Abstract:
The current application is related to environmental-conditioning systems controlled by intelligent controllers and, in particular, to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC system that detects and ameliorates control coupling between intelligent thermostats. Control coupling can lead to inefficient HVAC operation. When control coupling is detected, a settings-adjustment directive is sent to at least one intelligent thermostat to adjust one or more intelligent-thermostat settings, including an HVAC-cycle-initiation delay paramter, swing parameter, and a parameter that indicates whether or not an intelligent thermostat should first obtain confirmation or permission before initiating an HVAC cycle.
Abstract:
The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. Wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent- thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.
Abstract:
The current application is related to environmental-conditioning systems controlled by intelligent controllers and, in particular, to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC system that detects and ameliorates control coupling between intelligent thermostats. Control coupling can lead to inefficient HVAC operation. When control coupling is detected, a settings-adjustment directive is sent to at least one intelligent thermostat to adjust one or more intelligent-thermostat settings, including an HVAC-cycle-initiation delay paramter, swing parameter, and a parameter that indicates whether or not an intelligent thermostat should first obtain confirmation or permission before initiating an HVAC cycle.
Abstract:
The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. Wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent- thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.
Abstract:
Provided is one embodiment of a user interface for interacting with network-connected thermostats through a thermostat management system. The user interface identifies a primary enclosure selected from one or more enclosures associated with a thermostat management account while the remaining enclosures are deemed secondary enclosures. The user interface displays the primary enclosure using a primary enclosure selection appearing as an image of a house in a foreground area of the user interface. Adjacent to the primary enclosure selection are round thermostat selections representing each of the network-connected thermostats in the primary enclosure that display an environmental condition, such as temperature, associated with the primary enclosure also in the foreground area. Secondary enclosure selections, representing enclosures other than the primary enclosure, are visually deemphasized in the background area of the user interface when compared with the primary enclosure selection displayed in the foreground area of the interface.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for modeling the behavior of an enclosure for use by a control system of an HVAC system are described. A model for the enclosure is updated based on weather forecast data. The weather forecast data can include predictions more than hours in the future, and can include predictions such as temperature, humidity and/or dew point, solar output, precipitation. The model can also be updated based on additional information and data such as historical weather, predicted and/or detected occupancy data, calendar data, and data from weather condition sensors that sense current parameters. The model can be updated based also on an enclosure model stored in a database, and/or on enclosure information from a user. The model can be updated based on active testing of the enclosure. The testing can include heating and/or cooling the enclosure at times when the enclosure is not likely to be occupied.