TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method and a mobile communication device for generating for a user augmented reality information related to an HVAC component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

HVAC systems often involve a plurality of HVAC components installed at different sites of a facility or a building. Typically, the HVAC components, such as valves and actuators, sen- sors, thermostats etc. are each controllable and exhibit varying states depending on oper ation of the HVAC component. For monitoring, controlling and maintenance purposes, it is therefore desired to obtain fast and efficient information on the status of each HVAC component in an HVAC system.

For regulating the operation of HVAC systems, remotely located central control systems, such as Building Automation Systems are typically used. However, on-site maintenance is regularly required, where field workers often face uncertainty about the identification of the respective HVAC component among the plurality of HVAC components in the HVAC system. HVAC components being installed in places with limited or barred accessibility may further impede fast identification and status verification. For example, an HVAC compo- nent may be installed within a duct or behind a wall and thus not be easy accessible or at least not visible to a field worker. Additionally, the HVAC component may be placed in an orientation where control elements on the HVAC components are difficult to activate man ually. Therefore, ease of access for controlling operation of the HVAC components is like wise desired.

Recently, augmented reality technology has been considered as a versatile solution for en- 5 hanced interaction with real-world entities, such as electronic devices. Augmented reality is a term for the real-time use of computer-generated information in the form of text, graphics, audio and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects. In par ticular, augmented reality can be used to add an interactive dimension to the real world by overlaying the computer-generated information together with accessible user interface el- Ί 0 ements to the real-world object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a mobile communication device for generating for a user augmented reality information related to an HVAC component, which at least partially improves the prior art of controlling HVAC components of an HVAC 1 5 system.

According to the present invention, these objects are achieved by the features of the inde pendent claims. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the depend ent claims and the description.

According to an aspect of the invention, the object is particularly achieved by a method of 0 generating for a user augmented reality information related to an HVAC component, the method comprising a circuit of a mobile communication device executing the following steps: obtaining a component identification of the HVAC component; generating the aug- merited reality information related to the HVAC component using the component identifi cation, the augmented reality information including a displayable user interface element for initiating an operation of the HVAC component; displaying the augmented reality in formation on a display unit connected to the mobile communication device; and generat- ing, responsive to activation of the user interface element, a control command for the op eration of the HVAC component and transmitting the control command via a cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component, commanding the HVAC component to perform the operation and enabling the user to visually verify execution of the operation by the HVAC component. The cloud-based computer system makes it possible that each HVAC component can be remotely monitored and controlled independently from the location of the user. Further, data and support regarding the HVAC system can be readily provided anywhere and at any time. However, for large HVAC systems including a plurality of HVAC components, it often occurs that a specific HVAC component is not actually installed as indicated and recorded in the cloud-based computer system, for example at the specific registered position, which hampers on-site inspection, as described above. The inventive method provides the ad vantage that the HVAC components connected to the cloud-based computer system can be inspected on-site by visually verifying the execution of an operation by the HVAC com ponent initiated by a control command which is transmitted from the mobile communica- tion device via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component. Generating the control command responsive to activation of the user interface element which is displayed within the augmented reality information, provides the advantage of ease of access for controlling operation of the HVAC component, independent of the actual physical acces sibility of the HVAC component. In particular, the inventive method allows to perform target/current-status comparison using verification of the execution of an operation due to a command transmitted via the cloud-based computer system and receiving direct feedback from the HVAC component.

Obtaining the component identification may be achieved visually, for example by way of a bar code, a QR code, LED data transfer or visible fiducial markers, wherein the bar code, QR code, the LED or the visible fiducial markers are arranged at the HVAC component.

In some embodiments, the component identification may be obtained non-visually, for ex ample by using RFID technology, in particular NFC, Bluetooth or Li-Fi using an LED. Non visual transmission of the component identification in case of Li-Fi using an LED is under- stood as the switching rate of the LED being too high for the human eye to be recognized.

In some embodiments, the component identification comprises login credentials for the user of the mobile communication device. Using the login credentials, the user of the mo bile communication device may access the cloud-based computer system, for example for transmitting a control command via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC com- ponent. The login credentials may be temporarily active such that access to the cloud- based computer system may be possible only during a limited time period.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device receiving current status information from the HVAC component, and generating augmented reality information which visualizes execution of the operation by the HVAC component, using the current status information, enabling visual verification of the oper ation of the HVAC component by the user when the HVAC component is not visible to the user. For example, the HVAC component may be installed in a duct or behind wall. Further, the control command may be directed to an operation of the HVAC component for which the execution may not be externally visible, such as activating a sensor or interrupting a com munication channel etc. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device locally generating and displaying additional HVAC component information within the augmented reality information. The additional HVAC component information may in clude information about specific properties of the HVAC component which may help for installing the HVAC component. The additional HVAC component information may be rec- orded in a storage of the mobile communication device after being received from the cloud-based computer system.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device receiving from the cloud-based computer system target status information of the HVAC component related to the control command, and generating augmented reality in- formation using a comparison of current status information, received from the HVAC com ponent, with the target status information of the HVAC component, received from the cloud-based computer system.

In particular, this enables a target/current-status comparison where the operation of the HVAC component is initiated by a user interface element which includes a degree of ab- straction of the operation. For example, the user interface element may display an element "verify the connection of the HVAC component to the power supply". For the activation of said user interface element, a variety of control commands may be generated in order to verify the supply of power to the HVAC component. For example, a control command to change the angle of the damper blade by a certain amount may be generated and trans mitted via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component for verifying the sup ply of power to the HVAC component. Upon transmitting said control command, the mo bile communication device may receive from the cloud-based computer system the target status information that the angle of the damper blade should be changed by the specific amount as defined by the control command. By comparing current status information about the current angle change of the damper blade with said target status information, augmented reality information may be generated allowing to verify the element "verify the connection of the HVAC component to the power supply", as initiated by the user interface element.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device displaying within the augmented reality information a confirmation notification for a correspondence of the current status information and the target status information, and an error notification for a deviation of the current status information from the target status information.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device receiving from the cloud-based computer system lifetime information related to the HVAC component, and displaying the lifetime information within the augmented reality information. The lifetime information may be used to display and indicate within the augmented reality information that the HVAC component has reached its end-of-life. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device generating an identification command, and transmitting the identification com mand to the HVAC component, the identification command commanding the HVAC com ponent to generate the component identification. This provides the advantage that the HVAC component is not required to generate the component identification continuously, but only upon transmission of the identification command to the HVAC component. For example, a Bluetooth module of the HVAC com ponent may be activated only upon transmission of the identification command for gener ating the component identification. In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device transmitting the identification command via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises the circuit of the mobile communication device displaying within the augmented reality information a drilling template for drilling holes.

After installation of an HVAC component, it may be desirable to mount additional compo nents in addition to the installed HVAC component. For this purpose, holes may be drilled, for example into a wall or a duct where the HVAC component is installed, in order to mount the additional component. Using the drilling template displayed within the augmented re- ality information provides the advantage that the field worker does not have to carry the drilling templates for the various HVAC components and additional components during on-site inspection. According to a further aspect, the present invention is also directed to a mobile communi cation device for generating for a user augmented reality information related to an HVAC component, the mobile communication device comprising a circuit configured to obtain a component identification of the HVAC component; to generate the augmented reality in- formation related to the HVAC component using the component identification, the aug mented reality information including a displayable user interface element for initiating an operation of the HVAC component; to display the augmented reality information on a dis play unit connected to the mobile communication device; to generate, responsive to acti vation of the user interface element, a control command for the operation of the HVAC component, and to transmit the control command via a cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component to command the HVAC component to perform the operation; and to enable the user to visually verify execution of the operation by the HVAC component.

The mobile communication device may be for example a smartphone, a smart glass, a tab let PC etc. - In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to receive current status information from the HVAC component, and to generate augmented reality information which visual izes execution of the operation by the HVAC component, and using the current status in formation, to enable visual verification of the operation of the HVAC component by the user when the HVAC component is not visible to the user. In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to receive from the cloud-based com puter system target status information of the HVAC component related to the control com mand, and to generate augmented reality information using a comparison of current status information received from the HVAC component with the target status information of the HVAC component received from the cloud-based computer system. In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to display within the augmented reality information a confirmation notification for a correspondence of the current status infor mation and the target status information, and an error notification for a deviation of the current status information form the target status information. In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to receive from the cloud-based com puter system lifetime information related to the HVAC component and to display the life time information within the augmented reality information.

In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to generate an identification command and to transmit the identification command to the HVAC component, the identification command commanding the HVAC component to generate the component identification.

In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to transmit the identification command via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component.

In an embodiment, the circuit is further configured to display within the augmented reality information a drilling template for drilling holes. According to a further aspect, the present invention is also directed to a computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program code configured to control a circuit of a mobile communication device such that the circuit executes the steps of: obtaining a component identification of an HVAC component; generating for a user augmented reality information related to the HVAC component using the component identification, the augmented reality information including a displayable user interface element for initiating an operation of the HVAC com ponent; displaying the augmented reality information on a display unit connected to the mobile communication device; and generating, responsive to activation of the user inter face element, a control command for the operation of the HVAC component, and trans mitting the control command via a cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component, commanding the HVAC component to perform the operation and enabling the user to vis- ually verify execution of the operation by the HVAC component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communica- tion device connected to a cloud-based computer system via a commu nication network and to an HVAC component;

Figure 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps of generating for a user augmented reality information related to an HVAC component; Figure 3 shows an illustration of a mobile communication device displaying aug mented reality information related to an HVAC component which is not visible;

Figure 4 shows an illustration of a mobile communication device displaying aug mented reality information related to an HVAC component including a damper blade which is not visible; Figure 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps of generating a control command for an operation of an HVAC component, execution of the operation by the HVAC component and comparing tar get status information with current status information of the HVAC com- ponent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEM PLARY EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a block diagram schematically illustrating a mobile communication device

1 such as a smartphone of a user, for example a field worker, standing in front of an HVAC component 2 for on-site inspection. The mobile communication device 1 comprises an electronic circuit, e.g. a processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or an other logic unit configured to perform various functions and steps described below in more detail. The mobile communication device 1 is connected to a cloud-based computer system 3 via a communication network 4 and to the HVAC component 2. The HVAC component

2 is also connected to the cloud-based computer system 3 via the communication network 4. The communication links are symbolized by the double arrows P1 , P2 and P3. The HVAC component 2 as shown in Figure 1 is an HVAC actuator, but may be any other HVAC com ponent known to the person skilled in the art. The HVAC component 2 comprises an LED 21 arranged on a housing 22 of the HVAC component 2. The mobile communication de vice 1 obtains a component identification encoded in a blinking pattern of the LED 2 1 through the communication link P 1 . In some embodiments, the LED 21 may be part of a Li-Fi system, such that the component identification is obtained non-visually, since the switching rate of the LED 21 is too high for the human eye to be recognized. In further embodiments, the HVAC component 2 may comprise a bar code, QR code, RFID Tag or a Bluetooth or other wireless communication module through which the component identi fication may be obtained by a circuit of the mobile communication device 1 . Upon obtaining the component identification of the HVAC component 2, the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 generates augmented reality information 1 2 using the component identification and displays the augmented reality information 1 2 on the display 1 1 of the mobile communication device 1 . In the example as shown in Figure 1 , the aug- mented reality information 1 2 comprises an image of the HVAC component 2. Within the augmented reality information 1 2, there is displayed a user interface element 1 21 for ini tiating an operation of the HVAC component 2. Responsive to activation of the user inter face element 1 21 , the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 generates a control command for the operation of the HVAC component 2 and transmits the control command via the cloud-based computer system 3 and the communication network 4 to the HVAC component 2 (arrows P2 and P3 ) . Upon transmission of the control command, the HVAC component 2 performs the operation according to the control command.

If the HVAC component 2 is installed as specified in the cloud-based computer system 3, the user may visually recognize execution of the operation by the HVAC component 2 in front of which he is standing. If the HVAC component 2 is not installed as specified in the cloud-based computer system 3, for example due to wrong wiring or broken cabling, the HVAC component 2 will not execute the operation as commanded via the cloud-based computer system 3 and this will be recognized visually by the user. If the HVAC component 2 is installed in a visible position and the operation commanded is directed to an operation which can be externally recognized, the user may verify the execution of the operation by eye.

Alternatively or additionally, the execution of the operation may be displayed within the augmented reality information 1 2, for example by a color code. For this purpose, the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 receives current status information from the HVAC component 2 in which execution of the operation may be encoded. The current status in formation is transmitted using the LED 21 in the shown example. In other embodiments, the current status information may be transmitted using a communication module of the HVAC component 2, for example a Bluetooth module. In the shown example, the image of the HVAC component 2, as shown within the augmented reality information 21 , will be displayed in a specific first color, e.g. in green, if the mobile communication device 1 re ceives current status information from the HVAC component 2 which indicates that the commanded operation has successfully been executed. On the other hand, the image of the HVAC component 2, as shown within the augmented reality information 21 , will be displayed in a specific second color, e.g. in red, if the current status information, received from the HVAC component 2, does not indicate successful execution of the commanded operation.

Figure 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps of generating for a user augmented reality information related to the HVAC component 2. In step S 1 , the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 obtains a component identification from the HVAC component 2. Using the component identification, the circuit of the mobile commu nication device 1 generates in step S2 the augmented reality (AR) information and displays in step S3 the augmented reality information in the display unit connected to the mobile communication device 1 . In step S4, the circuit generates a control command for an oper- ation of the HVAC component 2 responsive to activation of a user interface element dis played within the augmented reality information. The control command includes the com ponent identification and is transmitted to the cloud-based computer system in step S5a. In step S5b, the cloud-based computer system 3 transmits the control command to the HVAC component 2 identified by the component identification, commanding the HVAC component 2 to perform the operation according to the control command. In step S6, responsive to the received control command, the HVAC component 2 executes the respec tive operation. Finally, in step S7, the user may visually verify whether or not the HVAC component 2 has actually executed the operation.

Figure 3 shows an illustration of a mobile communication device V displaying augmented reality information 1 2' related to an HVAC component 2' which is installed in a duct 5' and therefore not actually externally visible for a user of the mobile communication device 1 '. The HVAC component 2’ is indicated by broken lines in order to illustrate the non-visibility. In the example as shown in Figure 3, the HVAC component 2' is a flow sensor installed in the duct 5'. The HVAC component 2' comprises a Bluetooth or other wireless communica- tion module 21 ' by which a circuit of the mobile communication device 1 ' obtains a com ponent identification of the HVAC component 2'. Using the component identification, the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 ' generates the augmented reality information 1 2' on a display 1 1 '. The augmented reality information 1 2' comprises a user interface element 1 21 ' for initiating an operation of the HVAC component 2'. Since the HVAC com- ponent 2' is installed inside the duct 5', the mobile communication device 1 ' displaying the augmented reality information 1 2' makes it possible to visualize the HVAC component 2' for a user. Furthermore, the user interface element 1 21 ' enables to initiate an operation of the HVAC component 2' which would not be accessible manually. The circuit of the mobile communication device 1 ' generates, responsive to activation of the user interface element 1 2 G, a control command for the operation of the HVAC component 2' and transmits the control command via a cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component 2', as de scribed for Figure 1 or 2.

For example, the user interface element 1 2 G initiates a sensing of the flow in the duct 5' over a time interval At. Using the Bluetooth module 21 ', current status information of the HVAC component 2', e.g. the sensed flow values in the duct 5' during the time interval At can be directly received by the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 1 ' allowing to verify correct installation or functioning of the HVAC component 2' by the circuit of the mobile communication device V. The circuit of the mobile communication device re ceives from the cloud-based computer system a target status information of the HVAC component 2' including an expected average flow for the duct 5' and compares said ex pected average flow with a sensed average flow calculated from the sensed flow values, allowing to verify and visualize correct or erroneous functioning of the HVAC component 2' within the augmented reality information 1 2'.

For not actually externally visible HVAC components, in particular, as shown in the example of Figure 3, transmission of the current status information from the HVAC component 2' to the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 ' via the cloud-based computer system, and not directly to the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 ', could yield an erro neous information about the correct installation or functioning of the HVAC component 2' due to the HVAC component 2' not being actually externally visible for the user. For exam- pie, the control command could be transmitted to another HVAC component of the HVAC system, e.g. due to wrong wiring, which other HVAC component executes the com manded operation. The mobile communication device 1 ' could receive from the cloud- based computer system current status information, as transmitted by the other HVAC component, indicating successful execution of the commanded operation, leading to the potentially erroneous conclusion that the HVAC component 2' to be inspected is correctly functioning. Therefore, generating a control command by the circuit of the mobile com munication device 1 ', transmission of the control command via the cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component, and receiving current status information about the exe cution of the operation directly by the HVAC component 2' allows correct inspection of the HVAC component 2' in question. Figure 4 shows an illustration of a mobile communication device 1 " displaying on a display 1 1 " augmented reality information 1 2" related to an HVAC component 2" including a damper blade 23" which is installed inside a duct 5" and therefore not actually externally visible. The HVAC component 2" further includes an actuator 24" which is configured to rotate the damper blade 23". The HVAC component 2" further includes a communication module 21 ", for example a Bluetooth or another wireless communication module, from which a circuit of the mobile communication device 1 " obtains a component identification of the HVAC component 2". The augmented reality information 1 2" visualizes execution of a rotation of the damper blade 23" by an angle a by displaying a current status visuali- zation 1 22", as generated from current status information received from the HVAC com ponent 2". In Figure 4, two exemplary configurations 23.1 ", 23.2" of the damper blade 23" are shown, between which the damper blade 23" has been rotated by an angle a due to a control command generated by the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 " and transmitted via a cloud-based computer system to the HVAC component 2", especially to the HVAC actuator 24". A user of the mobile communication device 1 " can therefore verify whether the commanded operation of rotating the damper blade 23" by an angle a has been executed by the HVAC component 2" using the augmented reality information 1 2" and the current status visualization 1 22" displayed therein.

Figure 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps of transmitting a control command for an operation of the HVAC component 2", execution of the opera tion by the HVAC component 2" and comparing target status information with current status information of the HVAC component 2". A control command A, which includes a component identification of HVAC component 2", is generated by the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 " and transmitted to the cloud-based computer system 3" in step S 1 a. The cloud-based computer system transmits a corresponding control command B to the HVAC component 2", defined by the received component identification, in step Si b. In step S2, the HVAC component 2" executes the commanded operation. Before, after or during execution, the mobile communication device 1 " receives from the cloud-based computer system 3" target status information related to the control command in step S3. In step S4, the mobile communication device 1 " receives current status information S4 from the HVAC component 2" after execution of the commanded operation. Based on a comparison of the current status information with the target status information in step S5, the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 " generates augmented reality infor mation, enabling visual verification of the execution of the operation by the HVAC compo nent 2". In particular, the circuit of the mobile communication device 1 " displays within the augmented reality information a confirmation notification for a correspondence of the current status information and the target status information, and an error notification for a deviation of the current status information from the target status information.

For the example as shown in Figure 4, the control command could be "rotation of the damper blade 23" by an angle a" and accordingly, the target status information as re- ceived from the cloud-based computer system would be "damper blade is rotated by the angle a". If the damper blade 23" has been rotated by the angle a upon transmission of the control command, the current status information received from the HVAC component 2" corresponds to the target status information and a confirmation notification is displayed within the augmented reality information. In this simple example control command A and control command B are equal.

In some embodiments, however, the control command A is more general. For example, the control command A could be "check whether the power supply of the HVAC compo nent 2" is working". In this case, the cloud-based computer system 3" could translate the control command A into a control command B: "check whether the power supply of the HVAC component 2" is working by turning the damper blade 23" by an angle a". The target status information as received from the cloud-based computer system 3" is then "damper blade is rotated by the angle a" and the user can verify that the HVAC component 2" is supplied with power by comparing the target status information with current status information from the HVAC component 2" indicating whether the damper blade 23" has in fact been rotated by a". The confirmation notification could for example be "the HVAC component 2" is correctly supplied with power". Optionally, the confirmation notification within the augmented reality information could include the information: "This has been verified by rotating the damper blade 23" by a".

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1, V, 1" mobile communication device

11, 11', 11" display

12, 12', 12" augmented reality information 121, 121' user interface element

122 current status visualization

2, 2', 2" HVAC component

21 LED

21 Bluetooth module

21 communication module

22 housing

23" damper blade

23.1", 23.2" configuration of the damper blade 24" HVAC actuator

3,3" cloud-based computer system

4 communication network

5, 5" duct

a angle

PI , P2, P3 communication link