A system includes a network device installed at a site, the network device including an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The system also includes at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary. A method of managing a site includes detecting a network device installed at a site, the network device having an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The method also includes enabling configuration of at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary.

A system for facilitating communication of information between an information source positioned inside a refrigerated environment and a position outside the refrigerated environment comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal including the information, a planar antenna fixed to a gasket for resonating the transmitted signal, the gasket providing a seal between the refrigerated compartment and a door providing access to the refrigerated compartment, and a receiver for receiving the signal including the information. The information could include information concerning at least one container positioned in a refrigerated environment. The system may utilize a Wi-Fi device, a Bluetooth® device, RFID device, or other devices for transmitting the information.

Components and devices are provided for controlling and monitoring a machine or process using an automation controller that may be capable of receiving inputs from a digital source, an analog source, or a thermistor source. In one embodiment, an automation controller may include first, second, and third input terminals. The first and second input terminals may receive input signals from analog and digital sensors, and the second and third terminals may receive input signals from a thermistor.

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive remote control information transmitted from a remote control device, an adapter configured to receive remote information including operation details conveyed through an external network, an information outputting unit configured to output information when the adapter receives the remote information or when the receiving unit receives the remote control information, and a controller configured to control operations of the information outputting unit. The controller includes an information adjustment unit configured to cause the information outputting unit to output different information when the adapter receives the remote information and when the receiving unit receives the remote control information.

A heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) controller for controlling one or more components of a HVAC system or monitoring a state thereof is provided. The HVAC controller may include a touch screen display configured to receive a parameter setting command input by a user's touch, and a controller connected with the touch screen display to display a screen on the touch screen display. The controller may display a function selection screen to select a type of a limit function when the controller receives a command for selecting limit functions of one or more components of the HVAC system. Further, the controller may display a set-up screen to input a limit parameter on the touch screen display when a specific limit function is selected on the function selection screen, and the set-up screen may include a set-up button to input the limit parameter.

A method for providing an estimate for a defined building control system comprises displaying on a user interface a plurality of areas in which the defined building control system would be installed. Pluralities of subsystems are associated with the plurality of areas and include at least one typical subsystem that is associated with a defined plurality of building automation components in a database. The method further comprises displaying on the user interface the typical subsystem in association with the plurality of areas. A number of instances of the typical subsystem that are associated with the plurality of areas are also displayed on the user interface. A cost estimate is generated for the defined building control system based at least in part on the number of instances of the typical subsystem.

A device is suitable for controlling a rotation-speed of a fan of a display. The device includes a temperature sensor for sensing a current temperature of the display, a memory for storing the current temperature of the display and a first and a second setting-temperature and a control module coupled to the temperature sensor and the memory and adapted to couple to the fan of the display. The control module compares the current temperature of the display with the first and the second setting-temperatures and judging the variation of the current temperature of the display to control the rotation-speed of the fan. If the control module judges out the current temperature of the display sensed by the temperature sensor rises, the control module raises the rotation-speed of the fan when the rotation-speed of the fan is lower than a maximum rotation-speed.

An apparatus control system includes a metabolic amount measurement device measuring a metabolic amount, and an apparatus control device controlling a heating-cooling combination apparatus. A control content storage unit stores thermal sensations and control contents of the heating-cooling combination apparatus. The metabolic amount measured by the metabolic amount measurement device is inputted to an input unit. A metabolic amount storage unit stores a history of the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit before. A calculation unit calculates the thermal sensation using the metabolic amount inputted to the input unit. A correction unit corrects the thermal sensation calculated by the calculation unit using the history of the metabolic amount stored in the metabolic amount storage unit. An apparatus control unit controls the heating-cooling combination apparatus according to a control content stored in the control content storage unit in association with the thermal sensation corrected by the correction unit.

There is provided a control method for an information terminal device having a display and controlling an air conditioner over a network. The control method makes the information terminal device perform processing including: displaying a temperature setting screen where an air conditioner temperature is settable for each of a plurality of time periods; calculating a first time period preset temperature using a first preset temperature at a boundary time and a second preset temperature at a go-to-bed time; calculating a second time period preset temperature using the first preset temperature and a third preset temperature at a wake-up time; displaying the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature; and outputting to the network a control command corresponding to the first preset temperature and second preset temperature when the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature have been fixed.

An apparatus control system includes a skin temperature measurement device configured to measure a skin temperature, and an apparatus control device that controls a heating-cooling combination apparatus. In the apparatus control device, a storage unit stores a correspondence table (correspondence relationship) between skin temperatures and control contents of the heating-cooling combination apparatus. The apparatus control unit controls the heating-cooling combination apparatus according to a control content stored in the storage unit in association with a first skin temperature that is inputted to an input unit. Thereafter, if a second skin temperature that is newly inputted to the input unit is not included in a comfortable temperature range, the update unit updates the correspondence table stored in the storage unit. In this case, the update unit changes the control content in the correspondence table such that over-control or under-control according to the control content is reduced.