Thermostat having network connected branding features

• US 10,510,127 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bentz, Jedidiah O., Rigg, Brian D., Gillette, Theresa N., Tasker, Tom R., McCune, Tyler, Uerkvitz, John W., Atchison, Shaun B., Middleton, Daniel S., Noor, Aneek Muhammad, Alberth, Jr., William P., Ribbich, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz Rodriguez, Carlos R
• Application Number:
  US15/260,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0003 characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 : for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 : Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 : Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 : Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 : Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 : for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/08 : Use of distortion metrics or a particular distance between probe pattern and reference templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 : for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 : for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A thermostat for a building space includes a communications interface, an electronic display, and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to receive service provider information via a network connection. The electronic display includes a user interface configured to display the service provider information. The processing circuit is configured to determine when to display the service provider information on the electronic display by monitoring thermostat events.

Claims

1. A thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive service provider information via a network connection and facilitate a phone call with a dealer via voice over Internet, wherein the network connection comprises a connection to the Internet;

an electronic display comprising a user interface configured to display the service provider information; and

a processing circuit configured to;

cause the electronic display to display the service provider information on the electronic display in response to one or more thermostat events occurring;

receive, via the communications interface, new service provider information, wherein the new service provider information is an update replacing the service provider information;

cause the electronic display to display the new service provider information on the electronic display in response to the one or more thermostat events occurring;

cause the electronic display to display a user interface element for placing the phone call with the dealer;

detect a user interacting with the user interface element;

place the phone call to the dealer via the communications interface in response to a detection of the user interacting with the user interface element; and

transmit, via the communications interface, communications between the user and the dealer using at least one of a microphone and a speaker of the thermostat in response to the phone call being placed.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive the service provider information from the dealer; and

receive the new service provider information from a second dealer in response to a contract between the dealer and the second dealer ending.

3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive the service provider information via the communications interface when the thermostat is first installed in the building space.

4. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the service provider information comprises customized branding, the customized branding comprising at least one of:

a dealer phone number;

a dealer address;

dealer store hours;

a dealer RSS feed; and

a dealer logo.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive, via the communications interface, the new service provider information when the dealer creates new branding and serves the new branding to the thermostat via the communications interface.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermostat events comprise at least one of:

a first fault occurring in the thermostat;

a second fault occurring in equipment connected to the thermostat;

detecting that maintenance is due for the thermostat;

detecting that maintenance is due for the equipment connected to the thermostat;

determining that a threshold time has passed since the service provider information was last displayed; and

determining that the user is adjusting settings in the thermostat for a time longer than a predetermined amount of time.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the service provider information comprises advertisements;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to select the advertisements based on at least one of;

a schedule of the thermostat; and

an ambient temperature.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to collect revenue information and serve the revenue information to the dealer via the communications interface, the revenue information comprising at least one of:

number of service calls placed;

number of technician visits to the building space;

advertising revenue; and

equipment and parts purchased.

9. A method for operating a network branded thermostat, the method comprising:

causing an electronic display of the thermostat to display customized branding on the electronic display in response to one or more thermostat events occurring;

receiving new customized branding via a network connection of the thermostat, wherein the new customized branding is an update replacing the customized branding, wherein the network connection comprises a connection to the Internet;

causing the electronic display to display the new customized branding on the electronic display in response to detecting the one or more thermostat events occurring;

causing the electronic display to display a user interface element for placing a phone call with a dealer;

detecting a user interacting with the user interface element;

placing the phone call to the dealer via a communications interface in response to a detection of the user interacting with the user interface element, the communications interface placing the phone call to the dealer via voice over Internet; and

transmitting, via the communications interface, communications between the user and the dealer using at least one of a microphone and a speaker of the thermostat in response to placing the phone call.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the new customized branding via the network connection comprises receiving the new customized branding via the network connection when the thermostat is first installed in a building space.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the new customized branding via the network connection comprises receiving the new customized branding via the network connection from a second dealer in response to a contract between a first dealer and the second dealer ending.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the customized branding comprising at least one of:

a dealer phone number;

a dealer address;

dealer store hours;

a dealer RSS feed; and

a dealer logo.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the new customized branding via the network connection comprises receiving the new customized branding when the dealer creates new branding and serves the new branding to the thermostat via the network connection.

14. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising collecting revenue information and serving the revenue information to the dealer via the network connection, the revenue information comprising:

number of service calls placed;

number of technician visits to a building space;

advertising revenue; and

equipment and parts purchased.

15. A dealer configured thermostat for a building space, the thermostat comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive dealer information via a network connection and facilitate a phone call with a dealer via voice over Internet, wherein the network connection comprises a connection to the Internet;

an electronic display comprising a user interface configured to display the dealer information; and

a processing circuit configured to;

cause the electronic display to display the dealer information on the electronic display in response to one or more events of the thermostat occurring;

receive, via the communications interface, new dealer information, wherein the new dealer information is an update replacing the dealer information;

cause the electronic display to display the new dealer information on the electronic display in response to the one or more events of the thermostat occurring cause the electronic display to display a user interface element for placing the phone call with the dealer;

detect a user interacting with the user interface element;

place the phone call to the dealer via the communications interface in response to a detection of the user interacting with the user interface element; and

transmit, via the communications interface, communications between the user and the dealer using at least one of a microphone and a speaker of the thermostat in response to the phone call being placed.

16. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the dealer information comprises at least one of:

a dealer phone number;

a dealer address;

dealer store hours;

a dealer RSS feed; and

a dealer logo.

17. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to collect revenue information and serve the revenue information to the dealer via the communications interface, the revenue information comprising:

number of service calls placed;

number of technician visits to the building space;

advertising revenue; and

equipment and parts purchased.

18. The thermostat of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive the dealer information from the dealer; and

receive the new dealer information from a second dealer in response to a contract between the first dealer and the second dealer ending.