DESC:Field of Invention:
The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system, operable via a wireless network. More particularly, the air-conditioning system of the present invention periodically monitors the energy consumption of the system and calculates the amount of expenditure in local currency.

Background & Prior Art:
The air-conditioning (AC) has become a household name India. It is one of the most sold consumer product all over the globe. It not only regulates the temperature of a room but also that of a commercial premises as large as an entire building consisting of floors in multiple of ten through a central AC system.

The most popular way of controlling the temperature of a domestic AC is through a remote control. The remote control sends the infrared (IR) signal to command the AC. With the advent of wireless technology, new methods to command the AC started emerging and set the trend. Indian Patent application no. 977/MUM/2011 filed by MIRC Electronics discloses a wireless network for remotely controlling configured appliances, including AC, using an appliance control mobile phone via text messages sent from a user’s regular mobile phone. The appliance control mobile phone is placed in front of the appliance to be controlled / instructed. The text messages sent from the remote mobile phone are received and analysed by the appliance control mobile phone. The appliance, after executing the instructions from the appliance control mobile phone, sends feedback to the appliance control mobile phone, which further routes the feedback to the remote mobile phone at user’s end.

The advent of Internet of Things technology, device control technique has progressed even further. There are several developers employing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to control the air conditioning system, such as Think co Inc., IOTA Labs etc. IoT allows the devices to share data with the manufacturer / service provider over the internet. Each device has IP address and, apart from the manufacturer, can also communicate with other devices over internet. In temperature controlling, smart thermostats which use IoT control the temperature of the room according to the requirement. Since they employ IoT, the user can control said temperature via a smartphone.
US2014217186 claims a temperature control unit to which a user can communicate via electronic devices such as a Smartphone, laptops or desktop computers. Another document CN104243616 discloses a Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) communication based cloud air conditioner system used for realizing interconnection and control of a cloud air conditioner and multiple cloud service platforms. The cloud air conditioner system comprises the cloud service platforms, a Wi-Fi module, the air conditioner and smart terminals.

A product named “Quirky + GE Aros” is app-enabled, Wi-Fi connected air-conditioner unit. The said system also creates a cooling schedule for user based on his usage habits after a couple of weeks. The user can have the system regulate the AC unit’s energy consumption based on the maximum amount the user can afford to spend.

However, the present invention has simpler design and absolute user friendly approach that is absent in the prior art.

Summary of Invention:
The present invention discloses a wireless air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner stationed in a premises, a Wi-Fi router stationed in said premises, an operating device, and a cloud server situated outside said premises for wireless communication between said air conditioner and said operating device when said operating device is not within said premises, wherein said air conditioner is operable from within said premises as well as from outside said premises by means of said operating device.

In a preferred embodiment, the said air conditioner consists of an Internet of Things (IoT) module to be able to communicate with the said operating device via the said wireless network. The operating device is selected from any android platform based devices such as a smart phone, a tablet and such like.

In an aspect of the invention, the temperature of the said air conditioner is set on hourly basis. There is also a provision to Switch Off and On the said air conditioner at a predetermined time / timer interval.
In another aspect of the invention, the system of the present invention monitors the energy consumption of the air conditioner.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the system by itself indicates the failure and enables the service centre to be aware of the failure without the user making formal complaint.

Brief Description of Drawings:
Fig. 1 illustrates IoT module
Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention within particular premises.
Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention.
Fig. 4 (a) and (b) illustrate the controlling features of the air conditioning system.
Fig. 5 illustrates setting feature on the operating device screen.
Fig. 6 illustrates silent sleep timer feature of the invention.
Fig. 7 illustrates Smart sleep feature.
Fig. 8 illustrates swing position feature.
Fig. 9 illustrates fan speed feature.
Fig. 10 illustrates different modes to be selected though the operating device.
Fig. 11 illustrates smart function feature.
Fig. 12 illustrates energy consumption table.

Detailed Description:
The present invention discloses a wireless air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner stationed in a premises, a Wi-Fi router stationed in said premises, an operating device, and a cloud server situated outside said premises for wireless communication between said air conditioner and said operating device when said operating device is not within said premises, wherein said air conditioner is operable from within said premises as well as from outside said premises by means of said operating device.

The air conditioner contains an Internet of Internet of Things (IoT) module which enable the operating device to communicate with air conditioner through the wireless network. The operating device may be a smart phone, a tablet and such like. However, it is to be understood that the operating device is not limited to the smart phone and the tablet.

The present invention may be understood by referring to accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows an Internet of Internet of Things (IoT) module that has been embedded in the air conditioner. The IoT module enables Wi-Fi device interfaced with high speed microprocessor for communication wirelessly with Smart phones, tablet and such like. Device wireless module may be configured as both wireless STA(Short of station) and AP(Access point) based on network type.

Referring to Fig. 2, which shows the embodiment of the invention in a certain premises. In this situation, the present invention consists of air conditioner (1) stationed in the said premises, a Wi-Fi router (2) stationed in the premises and operating device (3). For an exemplary purpose, the operating device (3) is shown to be a smart phone or a laptop. There is present an AP and plurality of STAs which are joined by the said AP. Therefore, all communications between said STAs are transmitted through the said AP. The IoT module (5) embedded in the present invention supports one AP interface and one STA interface at the same time. When the IoT module (5) enables AP - STA interfacing function, IoT Module’s (5) STA interface can connect with local Wi-Fi router (2) and connect to TCP server in the network. In alternate embodiment, AP interface of IoT module (5) permits the operating device (3) to connect through the Wi-Fi router (2), and the operating device (3) can control the air-conditioner (1) and setting the module parameters.

Fig. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The wireless air conditioning system of the preferred embodiment comprises an air conditioner (1) stationed in a premises, a Wi-Fi router (2) stationed in said premises, an operating device (3), and a cloud server (4) situated outside said premises for wireless connection between said air conditioner (1) and said operating device (3) when said operating device is not within said premises, wherein said air conditioner (1) is operable from within said premises as well as from outside said premises be means of said operating device (3). In the preferred embodiment, Home Wi-Fi router (2) acts as main AP for local network control. The said operating device (3) is configured with the Wi-Fi router (2). After device configuration, the said operating device (3) can control the said air-conditioner (1) through the wireless router (2). Alternately, a tablet device which is also may be served as the operating device, can be configured with the air-conditioner (1) and control the same. As the said IoT module (5) is networked with home / local Wi-Fi router (2), the device (3) can report to the said cloud server (4) and gets updated the new firmware. The user is expected to register the product and is received the user log in and password.

The cloud server (4) feature enables the user to communicate with the said air-conditioner (1) from outside through the cloud server (4) by inputting the username and password. The network may be 2G/3G or Wi-Fi network. In addition, the said cloud server (4) indicates the status of the air-conditioner (1).

Fig. 4 (a) and (b) show different features of the wireless air conditioning system, which appear on the operating device screen.

Fig. 5 shows the setting feature on the operating device screen. There are four icons on the screen.
(i) Local connect: This feature connects the operating device locally through home Wi-Fi router as the home router is networked with the air-conditioner of the system.
(ii) Cloud connects: It connects the device anywhere across globe through mobile GPRS or WI-FI connections. User can connect the operating device seamlessly.
(iii) Device: This feature helps for networking with local router.
(iv) About: If press about button, it prompts about system and software used in the operating device.

There is also a power option to turn ON / OFF the air-conditioner.

Fig. 6 illustrates another feature named as silent sleep timer of the wireless air-conditioner system. The graph shows two coordinates, X and Y. X coordinate represent hours of interval 1 hour and Y coordinate is corresponding temperature. The user can select the silent mode for the system to maintain the temperature accordingly. It could be seen from the said figure that the system maintains the desired temperature throughout the span of few hours.
Another feature of the wireless air-conditioner system, called as Smart sleep, is illustrated in Fig. 7. Smart sleep is adjustable as per user preference by tapping the vision graph as shown in Fig.7. The user can set the preferred temperature on hourly basis and can maintain the perfect temperature without disturbing the sleep which also saves the energy consumption. From Figure 7, it can be observed that the particular temperature range is set for the first four hours. Within these four hours, temperature changes at every hour according to the value set by the user. For next one hour, that for fifth hour, air condition remains OFF. At sixth hour, air condition again achieves the set temperature and changes the temperature every hour, as set by the user. This process may be a continuous process.

Fig. 8 shows swing position feature by which the user can select desired position or direction of airflow flushed out by the air-conditioner.

Fig. 9 shows fan speed feature by which fan speed inside the air-conditioner can be set.

Fig. 10 illustrates different modes to be selected. TURBO mode is suitable for maximum cooling, COOL mode is suitable for normal use by increase and decrease the temperature. AUTO mode is suitable to maintain comfort throughout the room. DRY mode is suitable to reduce humidity. ECO mode is economic mode of use.

Fig. 11 illustrates smart function feature that appears on the operating device screen. Fig. 12 shows energy consumption table which is a part of the smart function feature. The user can track the consumption cost for last 8 hours,1 Day,1 Week and 1 Month based on the local tariff. The processor continuously monitors the on-time as well as off-time of the air-conditioner and provides power consumption output, that is displayed on the operating device screen with the aforementioned categorisation. If the user feeds the local tariff, then final cost can be obtained based on the mathematical algorithm fed in the air-conditioner. This feature indicates to the end user usage of the air-condition and the consumption cost.

Advantages of the invention:
• The user does not have to be physically present before the air conditioner. The user can operate the air conditioner from anywhere through his / her operating device.
• The invention eliminates the need for a dedicated remote control.
• The user can monitor energy consumption of the air conditioner.
,CLAIMS:1. A wireless air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner (1) stationed in a premises, a Wi-Fi router (2) stationed in said premises, an operating device (3), and a cloud server (4) situated outside said premises for wireless communication between said air conditioner (1) and said operating device (3) when said operating device (3) is not within said premises, wherein said air conditioner (1) is operable from within said premises as well as from outside said premises by means of said operating device (3).
2. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air conditioner (1) further comprises of an Internet of Things (IoT) module (5) to be able to communicate with said operating device (3) via the said wireless network.
3. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 2, wherein IoT module (5) may be configured as both wireless STA(Short of station) and AP(Access point) based on network type.
4. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operating device (3) is selected from, but not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet.
5. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein temperature of said system may be set on hourly basis.
6. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air conditioner (1) may be Switched OFF and Switched ON at a predetermined time / timer interval.
7. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system monitors the energy consumption of said air conditioner (1) on a periodic basis.
8. The wireless air conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system by itself indicates the failure and enables a service centre to be aware of the failure without a user making formal complaint.