User Interfaces for HVAC Schedule Display and Modification on Smartphone or Other Space-Limited Touchscreen Device

• US 20130263034A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruck, Timo A., Sloo, David, Knieper, Clemens M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,893,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• 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 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A novel small format touch screen user interface for displaying, adding and editing program setpoints is described. When editing a setpoint the user'"'"'s input is constrained such that the user can only alter one parameter (either time or temperature). As soon as the user begins to drag a setpoint icon in either a horizontal (i.e. adjusting time), or vertical (i.e. adjusting temperature), the other parameter is constrained. Additionally, the disclosed user interface includes displaying information as to how the setpoint was most recently added or adjusted. For example the display can be used to indicate whether a setpoint was added or adjusted (1) on the thermostat itself; (2) by an automated learning algorithm; (3) by a user on a web client; or (4) by a user using a mobile client (such as a smart phone or tablet PC). Further, the name of the particular device is also displayed if known.

Claims

1. A method of interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of programmed setpoints on a memory on the thermostat, each of the setpoints being associated with a setpoint temperature and a time at which the setpoint is programmed to become active;

on a small format touch-screen display device in a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying a two dimensional plot including one or more setpoint icons each being associated with one of the plurality of programmed setpoints, such that the position of each setpoint icon indicates to the user the temperature by virtue of a position of the icon along a first axis and the time by virtue of a position of the icon along a second axis associated with the associated setpoint;

receiving user input in a form of a single touch-dragging motion by the user of a displayed setpoint icon indicating an intention by the user to adjust (1) the temperature of the setpoint associated with the icon by virtue of the single touch-dragging motion being primarily in a direction parallel to the first axis, or (2) the time of the setpoint associated with the icon by virtue of the single touch-dragging motion being primarily in the direction of the second axis; and

constraining user adjustments to time adjustments when the received user input indicates an intention to adjust the time, and constraining user adjustments to temperature adjustments when the received user input indicates an intention to adjust the temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first axis is horizontal and the second axis is vertical.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the single touch-dragging motion by the user includes a dragging motion in a direction.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the single touch-dragging motion by the user, initially graphically displaying indictors indicating that the setpoint can be adjusted both in directions parallel to the first axis and in directions parallel to the second axis; and

after the constraining, graphically displaying only indicators tending to indicate that the displayed setpoint icon can be adjusted only in directions parallel to first axis when user adjustments are constrained to time adjustments, and only indicators tending to indicate that the displayed setpoint icon can be adjusted only in directions parallel to the second axis when user adjustments are constrained to temperature adjustments.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indictors include shaded bars parallel to a direction of possible adjustment.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising in response to the received user input, displaying a large setpoint icon above the displayed setpoint icon.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the small format touch-screen display device is part of a smart phone.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the small format touch-screen display device has a display size of less than 5 inches measured diagonally.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the small format touch-screen display device is part of a tablet computer.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the constraining reduces the risk of inadvertently adjusting the time associated with a setpoint when the received user input indicates an intentions to adjust the temperature, and reduces the risk of inadvertently adjusting the temperature associated with a setpoint when the received user input indicates an intentions to adjust the time.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving user input in a form of a double tap; and

in response to the double tap, modifying the displayed two dimensional plot by altering a time scale associated with the second axis.

12. A method of interactively and graphically displaying programmed setpoint information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the method comprising:

receiving and storing information indicating for a first thermostat setpoint, a way in which the first setpoint was generated and/or adjusted, the indicated way being selected from one of a plurality of predefined ways in which setpoints can be generated and/or adjusted;

on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying a graphical daily summary of thermostat information for each of a plurality of days, the graphical daily summary including at least a first setpoint icon representing the first setpoint; and

in response to a user selecting of a displayed first setpoint icon, displaying information indicating to the user the way in which the first setpoint was generated and/or adjusted.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of predefined ways in which setpoints can be generated and/or adjusted includes one or more of the following selected from a group consisting of:

by a user on the thermostat, by a user using a mobile device, by a user using a web application, and by an automated learning algorithm.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the way in which the first setpoint was generated and/or adjusted is by a user using a mobile device, and the displayed information indicating the way in which the first setpoint was generated and/or adjusted includes an identification of a name associated with a mobile device.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the graphical daily summary includes a displayed away symbol indicating the thermostat activated an away mode, the method further comprising in response to a user selecting the displayed away symbol, displaying information indicating to the user whether the away mode was initiated by a user or automatically.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the display device is on a smart phone.

17. A method according to claim 12 wherein the display device is on a tablet computer.

18. A method according to claim 12 wherein the display device is part of personal computer system running a web-based application.

19. A method of interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of programmed setpoints on a memory on the thermostat, each of the setpoints being associated with a setpoint temperature and a time at which the setpoint is programmed to become active;

on a smartphone touch-screen display measuring less than 5 inches diagonally at a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying a two dimensional plot including one or more setpoint icons each being associated with one of the plurality of programmed setpoints, such that the position of each setpoint icon indicates to the user the setpoint temperature by virtue of a position of the icon along a vertical axis and the time at which the setpoint is programmed to become active by virtue of a position of the icon along a horizontal axis;

receiving user input in a form of a single touch-dragging motion by the user of a displayed setpoint icon indicating an intention by the user to make an adjustment to the setpoint associated with the icon;

in response to the single touch-dragging motion by the user, graphically displaying indictors indicating that the setpoint can be adjusted both in vertical and horizontal directions;

receiving user input in a form of a dragging motion by the user of a displayed setpoint icon indicating an intention by the user to adjust (1) the temperature of the setpoint associated with the icon by virtue of the single touch-dragging motion being primarily in a vertical direction, or (2) the time at which the setpoint is programmed to become active by virtue of the single touch-dragging motion being primarily in a horizontal direction;

in cases there the received dragging motion is primarily in a vertical direction, constraining user adjustments to temperature adjustments and altering the graphically displayed indicators so as to indicate that the setpoint can only be adjusted vertically; and

in cases there the received dragging motion is primarily in a horizontal direction, constraining user adjustments to time adjustments and altering the graphically displayed indicators so as to indicate that the setpoint can only be adjusted horizontally.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the indictors include shaded bars parallel to a direction of possible adjustment.