DEVICES AND METHODS FOR INTERACTING WITH AN HVAC CONTROLLER

• US 20150053779A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Nemcek, Adam, Hoglund, Steven, Nelson, Jay, Adamek, Martin, Buno, Juraj, Malek, Jan, Skala, Martin, Bures, David, Horky, Libor
• Application Number:
  US14/463,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/1.C
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/40 Noise
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 Geothermal heat-pumps

Abstract

An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language audio message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language audio message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. Voice recognition software identifies a trigger phrase included in the natural language audio message and in response the HVAC controller performs an action. The voice recognition software may be used to create a natural language text based message from a recorded voice message or streamed voice message, where the natural language text based message is translated into the command recognizable by the HVAC controller. In response to the command, the HVAC controller may perform an action and/or respond with a natural language text based or audio message. A user may communicate with the thermostat via the thermostat and/or a remote device.

Claims

1. A thermostat configured to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system, the thermostat comprising:

a housing, the housing configured to house;

a temperature sensor;

a microphone;

a controller;

wherein the controller is configured to identify a trigger phrase included in a voice message received by the microphone of the thermostat, and in response, perform an action.

2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the controller in response to identifying the trigger phrase includes transitioning the thermostat from a sleep state to a wake state.

3. The thermostat of claim 2, further comprising a display, wherein the display is in a lower power state in the sleep state and a higher power state in the wake state.

4. The thermostat of claim 3, wherein the display includes a backlight, and wherein the backlight is turned off in the sleep state and turned on in the wake state.

5. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the controller in response to identifying the trigger phrase includes initiating a voice control mode.

6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the controller in response to identifying the trigger phrase includes attempting to identify a voice command following the identified trigger phrase.

7. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the controller in response to identifying the trigger phrase includes displaying a home screen on a display of the thermostat.

8. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, wherein the speaker emits an audible message in response to the controller identifying the trigger phrase.

9. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a communications port operatively coupled to a web service through the Internet.

10. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the action performed by the controller in response to identifying the trigger phrase comprises checking for a connection to the Internet.

11. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the thermostat has a lower power state and a higher power state, wherein the controller is configured to listen for the trigger phrase in both the lower power state and the higher power state.

12. A method of controlling a thermostat, the method comprising:

receiving a voice stream at a thermostat;

identifying a trigger phrase included in the voice stream;

initiating a voice control mode in response to identifying the trigger phrase; and

providing an indication to a user that the voice control mode has been initiated.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indication that the voice control mode has been initiated comprises an audible indication.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising illuminating a display of the thermostat in response to identifying the trigger phrase in the voice stream.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the illumination of the display is the indicating that the voice control mode has been initiated.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a voice command following the trigger phrase in the voice stream; and

translating the identified voice command into a command understandable by a controller of the thermostat.

17. A method of controlling a thermostat, the method comprising:

receiving a voice stream at the thermostat;

identifying a voice command in the voice stream, wherein the voice command specifies a parameter value without units;

translating the identified voice command into a thermostat command that includes the parameter value and units that is understandable by the thermostat; and

executing the thermostat command by the thermostat.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the translating step is performed by thermostat.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the translating step is performed by a remote web service, and the thermostat command is returned to the thermostat for execution.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the units are preprogrammed, and the preprogrammed units are applied to the parameter value specified in the voice command.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein different preprogrammed units are applied to the parameter values of different voice commands.