# US 8,788,101 B2 · Heating apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,101 B2 - Document ID: US8788101B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/897,751 - Filed: 2010-10-04 - Published: 2011-04-07 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-07 - Assignees: Ibex UK Limited - Applicants: Adam Iain Laurie Pulley - Inventors: Adam Iain Laurie Pulley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788101B2 ## CPC - F24D 19/1054: {the system uses a heat pump} - F24D 2200/29: Electrical devices, e.g. computers, servers - Y02B 30/52: Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a heating apparatus for a domestic or commercial building. The apparatus comprises a controller for determining whether there is a need for heating in the building and a computer system for installation in the building. The computer system includes a data store, a program store storing processor implementable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for implementing the stored instructions to thereby produce thermal energy. The apparatus also comprises a thermal energy distribution means arranged for transferring the thermal energy from the computer system to at least one other location in the building, to a thermal energy storage means and/or to an industrial process. The apparatus is arranged to operate the computer system to implement processor implementable instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy, in response to the determination of a need for heating in the building. The apparatus may additionally comprise a computer network interface means for coupling the computer system to a computer network, and the computer system may be arranged for implementing processor implementable instructions received over the computer network interface means in response to the detection of a need for heating in the building. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating apparatus for a domestic or commercial building, the apparatus comprising: a controller for determining whether or not there is a need for heating in the building; a computer system including a data store, a program store storing processor executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for executing the stored instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy; and a thermal energy distribution means arranged for transferring the thermal energy from the computer system resulting from operation of said computer system; wherein the controller is arranged to operate the computer system to execute the processor executable instructions, to thereby produce the thermal energy, in response to the determination by the controller of there being the need for heating in the building. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal energy distribution means is arranged for transferring the thermal energy from the computer system to at least one of: another location in the building; a thermal energy storage means; and a medium used in an industrial process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from a temperature detector and carry out the determination of whether there is a need for heating in the building based on the output signal of the temperature detector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of temperature detectors for installation in different locations in the building, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from each of the temperature detectors and carry out the determination of whether there is a need for heating in the building based on the output signals of the temperature detectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed claim 1, further comprising a timing device, wherein the controller is arranged to receive an output signal from the timing device and carry out the determination of whether there is a need for heating in the building based on the output signal of the timing device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal energy distribution means comprises a heat exchanger for transferring the thermal energy from the computer to a fluid flowing through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal energy distribution means comprises a heat pump for the purpose of increasing the temperature associated with the thermal energy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a computer network interface means for coupling the computer system to a computer network, and wherein the computer system is arranged for executing the processor instructions received over the computer network interface means in response to the detection of a need for heating in the building. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the computer network interface means is arranged to couple the computer system to the Internet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a plurality of processors each provided on different integrated circuits. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 10, including a computer network interface means for coupling the computer system to a computer network, and wherein the computer system is arranged for executing the processor instructions received over the computer network interface means in response to the detection of a need for heating in the building, wherein the computer system further comprises routing means for routing data and/or processor executable instructions received over the computer network interface means to the plurality of processors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A heating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of the computer systems. ### Claim 13 A distributed computer network comprising a plurality of heating apparatuses in different domestic or commercial buildings, each apparatus comprising: a controller for determining whether or not there is a need for heating in the building; a computer system including a data store, a program store storing processor executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for executing the stored instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy; a thermal energy distribution means arranged for transferring the thermal energy from the computer system resulting from operation of said computer system; and a computer network interface means for coupling the computer system to a computer network, wherein the controller of each heating apparatus is arranged to operate the computer system to execute processor executable instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy, in response to the determination by the controller of there being the need for heating in the building, and wherein the computer system of each heating apparatus is arranged for executing processor executable instructions received over the computer network interface means in response to the detection of there being the need for heating in the building. ### Claim 14 A method of heating a building using a computer system installed in the building, the computer system including a data store, a program store storing processor executable instructions, and at least one processor coupled to the data and program stores for executing the stored instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy, the method comprising: determining whether or not there is a need for heating in the building; in response to the determination of there being the need for heating in the building, operating the computer system to execute processor executable instructions, to thereby produce thermal energy; and transferring the thermal energy from the computer system resulting from operation of the computer system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of transferring the thermal energy comprises transferring the thermal energy from the computer system to at least one of: another location in the building; a thermal energy storage means; and a medium used in an industrial process. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising, before the step of operating the computer system to execute the processor executable instructions: receiving the processor instructions over a computer network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the processor executable instructions received over the computer network comprise instructions for providing at least one of: internet server functions; collection and processing of data from the Internet; and intensive processing of data received over the computer network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising communicating data indicating predicted future heating needs over the computer network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising receiving processor executable instructions over the computer network for execution at the time of the predicted future heating need. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of operating the computer system to execute processor executable instructions comprises executing processor executable instructions serving no useful purpose other than to facilitate the production of thermal energy. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising operating the computer system to provide home entertainment functions, desktop computing functions and/or server computer functions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of transferring the thermal energy from the computer system comprises transferring the thermal energy to another room of the building for space heating of the room. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of transferring the thermal energy from the computer system comprises transferring the thermal energy to a thermal energy storage means, wherein the thermal energy storage means is a water-containing vessel.