Devices and methods for interacting with an HVAC controller
First Claim
1. A thermostat configured to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
- a housing, the housing configured to house;
a control module configured to provide one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with a thermostat control algorithm;
a microphone;
a speaker;
a display;
a voice recognition module, wherein the voice recognition module is configured to receive via the microphone a first distinct voice stream that includes a predetermined audible trigger followed by a help phrase, and to recognize the predetermined audible trigger and the help phrase in the first distinct voice stream; and
wherein the control module is further configured to execute a help command that corresponds to the help phrase by entering a voice control mode and automatically providing one or more natural language audio clips via the speaker and/or one or more video clips via the display for assisting a user in operating the thermostat in response to the voice recognition module recognizing the predetermined audible trigger and the help phrase in the first distinct voice stream.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be a thermostat and may include a housing that at least partially houses a control module, a microphone, a speaker, a display, and a voice recognition module. The voice recognition module recognizes a predetermined audible trigger from a recorded voice message or streamed voice message, and in response, provide one or more audio clips via the speaker and/or video clips via the display to assist users in operating the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the thermostat and/or a remote device.
118 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermostat configured to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
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a housing, the housing configured to house; a control module configured to provide one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with a thermostat control algorithm; a microphone; a speaker; a display; a voice recognition module, wherein the voice recognition module is configured to receive via the microphone a first distinct voice stream that includes a predetermined audible trigger followed by a help phrase, and to recognize the predetermined audible trigger and the help phrase in the first distinct voice stream; and wherein the control module is further configured to execute a help command that corresponds to the help phrase by entering a voice control mode and automatically providing one or more natural language audio clips via the speaker and/or one or more video clips via the display for assisting a user in operating the thermostat in response to the voice recognition module recognizing the predetermined audible trigger and the help phrase in the first distinct voice stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A thermostat configured to communicate with and control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
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a housing, the housing configured to house; a control module configured to provide one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with a thermostat control algorithm; a microphone; a display; a help module for playing one or more prerecorded video clips on the display for assisting a user in operating the thermostat; and wherein the help module comprises a voice recognition module, wherein the voice recognition module is configured to recognize a predetermined audible trigger and a following help phrase without the thermostat providing an intervening non-natural language audio confirmation between the predetermined audible trigger and the help phrase, and the control module is further configured to, in response to the voice recognition module recognizing the predetermined audible trigger and following help phrase without the thermostat providing an intervening non-natural language audio confirmation between the trigger phrase and the help phrase, execute a help command that corresponds to the recognized help phrase including playing one or more of the prerecorded video clips. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A thermostat configured to communicate with and control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:
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a control module configured to provide one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with a thermostat control algorithm; a temperature sensor; a microphone; a voice recognition module; and wherein the voice recognition module detects voice interactions with the thermostat via the microphone and the control module is configured to play one or more prerecorded clips in response to detecting a user needs assistance with operation of the thermostat; and wherein the control module detects a user needs assistance with operation of the thermostat by determining that the user has failed to state a recognizable command phrase within a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification