SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING OR MODIFYING A TEMPERATURE PROGRAM BASED ON OCCUPANT ACTIVITY

• US 20150168002A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Plitkins, Michael, Stefanski, Mark D., Sloo, David, Matsuoka, Yoky
• Application Number:
  US14/575,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to thermostatically controlling a HVAC system according to a temperature program that is at least partially responsive to observed or predicted changes in the type or degree of occupant activity. For example, a thermostat may process collected occupant activity data in conjunction a temperature program to identify a particular temperature setpoint that is associated with a statistically detectable change between a first and a second type or degree of occupant activity. During a time window that includes the identified temperature setpoint, if the thermostat detects the change between the first and the second type or degree of occupant activity in the occupant activity data, the thermostat may responsively implement the temperature associated with the identified temperature setpoint, regardless of whether the current time is prior to, the same as, or subsequent to the time associated with the identified temperature setpoint.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

thermostatically controlling a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system of a structure over a plurality of days according to a temperature setpoint schedule, wherein the temperature setpoint schedule comprises a plurality of temperature setpoints that each have an associated temperature and an associated time;

collecting occupant activity data indicative of types or degrees of occupant activity in the structure over the plurality of days;

processing the occupant activity data in conjunction with the plurality of temperature setpoints to identify a temperature setpoint of the plurality of temperature setpoints, wherein the identified temperature setpoint is associated with a statistically detectable change between a first type or degree of occupant activity occurring in the occupant activity data prior to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint and a second type or degree of occupant activity occurring in the occupant activity data subsequent to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint; and

during a time window that includes the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint;

detecting the change between the first type or degree of occupant activity and the second type or degree of occupant activity in the occupant activity data occurring at a particular time; and

implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the detected change regardless of whether the particular time is prior to, the same as, or subsequent to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising implementing the identified temperature setpoint at the associated time on a following day or a following week after the implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the detected change.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising modifying the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint to be the particular time after implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the detected change on more than one of the plurality of days.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising generating the plurality of temperature setpoints of the temperature program, comprising:

receiving a user input at a certain time requesting a certain temperature; and

adding a temperature setpoint to the temperature program in response to the user input, comprising;

associating the temperature setpoint with the certain time;

associating the temperature setpoint with the certain temperature; and

associating the temperature setpoint with the statistically detectable change between the first type or degree of occupant activity occurring in the occupant activity data prior to the certain time to the second type or degree of occupant activity occurring in the occupant activity data subsequent to the certain time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated temperature the identified temperature setpoint is implemented prior to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the change.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated temperature the identified temperature setpoint is implemented subsequent to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the change.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint at the associated time of the temperature setpoint when the change is not detected before the associated time of the temperature setpoint.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint at an end of the time window when the change is not detected during the time window.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the time window extends a first fixed amount of time before the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the time window also extends a second fixed amount of time after the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first fixed amount of time is equal to the second fixed amount of time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change comprises giving greater weight to occupant activity data that occurs closer to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change comprises giving greater weight to a first piece of occupant activity data when other pieces of occupant activity data occur around the same time.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing measurements from one or more sensors associated with the structure, wherein the one or more sensors comprise thermal sensors, motion sensors, infra-red (IR) sensors, light sensors, electromagnetic sensors, sound sensors, vibration sensors, gas sensors, or combinations thereof

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within a housing of a wall-mounted thermostat that is thermostatically controlling the HVAC system of the structure.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing a measurement of one or more wireless signals within the structure.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing at least a portion of a schedule, a calendar, an agenda, an itinerary, a scheduled alarm, a text message, or an email message of an occupant of the structure from a computer or a cellular phone of the occupant.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing a measurement of network traffic of a computer, a cellular phone, a television, video game console, or streaming media device communicating on a computer network of the structure.

19. A method, comprising:

thermostatically controlling a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system of a structure over a period of time according to a temperature program comprising a plurality of temperature setpoints;

collecting occupant activity data describing occupant activity types or degrees over the period of time, wherein the period of time is divided into a plurality of time windows that each begin at an occurrence of a statistically different occupant activity type or degree in the occupant activity data;

processing the occupant activity data in conjunction with the plurality of temperature setpoints to identify a temperature setpoint of the plurality of temperature setpoints, wherein the identified temperature setpoint has an associated temperature, an associated time, and an associated time window of the plurality of time windows that includes the associated time;

during the associated time window of the identified temperature setpoint;

detecting a change from a first type or degree of occupant activity to a statistically different second type or degree of occupant activity in the occupant activity data occurring at a particular time; and

implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint in response to the detected change regardless of whether the particular time is prior to, the same as, or subsequent to the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising generating the plurality of temperature setpoints of the temperature program, comprising:

receiving a user input requesting a particular temperature at a particular time within a particular time window of the plurality of time windows;

adding a temperature setpoint to the temperature program, comprising;

associating the temperature setpoint with the particular time;

associating the temperature setpoint with the particular temperature; and

associating the temperature setpoint with the particular time window.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising implementing the associated temperature of the identified temperature setpoint at the associated time of the temperature setpoint when the change is not detected before the associated time of the temperature setpoint.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the associated time window of the identified temperature setpoint extends a first fixed amount of time before the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the associated time window of the identified temperature setpoint also extends a second fixed amount of time after the associated time of the identified temperature setpoint.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first fixed amount of time is equal to the second fixed amount of time.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing measurements from one or more sensors associated with the structure, wherein the one or more sensors comprise thermal sensors, motion sensors, infra-red (IR) sensors, light sensors, electromagnetic sensors, sound sensors, vibration sensors, gas sensors, or combinations thereof

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within a housing of a wall-mounted thermostat that is thermostatically controlling the HVAC system of the structure.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing at least a portion of a schedule, a calendar, an agenda, an itinerary, a scheduled alarm, a text message, or an email message of an occupant of the structure from a computer or a cellular phone of the occupant.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing a measurement of network traffic of a computer, a cellular phone, a television, video game console, or streaming media device communicating on a computer network of the structure.

29. A method, comprising:

thermostatically controlling a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system of a structure according to a temperature program comprising a plurality of occupant activity-based temperature setpoints, wherein each occupant activity-based temperature setpoint is associated with a temperature and with a change between a first type or degree of occupant activity and a statistically different second type or degree of occupant activity;

collecting occupant activity data describing occupant activity types or degrees;

detecting, in the occupant activity data, the change from the first type or degree of occupant activity to the second type or degree of occupant activity; and

implementing the temperature associated with the occupant activity-based temperature setpoint responsive to the detected change regardless of a current time.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising generating the plurality of occupant activity-based temperature setpoints of the temperature program, comprising:

receiving a user input requesting a particular temperature at a particular time;

identifying, in the occupant activity data, the change from the first type or degree of occupant activity to the statistically different second type or degree of occupant activity around the particular time;

adding an occupant activity-based temperature setpoint to the temperature program, comprising;

associating the occupant activity-based temperature setpoint with the particular temperature; and

associating the occupant activity-based temperature setpoint with the change between the first type or degree of occupant activity and the statistically different second type or degree of occupant activity.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein collecting occupant activity data comprises receiving and storing measurements from one or more sensors associated with the structure, wherein the one or more sensors comprise thermal sensors, motion sensors, infra-red (IR) sensors, light sensors, electromagnetic sensors, sound sensors, vibration sensors, gas sensors, or combinations thereof

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within a housing of a wall-mounted thermostat that is thermostatically controlling the HVAC system of the structure.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the temperature program comprises a time-based temperature setpoint, and comprising thermostatically controlling the HVAC system to implement a temperature associated with the time-based temperature setpoint at a time associated with the time-based temperature setpoint.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and second degrees of occupant activity are different degrees of occupant activity of a plurality of different degrees of occupant activity, and wherein the plurality of different degrees of occupant activity comprises:

no degree of occupant activity, a minimal degree of occupant activity, a median degree of occupant activity, and a high degree of occupant activity, and wherein each of the plurality of different degrees of occupant activity are statistically different in the occupant activity data.