Self-Programming Thermostat System, Method and Computer Program Product
First Claim
1. A self-programming thermostat control system that automatically senses, creates and suggests highly energy efficient and optimized setback schedules for controlling energy consumption within a space in a controllable and predictable manner for a user in accordance with consistently changing historical occupancy patterns of a space, said system comprises:
- detecting means for detecting said occupancy rates;
timing means for capturing said time interval data;
frequency means for determining the rate and consistency at which these detecting means detect varying occupancy rates at these different time intervals that correspond with different user-based activity functions;
storage means for aggregating historical occupancy rates generated by the detecting means in conjunction with the timing and frequency means;
programming means for reading, analyzing, and modeling the collected historical occupancy rates from the detecting means at changing times and frequencies using the timing and frequency means to derive occupancy pattern models that are used to generate and suggest a selection of efficient setback schedules that can be optimized by the user for greater energy efficiency and comfort in a space; and
display means that display a selection of optimal setback schedules generated by using the detecting, timing, frequency, and programming means of the system;
that displays information to the user that balances energy usage and comfort; and
that contains a selection means which allows a user to choose from the selection of optimal setback schedules for use in the space.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Self-programmable thermostat control system and method that automatically senses, creates and suggests highly energy efficient optimized setback schedules in a controllable and predictable manner for a user in accordance with consistently updated historical occupancy patterns of a heated and/or cooled space. Through the use of this system and method, users will be able to reduce inefficiency from the setback schedules produced by other thermostats and select one of the many energy efficient setback schedules produced by the system through an easy to use display screen built into the self-programmable thermostat. With this unique system and method, the user is able to customize their energy efficiency and comfort level in their cooled and/or heated space by selecting the set-back schedule that fits best with their pocketbook and comfort level all at the turn of a knob.
98 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A self-programming thermostat control system that automatically senses, creates and suggests highly energy efficient and optimized setback schedules for controlling energy consumption within a space in a controllable and predictable manner for a user in accordance with consistently changing historical occupancy patterns of a space, said system comprises:
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detecting means for detecting said occupancy rates; timing means for capturing said time interval data; frequency means for determining the rate and consistency at which these detecting means detect varying occupancy rates at these different time intervals that correspond with different user-based activity functions; storage means for aggregating historical occupancy rates generated by the detecting means in conjunction with the timing and frequency means; programming means for reading, analyzing, and modeling the collected historical occupancy rates from the detecting means at changing times and frequencies using the timing and frequency means to derive occupancy pattern models that are used to generate and suggest a selection of efficient setback schedules that can be optimized by the user for greater energy efficiency and comfort in a space; and display means that display a selection of optimal setback schedules generated by using the detecting, timing, frequency, and programming means of the system;
that displays information to the user that balances energy usage and comfort; and
that contains a selection means which allows a user to choose from the selection of optimal setback schedules for use in the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for a self-programming thermostat that automatically creates optimal setback schedules by detecting varying occupancy statistics of a space to achieve greater energy efficiency and comfort for an occupant, the method comprising:
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selecting an initial baseline setback schedule that is defined by occupant; detecting the occupancy rates of the heated and/or cooled space throughout the cooled and/or heated space over the course of a time interval to generate occupancy patterns, which is defined by activity parameters; consistently detecting and logging variance in said occupancy rates by the occupant at the said defined activity parameters and labeling it miss time; using said miss time to calculate an average miss time over the course of said time interval; creating gradually shrinking setback schedules that gradually minimize said miss time; and suggesting a selection of at least two setback schedules with the least said average miss time to the user in an easy to use display model interface with different energy and comfort tradeoffs shown. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A self-programming thermostat control system that automatically creates and suggests highly energy efficient and optimized setback schedules for controlling energy consumption within a space in a controllable and predictable manner intended for a user accordance with consistently changing historical occupancy patterns of a heated and/or cooled space, wherein said system is configured to receive a) occupancy rates associated with different activity functions within the desired heated and/or cooled space and b) captured time intervals when the change of occupancy occurs in the heated and/or cooled space, and wherein said system further comprises:
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frequency means for determining the rate and consistency of the received occupancy rates at the captured time intervals that correspond with different user-based activity functions; storage means for aggregating historical occupancy rates generated by the detecting means in conjunction with the timing and frequency means; programming means for reading, analyzing, and modeling the collected historical occupancy rates from the detecting means at changing times and frequencies using the timing and frequency means to derive occupancy pattern models that are used to generate and suggest a selection of efficient setback schedules that can be optimized by the user for greater energy efficiency and comfort in a space; and display means that display a selection of optimal setback schedules generated by using the detecting, timing, frequency, and programming means of the system;
that displays information to the user that balances energy usage and comfort; and
that contains a selection means which allows a user to choose from the selection of optimal setback schedules for use in the space. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59)
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60. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium having a computer program logic for enabling at least one processor in a computer system to automatically create optimal setback schedules to achieve greater energy efficiency and comfort for an occupant, said computer program logic comprising:
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receiving a selected initial baseline setback schedule; receiving detected occupancy rates of the heated and/or cooled space throughout the cooled and/or heated space over the course of a time interval to generate occupancy patterns, which is defined by activity parameters; receiving detected and logged variance in said occupancy rates by the occupant at the said defined activity parameters and labeling it miss time; using said miss time to calculate an average miss time over the course of said time interval; creating gradually shrinking setback schedules that gradually minimize miss time; and suggesting a selection of at least two setback schedules with the least said average miss time to the user in an easy to use display model interface with different energy and comfort tradeoffs shown. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
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64. A self-programming thermostat control system that automatically senses, creates and suggests highly energy efficient and optimized setback schedules for controlling energy consumption within a space in a controllable and predictable manner for a user in accordance with consistently changing historical occupancy patterns of a space, said system comprises:
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a detector, said detector detects occupancy rates; a timer for capturing said time interval data and for determining the rate and consistency at which the detector detects varying occupancy rates at these different time intervals that correspond with different user-based activity functions; storage for aggregating historical occupancy rates generated by the detector in conjunction with corresponding said time intervals; a computer processor for reading, analyzing, and modeling the collected historical occupancy rates from the detector at changing times and frequencies using the timer to derive occupancy pattern models that are used to generate and suggest a selection of efficient setback schedules that can be optimized by the user for greater energy efficiency and comfort in a space; and a display device that displays a selection of optimal setback schedules generated by using the detecting, timing, frequency, and programming means of the system;
that displays information to the user that balances energy usage and comfort, and provides a selection mechanism that allows a user to choose from the selection of optimal setback schedules for use in the space. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67)
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68. A self-programming thermostat control system that automatically creates and suggests highly energy efficient and optimized setback schedules for controlling energy consumption within a space in a controllable and predictable manner intended for a user accordance with consistently changing historical occupancy patterns of a heated and/or cooled space, wherein said system is configured to receive a) occupancy rates associated with different activity functions within the desired heated and/or cooled space and b) captured time intervals when the change of occupancy occurs in the heated and/or cooled space, and wherein said system further comprises:
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timer for determining the rate and consistency of the received occupancy rates at the captured time intervals that correspond with different user-based activity functions; storage for aggregating historical occupancy rates; processor for reading, analyzing, and modeling the collected historical occupancy rates to derive occupancy pattern models that are used to generate and suggest a selection of efficient setback schedules that can be optimized by the user for greater energy efficiency and comfort in a space; and display unit that displays a selection of optimal setback schedules that displays information to the user that balances energy usage and comfort, and that contains a selection mechanism that allows a user to choose from the selection of optimal setback schedules for use in the space.
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Specification