Multi-function thermostat with emergency direction features

• US 10,180,673 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Sinha, Sudhi, Ribbich, Joseph R., Ribbich, Michael L., Gaidish, Charles J., Cipolla, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/336,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340601
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• 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 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 : Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 : Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 : Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 : Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 : Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 : Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 : Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15117 : Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 : HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 : Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 : using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 : insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 : Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 : Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 : Hotels or restaurants
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0057 : for the hiring or rent of vehicles, e.g. cars, bicycles or wheelchairs car rental G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/0235 : the arrangements being full-front touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 : Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 : Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 : worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 : Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 : guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 : locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings

Abstract

A multi-function thermostat for a building includes a touch-sensitive display, a communications interface, and a processing circuit. The touch-sensitive display is configured to present information to a user and receive input from the user. The communications interface is configured to receive weather information from a weather server and building emergency information from at least one of a building management system and a building device. The processing circuit configured to cause the touch-sensitive display to display emergency response directions when the weather information indicates emergency weather conditions or the building emergency information indicates a building emergency.

Claims

1. A multi-function thermostat for a building, the thermostat comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to present information to a user and receive input from the user;

a communications interface configured to receive a weather data stream from a weather server and a building information data stream from a building management system via a bidirectional communications network;

a processing circuit configured to;

cause the touch-sensitive display to display building messages of the building information data stream received from the building management system via the communications interface;

determine whether the weather data stream received from the weather server via the communications interface indicates an emergency weather condition; and

override the display of the building messages by causing the touch-sensitive display to display emergency response directions in response to a determination that the weather data stream indicates the emergency weather condition, wherein the emergency response directions comprise a sequence of actions for the user to perform in a particular order, wherein the sequence of actions and the particular order are specific to a particular emergency situation.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the building device comprises one or more building emergency sensors, wherein the emergency sensors comprise at least one of a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a user-operable emergency button.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, wherein the building emergency information comprises sensor data measured by the emergency sensors, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

determine whether an emergency exists by comparing the sensor data to an emergency threshold; and

cause the touch-sensitive display to display the emergency response directions in response to a determination that the emergency exists.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the communications interface is configured to communicate with a building speaker system;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to cause, via the communications interface, the building speaker system to broadcast the emergency response directions.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the sequence of actions comprises contacting a first emergency response entity and then, subsequent to contacting the first emergency response entity, contacting a second emergency response entity, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise contact information for the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity, wherein the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity are at least one of an ambulance, police, and building security.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise a building map and evacuation directions, wherein the evacuation directions comprise at least one of directions to a building exit and directions to an emergency shelter in the building.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the building messages comprise non-emergency building events.

8. A method for a multi-function thermostat, the method comprising:

presenting information to a user and receiving input from the user via a touch-sensitive display;

receiving, via a communications interface, a weather data stream from a weather server and a building information data stream from a building management system via a bidirectional communications network;

causing, by a processing circuit, the touch-sensitive display to display building messages of the building information data stream received from the building management system via the communications interface;

determining, by the processing circuit, whether the weather data stream received from the weather server via the communications interface indicates an emergency weather condition; and

overriding, by the processing circuit, the display of the building messages by causing, by the processing circuit, the touch-sensitive display to display emergency response directions in response to a determination that the weather data stream indicates the emergency weather condition, wherein the emergency response directions comprise a sequence of actions for the user to perform in a particular order, wherein the sequence of actions and the particular order are specific to a particular emergency situation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises receiving sensor data from one or more building emergency sensors via the communications interface, wherein the building emergency sensors comprise at least one of a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a user-operable emergency button.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining, by the processing circuit, whether an emergency exists by comparing the sensor data to an emergency threshold; and

causing, by the processing circuit, the touch-sensitive display to display the emergency response directions in response to a determination that the emergency exists.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the building messages comprise non-emergency building events.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving emergency information from one or more building emergency sensors via the communications interface; and

overriding, by the processing circuit, the display of the building messages in response to receiving the emergency information from the building emergency sensors via the communications interface.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the sequence of actions comprises contacting a first emergency response entity and then, subsequent to contacting the first emergency response entity, contacting a second emergency response entity, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise emergency contact information for the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity, wherein the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity are at least one of an ambulance, police, and building security.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise a building map and evacuation directions, wherein the evacuation directions comprise at least one of directions to a building exit and directions to an emergency shelter in the building.

15. A controller for a building, the controller comprising:

a touch-sensitive display configured to present information to a user and receive input from the user;

a communications interface configured to receive a weather data stream from a weather server, a building information data stream from a building management system, and emergency information from one or more building emergency sensors via a bidirectional communications network; and

a processing circuit configured to;

cause the touch-sensitive display to display building messages of the building information data stream received from the building management system via the communications interface;

determine whether the weather data stream received from the weather server via the communications interface indicates an emergency weather condition;

determine whether the emergency information received from the one or more building emergency sensors indicates a building emergency; and

override the display of the building messages by causing the touch-sensitive display to display emergency response directions in response to one of;

a determination that the weather data stream indicates the emergency weather condition; and

a determination that the emergency information received from the one or more building emergency sensors indicates the building emergency, wherein the emergency response directions comprise a sequence of actions for the user to perform in a particular order, wherein the sequence of actions and the particular order are specific to a particular emergency situation.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the building messages comprise non-emergency building events.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein the emergency sensors comprise at least one of a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, and a user-operable emergency button.

18. The controller of claim 15, wherein the sequence of actions comprises contacting a first emergency response entity and then, subsequent to contacting the first emergency response entity, contacting a second emergency response entity, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise contact information for the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity, wherein the first emergency response entity and the second emergency response entity are at least one of an ambulance, police, and building security.

19. The controller of claim 15, wherein the emergency response directions further comprise a building map and evacuation directions, wherein the evacuation directions comprise at least one of directions to a building exit and directions to an emergency shelter in the building.

20. The controller of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

detect, via the communications interface, whether the controller has lost connection to the building management system via the bidirectional communications network;

generate one or more local building messages;

cause the touch-sensitive display to display the one or more local building messages in response to a detection that the controller has lost connection to the building management system; and

override the display of the one or more local building messages by causing the touch-sensitive display to display the emergency response directions in response to the determination that the emergency information received from the one or more building emergency sensors indicates the building emergency.