Home automation system providing remote room temperature control

• US 10,508,822 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Babak Sheikh, Kimberly Sheikh
• Original Assignee: Babak Sheikh, Kimberly Sheikh
• Inventors: Sheikh, Babak, Sheikh, Kimberly
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/824,008
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/52 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 11/72 for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A system and method of home automation comprising one or more remote thermostats each having an environmental sensor array configured to sense temperature and humidity and at least one thermostat controller in electrical communication with an HVAC system. Intelligent fans are along-side or integrated with the remote thermostats. The thermostat controller receives, over the local area network, computer-readable environmental data from the remote thermostats corresponding to the temperature and said humidity in the location where the remote thermostat is installed. The thermostat controller conditionally controls the intelligent fans and HVAC system based on the environmental data received from the remote thermostats, allowing for more precise and accurate environmental control of the entire home or building. Operation of the fans permits more precise control of environmental conditions in a particular room or locations and augments the performance of the HVAC system. The system is controllable remotely by mobile device or computer.

Claims

1. A home automation system, comprising:

one or more remote thermostats, each of said remote thermostats including an environmental sensor array configured to sense temperature and humidity;

one or more remote intelligent fans;

said one or more remote intelligent fans includes a network interface configured to transmit said environmental data over local area network and said one or more remote intelligent fans includes a display, a motion sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a security camera;

at least one thermostat controller in electrical communication with an HVAC system;

wherein said remote thermostats, said intelligent fans, and said thermostat controller are in electrical communication over a local area network;

wherein said thermostat controller receives, over said local area network, computer-readable environmental data from said one or more remote thermostats corresponding to said temperature and said humidity; and

wherein said thermostat controller conditionally controls said intelligent fans and said HVAC system based on said environmental data received from said remote thermostats; and

wherein said thermostat controller is in electrical communication with the security system wherein said thermostat controller is configured to receive security data from said one or more remote fans corresponding to activation of said motion sensors and wherein said thermostat controller conditionally controls said security system based on said security data; and

wherein said one or more intelligent fans includes a network interface configured to receive instructions from said thermostat controller.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said local area network comprises a wireless local area network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless local area network is established by a wireless gateway.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless local area network is in communication with the internet.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said home automation system is remotely accessible over the internet by way of a computing device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said computer device comprises a mobile device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said mobile device includes a client-side application that is configured to communicate with a server-side application executing on said thermostat controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said client-side application is configured to control said thermostat controller to control said HVAC system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said network interface comprises a wireless network interface device.

10. A method of home automation, comprising:

providing a thermostat controller, said controller in electrical communication with an HVAC system;

providing one or more remote thermostats, each remote thermostat including an environmental sensor array configured to sense temperature and humidity;

providing one or more remote intelligent fans;

each remote intelligent fan including an environmental sensor array configured to sense temperature and humidity, a display, a motion sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, and a security camera;

establishing a bi-directional communications link between said thermostat controller and said one or more remote thermostat and between said thermostat controller and said one or more remote intelligent fans, said communications link established over a local area network;

whereby said thermostat controller receives, over said local area network, computer-readable environmental data from said one or more remote thermostats corresponding to said temperature and said humidity; and

whereby said thermostat controller conditionally controls said HVAC system and said remote intelligent fans based on said environmental data received from said remote thermostats.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said local area network comprises a wireless local area network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said wireless local area network is in communication with the internet.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said home automation system is remotely accessible over the internet by way of a computing device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said computer device comprises a mobile device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said mobile device includes a client-side application that is configured to communicate with a server-side application executing on said thermostat controller.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said client-side application is configured to control said thermostat controller to control said HVAC system.