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 temperature sensor;
a microphone;
a controller;
wherein the controller is configured to;
receive via the microphone a distinct audio stream that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command;
identify the predefined trigger phrase included in the distinct audio stream;
send at least part of the distinct audio stream, including the part that includes the voice command, to a remote web service via a port of the thermostat in response to identifying the predefined trigger phrase in order to;
identify the voice command following the predefined trigger phrase in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service, the voice command not understandable by the controller of the thermostat; and
generate a thermostat command that is understandable by the controller of the thermostat and that instructs the controller to perform the function indicated by the voice command identified in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service;
receive the generated thermostat command from the remote web service via the port, the generated thermostat command is based on the sent at least part of the distinct audio stream; and
wherein the controller is configured to execute the generated thermostat command.
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 including a housing that houses a temperature sensor, a microphone, and a controller. The controller may identify a trigger phrase in an audio stream provided by the microphone. In response to identifying the trigger phrase, the controller initiates processing of the audio stream to identify a command following the trigger phrase and to generate a command understandable by the thermostat that instructs the controller to perform the identified command. The controller then executes the generated command understandable by the thermostat. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the microphone of the thermostat and/or a remote device having a microphone.
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Citations
13 Claims
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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 temperature sensor; a microphone; a controller; wherein the controller is configured to; receive via the microphone a distinct audio stream that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command; identify the predefined trigger phrase included in the distinct audio stream; send at least part of the distinct audio stream, including the part that includes the voice command, to a remote web service via a port of the thermostat in response to identifying the predefined trigger phrase in order to; identify the voice command following the predefined trigger phrase in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service, the voice command not understandable by the controller of the thermostat; and generate a thermostat command that is understandable by the controller of the thermostat and that instructs the controller to perform the function indicated by the voice command identified in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service; receive the generated thermostat command from the remote web service via the port, the generated thermostat command is based on the sent at least part of the distinct audio stream; and wherein the controller is configured to execute the generated thermostat command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. 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 temperature sensor; a microphone; a controller; wherein the controller is configured to; enter a sleep mode; receive via the microphone a distinct audio stream that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command; identify the predefined trigger phrase included in the distinct audio stream when in the sleep mode; send at least part of the distinct audio stream, including the part that includes the voice command, to a remote web service via a port of the thermostat in response to identifying the predefined trigger phrase in order to; identify the voice command following the predefined trigger phrase in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service, the voice command not understandable by the controller of the thermostat; and generate a thermostat command that is understandable by the controller and that instructs the controller to perform the a function indicated by the voice command identified in the at least part of the distinct audio stream that is sent to the remote web service; and receive the generated thermostat command from the remote web service via the port, the generated thermostat command is based on the sent at least part of the distinct audio stream; and wherein the controller is configured to execute the generated thermostat command. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
Specification