REMOTE APPLICATION FOR CONTROLLING AN HVAC SYSTEM

• US 20140151456A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: McCurnin, David J., Tessier, Patrick C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A wireless device may be used to communicate with and control one or more components of an HVAC system from a remote location. The wireless device may be configured to display two or more icons on the display of the device, wherein each icon executes a function that aids the user in controlling one or more components of the HVAC system. The wireless device may dynamically order the two or more icons on the display of the device, each according to a dynamic ranking algorithm. The dynamic ranking algorithm may be based on a number of factors including, for example, a relative frequency of selection of each of the two or more icons by a user, the current time of day, the current time of year, the current temperature, the current location of the wireless device, and/or the like.

Claims

1. A wireless device configured to communicate with and help control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the wireless device comprising:

a wireless interface for sending and receiving information;

a memory;

a user interface including a display; and

a controller coupled to the wireless interface, the memory and the user interface, the controller configured to display two or more selectable icons on the display, wherein each of the two or more icons, when selected by a user, executes a unique function that aids the user in controlling the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system, the unique function of each of the two or more icons includes displaying information received via the wireless interface and/or sending one or more commands to control the HVAC system via the wireless interface, the controller further configured to dynamically order the two or more icons on the display according to a dynamic ranking algorithm.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a relative frequency of selection of each of the two or more icons by a user.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller maintains a current time of day, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current time of day.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller maintains a current time of year, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current time of year.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a current temperature via the wireless interface, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current temperature.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device includes a temperature sensor for providing a current temperature to the controller, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current temperature.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device stores a measure related to a temperature history in the memory, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the measure related to the temperature history.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller receives a current humidity via the wireless interface, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current humidity.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device includes a humidity sensor for providing a current humidity to the controller, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current humidity.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device includes a location detector that dynamically provides a current location of the wireless device, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on the current location.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to not display at least one icon on the display when a frequency of selection for the at least one icon does not meet a predetermined criteria.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein each of the unique functions represented by the two or more icons are assigned a weight, and wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm dynamically orders the two or more icons on the display based, at least in part, on the assigned weights.

13. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to display the two or more icons in a grid pattern on the display, and wherein icons with a higher rank are displayed higher in the grid pattern and icons having a lower rank are displayed lower in the grid pattern.

14. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically change an appearance of at least some of the two or more icons on the display according to the dynamic ranking algorithm.

15. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a wireless thermostat including a temperature sensor.

16. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is any one of a remote controller, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon in a non-transitory state a program code for use by a wireless device connectable to a network, the program code causing the wireless device to execute a method for controlling an HVAC system comprising:

displaying two or more selectable icons on a display of the wireless device;

allowing a user to select from the two or more selectable icons;

causing the wireless device to execute a unique function that aids the user in controlling the HVAC system when a selectable icon is selected by the user, wherein the unique function includes displaying information received via a wireless interface of the wireless device and/or sending one or more commands to control the HVAC system via the wireless interface of the wireless device; and

dynamically ordering the two or more icons on the display according to a dynamic ranking algorithm.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a relative frequency of selection of each of the two or more icons by a user.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a current time of day and/or current time of year maintained by the wireless device.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a measure related to temperature received via the wireless interface of the wireless device.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a current location of the wireless device.

22. A method of arranging icons on a display of a device for controlling an HVAC system, the method comprising:

displaying two or more icons on a display of the device, wherein each of the two or more icons, when selected by a user, executes a unique function that aids the user in controlling the HVAC system;

accepting a selection of at least one icon of the two or more icons;

executing the unique function associated with the selected icon, the unique function includes displaying information on the display of the device and/or sending one or more commands to control the HVAC system; and

dynamically ordering the two or more icons on the display according to a dynamic ranking algorithm.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a relative frequency of selection of each of the two or more icons by a user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a current time of day and/or current time of year maintained by the device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a measure related to an outdoor temperature value.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the dynamic ranking algorithm is based, at least in part, on a current location of the device.

27. An HVAC controller configured to communicate with and control, at least in part, one or more components of an HVAC system, the HVAC controller comprising:

an input/output port for sensing and/or receiving signals to and from one or more HVAC components;

a memory;

a user interface including a display; and

a controller coupled to the input/output port, the memory and the user interface, the controller configured to display two or more selectable icons on the display, wherein each of the two or more icons, when selected by a user, executes a unique function that aids the user in controlling the one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system, the controller further configured to dynamically order the two or more icons on the display according to a dynamic ranking algorithm.