Patents by Inventor James P. Kummer

James P. Kummer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9575475
    Abstract: A building management system (BMS) includes a baseline model generator configured to receive an initial set of predictor variables for potential use in an energy usage model for a building, generate a first set of coefficients for the baseline energy usage model based on the initial set of predictor variables, remove one of the predictor variables from the initial set of predictor variables to create a subset of the initial set of predictor variables, generate a second set of coefficients for the baseline energy usage model based on the subset of the initial set of predictor variables, calculate a test statistic for the removed variable using a difference between the first set of coefficients and the second set of coefficients, and automatically select the removed predictor variable for use in the baseline energy usage model in response the test statistic exceeding a critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9568910
    Abstract: A controller for a building management system includes a first data interface configured to receive data from the building management system and a processing circuit including a processor and a memory device storing a fault detection rule having an initial threshold value. The processing circuit is configured to detect a first fault in the building management system using the stored fault detection rule having the initial threshold value and to use the data from the building management system to determine whether an adjustment to the stored fault detection rule is needed. In response to a determination that an adjustment to the stored fault detection rule is needed, the processing circuit is configured to calculate a new threshold value for the stored fault detection rule and update the stored fault detection rule by replacing the initial threshold value with the new threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Andrew J. Boettcher, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20170031962
    Abstract: A system for visualizing equipment utilization in a central plant includes a subplant monitor, a subplant utilization database, and a dispatch graphical user interface (GUI) generator. The subplant monitor receives subplant utilization data including an indication of a thermal energy load served by each of a plurality of subplants of the central plant. The subplant utilization database stores the subplant utilization data for each of a plurality of time steps. The dispatch GUI generator generates a dispatch GUI using the subplant utilization data. The dispatch GUI includes an indication of the thermal energy load served by each of the plurality of subplants for each of the plurality of time steps. The dispatch GUI may include a set of stacked bars for each of the time steps. Each of the stacked bars may represent the thermal energy load served by one of the subplants during a corresponding time step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert D. Turney, Joseph Stagner, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20160379319
    Abstract: A system for measuring and verifying energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building includes one or more energy meters and a controller. The energy meters are configured to measure an actual amount of building energy usage The controller is configured to determine an actual amount of energy savings resulting from the energy conservation measures during the measurement and verification period and to calculate a least amount of energy savings resulting from the energy conservation measures. The least amount of energy savings is a lower confidence bound on the actual amount of energy savings. The controller is configured to cause a building management system for the building to stop performing a measurement and verification process before a normal end of the measurement and verification period in response to the least amount being greater than a target amount of energy savings to be achieved by the energy conservation measures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: KIRK H. DREES, JAMES P. KUMMER, MICHAEL J. WENZEL
  • Publication number: 20160334825
    Abstract: A building manager includes a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid. The building manager further includes an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from and to provide outputs to a plurality of building subsystems. The integrated control layer includes a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs. The building manager further includes a fault detection and diagnostics layer configured to use statistical analysis on the inputs received from the integrated control layer to detect and diagnose faults. The building manager yet further includes a demand response layer configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine adjustments to the plurality of control algorithms of the integrated control layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Clay G. Nesler, Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Derek Supple, Marc D. Andraca, John I. Ruiz, Paul Harrison Rode
  • Patent number: 9429927
    Abstract: A building manager includes a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid. The building manager further includes an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from and to provide outputs to a plurality of building subsystems. The integrated control layer includes a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs. The building manager further includes a fault detection and diagnostics layer configured to use statistical analysis on the inputs received from the integrated control layer to detect and diagnose faults. The building manager yet further includes a demand response layer configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine adjustments to the plurality of control algorithms of the integrated control layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Clay G. Nesler, Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Derek Supple, Marc D. Andraca, John I. Ruiz, Paul Harrison Rode
  • Patent number: 9390388
    Abstract: A computerized method of determining the end of a measurement and verification period of a building management system is provided. The method includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a target amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a least amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes comparing the target amount to the least amount. The method further includes ending the measurement and verification period, before the end of a maximum measurement and verification period, when the least amount is greater than the target amount. The method further includes outputting an indication that the measurement and verification period has ended to at least one of a memory device, a user device, or another device on the building management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20160154389
    Abstract: A building management system (BMS) includes a baseline model generator configured to receive an initial set of predictor variables for potential use in an energy usage model for a building, generate a first set of coefficients for the baseline energy usage model based on the initial set of predictor variables, remove one of the predictor variables from the initial set of predictor variables to create a subset of the initial set of predictor variables, generate a second set of coefficients for the baseline energy usage model based on the subset of the initial set of predictor variables, calculate a test statistic for the removed variable using a difference between the first set of coefficients and the second set of coefficients, and automatically select the removed predictor variable for use in the baseline energy usage model in response the test statistic exceeding a critical value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9354968
    Abstract: A method for detecting and cleansing suspect building automation system data is shown and described. The method includes using processing electronics to automatically determine which of a plurality of error detectors and which of a plurality of data cleansers to use with building automation system data. The method further includes using processing electronics to automatically detect errors in the data and cleanse the data using a subset of the error detectors and a subset of the cleansers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Andrew J. Boettcher, Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Patent number: 9286582
    Abstract: A computer system for use with a building management system for a building includes a processing circuit configured to determine a building's baseline energy usage model. The processing circuit may be configured to determine one or more automatically selected variables for use in the baseline energy usage model for predicting energy use in a building. The processing circuit may be further configured to cause the display of the one or more automatically selected variables on a user interface device. The processing circuit may be configured to receive, from the user interface, a selection of one or more variables which differ from the one or more automatically selected variables. The processing circuit may be further configured to use the received selection to generate a new baseline energy usage model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Publication number: 20160041541
    Abstract: A computer system for use with a building management system for a building includes a processing circuit configured to automatically identify a change in a building's energy usage model based on data received from the building management system. The processing circuit may be configured to communicate the identified change in the static factor to at least one of (a) a module for alerting a user to the identified change and (b) a module for initiating an adjustment to the energy model for a building in response to the identified change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9069338
    Abstract: A building management strategy includes using exponentially weighted moving averages with statistical models to detect changes in the behavior of the building management system. Detected changes in the behavior of the system may indicate a detected fault, a change in a predicted behavior, or a need for the statistical models to be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20140316743
    Abstract: A controller for a building management system includes a first data interface configured to receive data from the building management system and a processing circuit including a processor and a memory device storing a fault detection rule having an initial threshold value. The processing circuit is configured to detect a first fault in the building management system using the stored fault detection rule having the initial threshold value and to use the data from the building management system to determine whether an adjustment to the stored fault detection rule is needed. In response to a determination that an adjustment to the stored fault detection rule is needed, the processing circuit is configured to calculate a new threshold value for the stored fault detection rule and update the stored fault detection rule by replacing the initial threshold value with the new threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Andrew J. Boettcher, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20140245071
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building automation system management are shown and described. The systems and methods relate to fault detection via abnormal energy monitoring and detection. The systems and methods also relate to control and fault detection methods for chillers. The systems and methods further relate to graphical user interfaces for use with fault detection features of a building automation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Patent number: 8788097
    Abstract: A controller for a building management system includes a system of rules for detecting faults in the building management system. The rules include content conditions and trigger conditions. The content conditions are not checked until one or more of the trigger conditions are met. A rule-based fault detection engine may be implemented by a low level building equipment controller. One or more thresholds for a rule may be automatically or manually adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Andrew J. Boettcher, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20140156097
    Abstract: A building manager includes a communications interface configured to receive information from a smart energy grid. The building manager further includes an integrated control layer configured to receive inputs from and to provide outputs to a plurality of building subsystems. The integrated control layer includes a plurality of control algorithm modules configured to process the inputs and to determine the outputs. The building manager further includes a fault detection and diagnostics layer configured to use statistical analysis on the inputs received from the integrated control layer to detect and diagnose faults. The building manager yet further includes a demand response layer configured to process the information received from the smart energy grid to determine adjustments to the plurality of control algorithms of the integrated control layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Clay G. Nesler, Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Derek Supple, Marc D. Andraca, John I. Ruiz, Paul Harrison Rode
  • Publication number: 20140142760
    Abstract: A building management strategy includes using exponentially weighted moving averages with statistical models to detect changes in the behavior of the building management system. Detected changes in the behavior of the system may indicate a detected fault, a change in a predicted behavior, or a need for the statistical models to be updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Patent number: 8731724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building automation system management are shown and described. The systems and methods relate to fault detection via abnormal energy monitoring and detection. The systems and methods also relate to control and fault detection methods for chillers. The systems and methods further relate to graphical user interfaces for use with fault detection features of a building automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Publication number: 20130325377
    Abstract: A computerized method of determining the end of a measurement and verification period of a building management system is provided. The method includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a target amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes calculating, for a plurality of periods, a least amount of energy savings resulting from energy conservation measures in a building. The method further includes comparing the target amount to the least amount. The method further includes ending the measurement and verification period, before the end of a maximum measurement and verification period, when the least amount is greater than the target amount. The method further includes outputting an indication that the measurement and verification period has ended to at least one of a memory device, a user device, or another device on the building management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer, Michael J. Wenzel
  • Patent number: D781306
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: James P. Kummer, Dennis J. Flood, Nicole A. Madison, Joel Meine