Remote contractor system with case management

A remote contractor system in operative communication with a plurality of client heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controllers over a network, wherein each of two or more of the client HVAC controllers is part of a corresponding client HVAC system that services a corresponding client building, the remote contractor system comprising:

• a communications port in operative communication with the two or more client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems;
• a memory for storing the received data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems;
• a controller including a processor, the controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller:
• processes the received data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems via the processor to statistically determine a normal HVAC system operation pattern, wherein the operation pattern includes a pattern over a period of time in one or more of humidity level, temperature level, fan activation, particle count, and user interactions with client HVAC controllers;
• identifies an abnormality with the operation of a particular one of the two or more client HVAC systems by comparing the received data related to the operation of the particular one of the client HVAC systems to the determined normal HVAC system operation pattern;
• outputs via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the identified abnormality of the particular one or more of the two or more client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display;
• and
• allows the contractor to create a case, wherein the case is associated with the particular one of the two or more client HVAC systems, and wherein the controller allows a contractor to assign the case to a particular technician for resolution.

A remote contractor system in operative communication with a plurality of client heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controllers over a network, wherein each of two or more of the client HVAC controllers is part of a corresponding client HVAC system that services a corresponding client building, the remote contractor system comprising:

• a communications port in operative communication with the two or more client HVAC controllers, and to receive data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems;
• a memory for storing the received data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems;
• a controller including a processor, the controller operatively coupled to the communications port and the memory, wherein the controller;
• processes the received data related to the operation of the corresponding two or more client HVAC systems via the processor to statistically determine a normal HVAC system operation pattern, wherein the operation pattern includes a pattern over a period of time in one or more of humidity level, temperature level, fan activation, and particle count;
• identifies an abnormality with the operation of a particular one of the two or more client HVAC systems by comparing the received data related to the operation of the particular one of the client HVAC systems to the determined normal HVAC system operation pattern;
• outputs via the communications port one or more alerts with respect to the identified abnormality of the particular one of the two or more client HVAC systems for viewing by a contractor on a display;
• allows the contractor to create a case and to store the case in the memory, wherein the case is associated with the particular one of the two or more client HVAC systems;
• populates a case log for display on the display via the communications port, wherein the case log includes a listing of two or more cases created by the contractor;
• and
• allows selection of a particular case of the case log, and in response, to display more detailed case information regarding the selected case on the display.