HVAC control using geofencing
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling an HVAC system for a building, the HVAC system implementing geofencing using a geofence that is defined for the building or a user of the building, the method comprising:
- controlling a building temperature to a comfort temperature set point when the user is inside the geofence;
allowing the building temperature to deviate from the comfort temperature set point by a first amount when the user crosses from inside the geofence to outside of the geofence;
tracking how long the user remains outside the geofence; and
determining a second amount specifying how far the building temperature is allowed to further deviate beyond the first amount based on how long the user remains outside the geofence irrespective of a distance between the geofence and the user, wherein determining the second amount comprises increasing the second amount by a predetermined amount for each predetermined time period that the user remains outside of the geofence; and
allowing the building temperature to further deviate beyond the first amount by the second amount while the user remains outside of the geofence.
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Abstract
An HVAC control system, wherein a building temperature is controlled to a comfort temperature set point when users are inside the geofence and is allowed to deviate from the comfort temperature set point when all users are outside of the geofence. The amount that the building temperature is allowed to deviate from the comfort temperature set point may be in accordance with how long the users have remained outside of the geofence.
260 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an HVAC system for a building, the HVAC system implementing geofencing using a geofence that is defined for the building or a user of the building, the method comprising:
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controlling a building temperature to a comfort temperature set point when the user is inside the geofence; allowing the building temperature to deviate from the comfort temperature set point by a first amount when the user crosses from inside the geofence to outside of the geofence; tracking how long the user remains outside the geofence; and determining a second amount specifying how far the building temperature is allowed to further deviate beyond the first amount based on how long the user remains outside the geofence irrespective of a distance between the geofence and the user, wherein determining the second amount comprises increasing the second amount by a predetermined amount for each predetermined time period that the user remains outside of the geofence; and allowing the building temperature to further deviate beyond the first amount by the second amount while the user remains outside of the geofence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An HVAC control system for controlling operation of HVAC equipment within a building, the HVAC control system configured to be in operative communication with a mobile device providing geofence functionality, the HVAC control system comprising:
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an input for receiving location information indicating where the mobile device is in relation to a geofence defined for the building; a memory for storing the location information received from the mobile device; a controller operatively coupled to the input and to the memory, the controller configured to control the HVAC equipment to maintain a comfort temperature within the building when the mobile device is located within the geofence; the controller further configured to allow a building temperature in the building to deviate from the comfort temperature by a first amount when the mobile device crosses from inside the geofence to outside the geofence; and the controller is further configured to determine a second amount specifying how far the building temperature is allowed to further deviate beyond the first amount based at least in part on;
how long the mobile device remains outside of the geofence irrespective of a distance between the geofence and the mobile device, wherein, to determine the second amount, the controller is configured to increase the second amount by a predetermined amount for each predetermined time period that the mobile device remains outside of the geofence. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A building automation server for servicing a building, the building automation server comprising:
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an input for receiving a geofence status of one or more mobile devices that are associated with the building, wherein the geofence status includes whether the one or more mobile devices are inside a geofence or outside a geofence defined for the building; an output for outputting a command to a building controller in the building; a controller operably coupled to the input and the output, the controller configured to keep track of the geofence status for each of the one or more mobile devices; the controller further configured to output a command via the output to change a set point of the building controller to an energy saving set point upon detecting that all of the one or more mobile devices are outside of the geofence and to output a command via the output to change the set point of the building controller to a comfort temperature set point upon detecting that at least one of the one or more mobile devices are inside the geofence; the controller further configured to determine how far to further deviate from the energy savings set point based at least in part on how long the one or more mobile devices remain outside the geofence irrespective of a distance between the geofence and the one or more mobile devices, wherein, to determine how far to further deviate from the energy savings set point, the controller is configured to, further deviate from the energy savings set point by a predetermined amount for each predetermined time period that the one or more mobile devices remain outside of the geofence. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification