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EP-3644155-B1 - PROCESSING AND REPORTING USAGE INFORMATION FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM CONTROLLED BY A NETWORK-CONNECTED THERMOSTAT

EP3644155B1EP 3644155 B1EP3644155 B1EP 3644155B1EP-3644155-B1

Inventors

  • BRUCK, TIMO A.
  • MALHOTRA, Mark
  • FISHER, Evan J.
  • SIMISTER, JAMES B.
  • MATSUOKA, YOKY
  • SLOO, DAVID
  • KNIEPER, CLEMENS M.
  • FADELL, ANTHONY MICHAEL
  • ROGERS, MATTHEW LEE
  • PLITKINS, MICHAEL

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20130329

Claims (9)

  1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: controlling an HVAC system (120) using a thermostat (110), wherein the thermostat (110) controls the HVAC system (120) according to a setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702), the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) being a set of one or more setpoint temperatures (1902, 1906, 1910, 1914) at different times of the day, to achieve the scheduled setpoint temperatures (1902, 1906, 1910, 1914), unless overridden by a user manually changing the setpoint temperature; and characterised in : displaying a graphical symbol (1630) on an electronic display (316) if: i) heating is active and the setpoint temperature is less than a first predefined temperature value or ii) heating is active and it is both determined (1212) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1904) is at least two degrees lower than the current setpoint temperature (1902) of the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) and determined (1214) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1904) is less than a second predefined temperature value; or i) cooling is active and the setpoint temperature is greater than a third predefined temperature value or ii) cooling is active and it is both determined (1312) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1940) is at least two degrees higher than the current setpoint temperature (1910) of the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) and determined (1314) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1940) is greater than a fourth predefined temperature value.
  2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein displaying the graphical symbol (1630) comprises displaying a leaf. amended claims
  3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic display (316) is part of the thermostat (110).
  4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is part of a mobile device (508, 510, 514, 518) that communicates with the thermostat (110).
  5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: if heating is active, if the graphical symbol (1630) is displayed, and if the user continues to turn down the setpoint temperature, displaying the graphical symbol (1630) in a brighter more contrasting color.
  6. A system, comprising: a thermostat (110) comprising an electronic display (316) and a processor (360), wherein the processor (360) of the thermostat (110) is configured to: control an HVAC system (120) according to a setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702), the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) being a set of one or more setpoint temperatures (1902, 1906, 1910, 1914) at different times of the day, to achieve the scheduled setpoint temperatures (1902, 1906, 1910, 1914), unless overridden by a user manually changing the setpoint temperature; and characterised by causing the electronic display (316) to display a graphical symbol (1630) if: i) heating is active and the setpoint temperature is less than a first predefined temperature value or ii) heating is active and it is both determined (1212) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1904) is at least two degrees lower than the current setpoint temperature (1902) of the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) and determined (1214) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1904) is less than a second predefined temperature value; or i) cooling is active and the setpoint temperature is greater than a third predefined temperature value or ii) cooling is active and it is both determined (1312) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1940) is at least two degrees higher than the current setpoint (1910) temperature of the setpoint temperature schedule (1702, 2002, 2004, 2702) and determined (1314) that the manually changed setpoint temperature (1940) is greater than a fourth predefined temperature value.
  7. The system of claim 6, wherein the graphical symbol (1630) comprises a leaf.
  8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor (360) is further configured cause the electronic display (316) to display the graphical symbol (1630) in a brighter more contrasting color if heating is active, if the graphical symbol (1630) is displayed, and if the user continues to turn down the setpoint temperature.
  9. The system of claim 6, wherein the thermostat (110) further comprises a ring (312) allowing a user to manually change the setpoint temperature.

Description

FIELD This patent specification relates to systems, methods, and related computer program products for the monitoring and control of energy-consuming systems or other resource-consuming systems. More particularly, this patent specification relates to systems and methods for updating climate control algorithms. BACKGROUND Substantial effort and attention continues toward the development of newer and more sustainable energy supplies. The conservation of energy by increased energy efficiency remains crucial to the world's energy future. According to an October 2010 report from the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. Along with improvements in the physical plant associated with home heating and cooling (e.g., improved insulation, higher efficiency furnaces), substantial increases in energy efficiency can be achieved by better control and regulation of home heating and cooling equipment. By activating heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment for judiciously selected time intervals and carefully chosen operating levels, substantial energy can be saved while at the same time keeping the living space suitably comfortable for its occupants. To encourage users to adopt energy saving operating levels while still maintaining comfort for the occupants, it would be useful to the user to have access to HVAC performance information especially related to HVAC activity and energy consumption. US 2011/0046792 A1 relates to a home energy management system that includes a database configured to store site report data received from a plurality of residential sites using a wireless home energy network at each site. WO 2011/149600 A2 relates to using the geographical movement of network-connected mobile devices to inform an energy management system about occupancy. US 2011/0202185 A1 relates to a zone based energy management system that controls at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device. SUMMARY The present invention is defined by the independent claims. Features of certain embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. It will be appreciated that these systems and methods are novel, as are applications thereof and many of the components, systems, methods and algorithms employed and included therein. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the presently described inventive body of work can be implemented in numerous ways, including as processes, apparata, systems, devices, methods, computer readable media, computational algorithms, embedded or distributed software and/or as a combination thereof. Several illustrative embodiments are described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The inventive body of work will be readily understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram of an enclosure in which environmental conditions are controlled, according to some embodiments;Fig. 2 is a diagram of an HVAC system, according to some embodiments;Figs. 3A-3B illustrate a thermostat having a user-friendly interface, according to some embodiments;Fig. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a shell portion of a frame of the thermostat of Figs. 3A-3B;Fig. 4 illustrates a thermostat having a head unit and a backplate (or wall dock) for ease of installation, configuration and upgrading, according to some embodiments;Fig. 5 illustrates thermostats and computers on a private network connected to a cloud-based thermostat management system designed in accordance with some embodiments;Fig. 6 illustrates one combination of thermostat management servers used to implement a thermostat management system in accordance with some embodiments;Figs. 7A-7I illustrate aspects of a graphical user interface on a smart phone for performance and other information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat, according to some embodiments;Figs. 8A-8K illustrate aspects of a graphical user interface on a tablet computer for performance and other information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat, according to some embodiments;Figs. 9A-G illustrate aspects of a graphical user interface on a personal computer for performance and other information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat, according to some embodiments;Fig. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining primary responsibility for above and below average energy usage, according to some embodiments;Figs. 11A-B show an example of an email that is automatically generated and sent to users to report energy performance-related information, according to some embodiments;Figs. 12-15 are flow charts showing steps in determining when a leaf will be displayed, according to some embodiments;Fig. 16 is a series of d