US 12,008,611 B2
System and method for realizing utility cost savings
Masakazu Sueda, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to Universal Electronics Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by Universal Electronics Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/867,928.
Application 17/867,928 is a continuation of application No. 16/574,222, filed on Sep. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,430,026.
Prior Publication US 2022/0351259 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06Q 50/12 (2012.01); G06Q 30/0283 (2023.01); G06Q 50/06 (2012.01); G06Q 10/02 (2012.01)
CPC G06Q 30/0283 (2013.01) [G06Q 50/06 (2013.01); G06Q 10/02 (2013.01); G06Q 50/12 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
an administration server;
a controller for an HVAC system communicatively coupled to the administration server; and
a display device separate and apart from the administration server and communicatively coupled to the administration server;
wherein the administration server has programming that causes the administration server:
access the display device to allow use of the display device by a guest to provide a setting for the HVAC system;
control the controller for the HVAC system in response to receiving from the display device the setting for the HVAC system; and
respond to receiving data indicative of the guest checking-out from the lodging by subsequently blocking use of the display device by the guest to provide any further settings for the HVAC system; and
wherein the system further comprises at least one utility meter associated with the HVAC system communicatively coupled to the administration server and the administration server has further programming that causes the administration server to determine a time of the guest check-out of the lodging, receive from the at least one utility meter data indicative of utility usage at the time of the guest check-out, use the data indicative of utility usage at the time of the guest check-out and a data indicative of utility usage at the time of the guest check-in to calculate an amount of cost savings that was realized by the guest, and to cause a benefit to be provided to the guest as a function of the calculated amount of cost savings that was realized by the guest.