Soliciting user input for thermostat control

• US 20150083813A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Koningstein, Ross, Schmalzried, James Charles, Chen, Kevin, Adelberger, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,665,109 B2
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A device or arrangement may be configured to receive a temperature limit such as an acceptable maximum temperature as well as a tolerance measure such as a number of acceptable events, the events causing the temperature to be outside of the temperature limit. An air comfort device may be operated based on the received temperature limit and the tolerance measure. A potential cost value may be provided based on a temperature limit and tolerance measure. A temperature limit and tolerance measure may be calculated based on a target cost value such that the arrangement may modify a temperature limit and/or tolerance measure to achieve the target cost value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a temperature limit;

receiving a tolerance measure for events outside of the temperature limit; and

operating an air comfort device outside of the temperature limit based on the received temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature limit is a single temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature limit is a temperature range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance measure includes a number of distinct events in which the temperature is outside of the temperature limit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance measure includes an amount of time during which the temperature is outside of the temperature limit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tolerance measure includes an extent to which the temperature is permitted to be outside of the temperature limit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the air comfort device outside the temperature limit based on the tolerance measure.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a cost target value.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising modifying, based on the received cost target value, at least one from the group consisting of:

the temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising operating the air comfort device based on the cost target value.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a projected cost value based on at least one from the group consisting of:

the temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating the air comfort device based on the projected cost value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the temperature limit, the tolerance measure, and the projected cost value are received based on a selection of a comfort range.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is provided with a plurality of comfort ranges, a comfort range comprising a temperature limit and a tolerance measure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the comfort range further comprises a projected cost value.

16. The method of claim 14 further configured to receive a selection of one of the plurality of comfort ranges.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an umbrella flexibility range for at least a first comfort range and a second comfort range from a user; and

providing a projected cost value for the first comfort range and the second comfort range based on at least the umbrella flexibility range.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the projected cost value is based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of:

a weighted average of the number of hours operating according to a comfort range, an ideal set point for an energy, the size of a range of temperatures identified by the temperature limit, and the relative location of an ideal set point with respect to the range of temperatures identified by the temperature limit.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a first temperature limit from a user;

providing an opt-in option to a user, the opt-in option comprising an incentive to modify the first temperature limit to a second temperature limit;

receiving a selection of the opt-in option by the user; and

operating an air comfort device based on the second temperature limit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the incentive is a projected cost value.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second temperature limit comprises a temperature range that is different than a temperature range identified by the first temperature limit.

22. A device comprising:

a display component in connection with the device;

an input component in connection with the device; and

the device configured to;

receive a temperature limit;

receive a tolerance measure for events outside of the temperature limit;

operate an air comfort device based on the received temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the temperature limit is a single temperature.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the temperature limit is a temperature range.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the tolerance measure includes a number of distinct events in which the temperature is outside of the temperature limit.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the tolerance measure includes an amount of time during which the temperature is outside of the temperature limit.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein the tolerance measure includes an extent to which the temperature is permitted to be outside of the temperature limit.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein the device is further configured to operate the air comfort device outside the temperature limit based on the tolerance measure.

29. The device of claim 22 further configured to receive a cost target value.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the device is further configured to modify, based on the received cost target value, at least one from the group consisting of:

the temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

31. The device of claim 29 further configured to operate the air comfort device based on the cost target value.

32. The device of claim 22 further configured to generate a projected cost value based on at least one from the group consisting of:

the temperature limit and the tolerance measure.

33. The device of claim 32 further configured to operate the air comfort device based on the projected cost value.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the temperature limit, the tolerance measure, and the projected cost value are received based on a selection of a comfort range.

35. The device of claim 22, wherein the user is provided with a plurality of comfort ranges, a comfort range comprising a temperature limit and a tolerance measure.

36. The device of claim 35 further configured to receive a selection of one of the plurality of comfort ranges.

37. The device of claim 35, further configured to generate a projected cost value for the comfort range, the projected cost value based on the temperature limit and the tolerance measure of the comfort range.

38. The device of claim 35, further configured to:

receive an umbrella flexibility range for at least a first comfort range and a second comfort range from a user; and

provide a projected cost value for the first comfort range and the second comfort range based on at least the umbrella flexibility range.

39. The device of claim 22, wherein operating the air comfort device further comprises maintaining a temperature at a point selected from the group consisting of:

above the temperature limit, below the temperature limit, and within the range of temperatures defined by the temperature limit.

40. The device of claim 22, wherein the display component in connection with the device is contained within the device.

41. The device of claim 22, wherein the display component in connection with the device is connected to the device via a connection selected from the group consisting of:

a wired connection and a wireless connection.

42. The device of claim 22, wherein the display component is contained within an external device selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile phone, a tablet, a touchscreen display, a television, and a wearable device.

43. The device of claim 22, wherein the input component in connection with the device is contained within the device.

44. The device of claim 22, wherein the input component in connection with the device is connected to the device via a connection selected from the group consisting of:

a wired connection and a wireless connection.

45. The device of claim 22, wherein the input component is contained within a device selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard, a numerical pad, a mouse, a mobile phone, a tablet, a touchscreen display, a television, and a wearable device.