Thermostat eco-mode

• US 10,024,564 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opower, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Opower, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Frank, Ilan, McCool, Daniel, Darci, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): CASSITY, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US14/566,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 700275, 700276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/48 prior to normal operation, e.g. pre-heating or pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 : associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In some aspects, the subject technology relates to an “Eco-mode” on a thermostat. A button or other user interface element may be configured to activate and/or deactivate) the eco-mode on the thermostat. Upon selection of the eco-mode option, various energy-saving programs can be implemented on the thermostat. The energy-saving programs can be configured to adjust a temperature setting of the thermostat or to provide notifications to a user associated with the thermostat that implement various approaches for reducing energy consumption of a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system associated with the thermostat. The eco-mode button can provide users/consumers with a convenient way to save energy, without requiring the user to think of comfort tradeoffs that may need to take place.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a computer comprising at least a processor, the method comprising:

determining an operational configuration for at least one thermostat that controls at least one heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system for a property;

determining at least one energy-saving program to be implemented on the thermostat for reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system;

in response to determining that at least one resident of the property has exited a first geo-fence by at least a first distance away from the property, modifying, by at least the processor, the operational configuration for the thermostat based at least in part on the energy-saving program, the modifying comprising modifying a configuration for activation of an adaptive recovery program from (i) a first configuration that activates the adaptive recovery program at a time determined to enable reaching a specified temperature by a scheduled time to (ii) a second configuration that delays activation of the adaptive recovery program until a determination is made that one or more residents are in the property or within a threshold distance of the property;

maintaining the operational configuration for the thermostat in the second configuration until determining that at least one of the residents have entered a second geo-fence by at least a second distance away from the property; and

in response to determining that at least one of the residents have entered the second geo-fence by at least the second distance away from the property, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat from the second configuration to the first configuration,

wherein the thermostat is configured to modify control of the HVAC system based at least in part on the energy-saving program.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the operational configuration for at least one thermostat further comprises:

receiving, from the thermostat, at least one temperature setting, schedule, or enabled mode for regulating a temperature setting on the thermostat, or

obtaining, from the thermostat, at least one temperature setting, schedule, or enabled mode for regulating a temperature setting on the thermostat.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a user device, a selection of an option for activating an efficiency mode on the thermostat, the efficiency mode configured to activate the at least one energy-saving program, or

determining a selection of an option on the thermostat for activating an efficiency mode on the thermostat, the efficiency mode configured to activate the at least one energy-saving program.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

obtaining an efficient temperature setting that has been determined to be efficient for a geographic region in which the property is located, wherein a temperature setting of the thermostat is adjusted to the efficient temperature setting.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the residents of the property are outside of the first geo-fence for a threshold period of time;

determining that the residents are likely on vacation; and

sending, to a user device of at least one of the residents, a notification requesting confirmation that the residents are on vacation.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

determining at least one schedule for the thermostat for regulating a temperature setting over a period of time; and

adjusting the temperature setting by a threshold amount, wherein the adjusted temperature setting reduces at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system over the period of time.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

determining at least one schedule for the thermostat for regulating a temperature setting over a period of time; and

adjusting the period of time by a threshold amount, wherein at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system is reduced by the adjusted period of time.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a de-selection of the option for activating the efficiency mode for the thermostat; and

modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat to deactivate the energy-saving program.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat further comprises:

sending, to the thermostat, at least one instruction for modifying at least one of a schedule for regulating the temperature setting over a period of time or criteria for activating a mode for regulating the temperature setting on the thermostat.

10. A computing device for energy usage alerts, the computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to perform operations of;

determining whether residents of a property are outside of a first geo-fence by at least a first distance away from the property for a threshold period of time, wherein the property has a thermostat controlling at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for the property;

responsive to determining that the residents of the property are outside of the first geo-fence for the threshold period of time;

determining that the residents are likely on vacation; and

sending, to a user device of at least one of the residents, a notification requesting confirmation that the residents are on vacation;

in response to receiving, from the user device, the confirmation, adjusting operation of the thermostat from a first mode to a second mode based at least in part on the confirmation;

maintaining the operation of the thermostat in the second mode until determining that at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat of the property from the second mode to the first mode is satisfied; and

in response to determining that at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat from the second mode to the first mode is satisfied based at least in part on a determination that at least one of the residents have entered a second geo-fence by at least a second distance away from the property, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, modifying the operation of the thermostat from the second mode to the first mode.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

increasing a temperature of the thermostat.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

decreasing a temperature of the thermostat.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

enabling at least a vacation mode on the thermostat in response to receiving the confirmation from the user device, the vacation mode reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the second mode is different than the first mode.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to perform the operations of:

sending, to the user device, a second notification requesting confirmation for disabling an adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the second notification includes an estimated cost for activating the adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat.

17. The computing device of claim 10, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

disabling at least an adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat in response to receiving the confirmation from the user device, the disabling reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system.

18. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to perform the operations of:

determining, based on a temperature setting of the thermostat, that an outside temperature for a geographic region in which the property is located is within a threshold range of the temperature setting.

19. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to perform the operations of:

sending, to the user device, a second notification requesting confirmation for adjusting a temperature setting of the thermostat, wherein the second notification indicates that an outside temperature for a geographic region in which the property is located is within a threshold range of the temperature setting of the thermostat.

20. A computer-implemented method performed by a computer comprising at least a processor, the method comprising:

maintaining an operation of a thermostat of a property in a first mode until determining that at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat of the property from the first mode to a second mode is satisfied;

in response to determining, by at least the processor, that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat of the property from the first mode to the second mode is satisfied based at least in part on a determination that a user has exited a first geo-fence by at least a first distance away from the property, wherein the thermostat controls at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for the property, modifying the operation of the thermostat from the first mode to the second mode;

maintaining the operation of the thermostat in the second mode until determining that at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat of the property from the second mode to the first mode is satisfied; and

in response to determining that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat of the property from the second mode to the first mode is satisfied based at least in part on a determination that the user has entered a second geo-fence by at least a second distance away from the property, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance, modifying the operation of the thermostat from the second mode to the first mode,

wherein the thermostat is configured to modify control of the HVAC system based at least in part on at least one of the second mode or the first mode.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the second mode is different than the first mode.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the second mode corresponds to a determination that the user has left or is leaving the property and the first mode corresponds to a determination that the user has returned or is returning to the property.