controlling at least one HVAC device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a server with bi-directional communications access to an entry device and said at least one HVAC device and having a first database relating to the status of at least one HVAC device and a second database that includes a password and a user name associated with said at least one HVAC device which must be properly identified before requested status information can be accessed by the entry device;
• querying said at least one HVAC device for status information when requested by a message from said entry device;
• and
• sending said status information to said entry device in response to said querying means.

A system for remotely monitoring and controlling at least one HVAC device comprising:

• a server with a bi-directional communications access connection to an entry device and bi-directional communications access to at least one HVAC device and containing stored status information relating to the status of said at least one HVAC device and further containing stored user information that includes a password and a user name that are associated with said at least one HVAC device which must be properly identified before said stored status information can be accessed by said entry device;
• querying means in said server for querying said at least one HVAC device for status information for storage in said server as stored status information;
• and
• means for sending said stored status information to said entry device when a message from said entry device to said server includes a recognized password and user name associated with said at least one HVAC device;
• and
• means for said entry device to detect a time out event associated with said bi-directional communications access connection.