SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A NETWORKED ELECTRONIC DEVICE AS AN OCCUPANCY SENSOR FOR AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100280667A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• 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 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for detecting the use of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one networked electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Claims

1. A method for varying temperature setpoints for an HVAC system comprising:

determining whether one or more networked electronic devices inside a structure are in use;

determining whether said use of said networked electronic devices indicates occupancy of said structure; and

adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic controller for an HVAC system for said structure based upon whether or not said structure is deemed to be occupied.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said networked electronic device is a television.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said networked electronic device is a personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said networked electronic device is connected to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 in which programming being watched or listened to using said networked electronic device is used to determine which occupant of said structure is likely to be present, and the setpoint for said thermostatic controller is selected based upon the preferences of the occupant determined to be using said networked electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 in which said networked electronic device is a game console.

7. The method of claim 1 in which said networked electronic device communicates with a remote server.

9. The method of claim 1 in which said adjusting of said temperature setpoints is initiated by a remote computer.

10. The method of claim 1 in which said temperature setpoints are varied automatically.

11. The method of claim 1 in which an occupant is prompted to confirm occupancy prior to the adjusting of said temperature setpoint.

8. (canceled)

12. A system for altering the setpoint on a thermostat for space conditioning of a structure comprising:

at least one thermostat having at least one temperature setting associated with the presence of one or more occupants in a structure, and at least one temperature setting associated with the absence of occupants in said structure;

one or more electronic devices having at least a user interface;

wherein said electronic devices and said thermostat are connected to a network; and

wherein said setpoint on said thermostat is adjusted between said temperature setting associated with the presence of one or more occupants in said structure and said temperature setting associated with the absence of occupants in said structure based upon the use of said user interface for said electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12 in which said electronic device is a television.

14. The system of claim 12 in which said electronic device is a personal computer.

15. The system of claim 12 in which said electronic device is connected to the Internet.

16. The system of claim 12 in which the programming being watched or listened to using said networked electronic device is used to determine which occupant of said structure is likely to be using said networked electronic device, and the setpoint for said thermostatic controller is selected based upon the preferences of the occupant determined to be using said networked electronic device.

17. The system of claim 12 in which said networked electronic device is a game console.

18. The system of claim 12 in which said networked electronic device communicates with a remote server.

20. The system of claim 12 in which variation of temperature setpoints is initiated by a remote computer.

21. The system of claim 12 in which said temperature setpoints are varied automatically.

22. The system of claim 12 in which an occupant is prompted to confirm occupancy prior to adjustment of said temperature setpoint.

19. (canceled)