THERMOSTAT ECO-MODE

• US 20160018832A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opower, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Opower, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Frank, Ilan, McCool, Daniel, Darci, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 10,024,564 B2
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/48 prior to normal operation, e.g. pre-heating or pre-cooling
• 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 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: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/50 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 : associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In some aspects, the subject technology relates to an “Eco-mode” on a thermostat. A button or other user interface element may be configured to activate and/or deactivate) the eco-mode on the thermostat. Upon selection of the eco-mode option, various energy-saving programs can be implemented on the thermostat. The energy-saving programs can be configured to adjust a temperature setting of the thermostat or to provide notifications to a user associated with the thermostat that implement various approaches for reducing energy consumption of a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system associated with the thermostat. The eco-mode button can provide users/consumers with a convenient way to save energy, without requiring the user to think of comfort tradeoffs that may need to take place.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining an operational configuration for a thermostat that controls operation of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system for a property;

receiving a selection of an option for activating an efficiency mode on the thermostat, the efficiency mode configured to modify the operational configuration to reduce energy consumption by the HVAC system; and

providing an instruction for modifying the operational configuration based at least in part on an energy-saving program, the energy-saving program being configured to adjust at least one setting in the operational configuration for the thermostat,

wherein the thermostat is configured to modify the control of the HVAC system based at least in part on the energy-saving program.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the operational configuration for the thermostat further comprises:

determining, for the thermostat, at least one temperature setting, schedule, or enabled mode for regulating a temperature setting on the thermostat.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein sending, to the thermostat, the instruction for modifying the operational configuration based at least in part on the energy-saving program further comprises:

determining an efficient temperature setting for the thermostat based at least in part on a geographic location of the property; and

sending, to the thermostat, the instruction for adjusting a temperature setting of the thermostat to match the efficient temperature setting.

4. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining an operational configuration for at least one thermostat that controls at least one heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system for a property;

determining a selection of an option for activating an efficiency mode for the thermostat;

determining at least one energy-saving program to be implemented on the thermostat for reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system; and

modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat based at least in part on the energy-saving program.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the operational configuration for at least one thermostat further comprises:

receiving, from the thermostat, at least one temperature setting, schedule, or enabled mode for regulating a temperature setting on the thermostat, or

obtaining, from the thermostat, at least one temperature setting, schedule, or enabled mode for regulating a temperature setting on the thermostat.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the selection of the option for activating the efficiency mode for the thermostat further comprises:

receiving, from a user device, a selection of an option for activating an efficiency mode on the thermostat, the efficiency mode configured to activate the at least one energy-saving program, or

determining a selection of an option on the thermostat for activating an efficiency mode on the thermostat, the efficiency mode configured to activate the at least one energy-saving program.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

obtaining an efficient temperature setting that has been determined to be efficient for a geographic region in which the property is located, wherein a temperature setting of the thermostat is adjusted to the efficient temperature setting.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

determining at least one geo-fence for triggering a mode on the thermostat based at least in part on a threshold geographic distance from the property, wherein the mode is configured to adjust a temperature setting on the thermostat to reduce at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system, and wherein the mode is triggered upon a computing device associated with the property exiting the geo-fence.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

determining at least one schedule for the thermostat for regulating a temperature setting over a period of time; and

adjusting the temperature setting by a threshold amount, wherein the adjusted temperature setting reduces at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system over the period of time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining the at least one energy-saving program further comprises:

determining at least one schedule for the thermostat for regulating a temperature setting over a period of time; and

adjusting the period of time by a threshold amount, wherein at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system is reduced by the adjusted period of time.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a de-selection of the option for activating the efficiency mode for the thermostat; and

modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat to deactivate the energy-saving program.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein modifying the operational configuration for the thermostat further comprises:

sending, to the thermostat, at least one instruction for modifying at least one of a schedule for regulating the temperature setting over a period of time or criteria for activating a mode for regulating the temperature setting on the thermostat.

13. A computing device for energy usage alerts, the computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to;

determining that at least one condition for adjusting an operation of a thermostat is satisfied, wherein the thermostat controls at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a property;

sending, to a user device, a notification indicating that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat is satisfied, wherein the user device is associated with a resident of the property;

receiving, from the user device, a confirmation for adjusting the operation of the thermostat; and

adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein determining that at least one condition for adjusting an operation of a thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

determining that the resident of the property is on vacation based at least in part on a geographic location of the user device.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein sending, to the user device, the notification indicating that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

sending, to the user device, the notification requesting confirmation that the resident of the property is on vacation.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

enable at least a vacation mode on the thermostat in response to receiving the confirmation from the user device, the vacation mode reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein determining that at least one condition for adjusting an operation of a thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

determining that the resident of the property is within a threshold distance of the property, wherein the thermostat is configured to enable an adaptive recovery mode based at least in part on the user device being located within the threshold distance.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein sending, to the user device, the notification indicating that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

sending, to the user device, the notification requesting confirmation for disabling an adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the notification includes an estimated cost for activating the adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein adjusting the operation of the thermostat based at least in part on the confirmation further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

disabling at least an adaptive recovery mode on the thermostat in response to receiving the confirmation from the user device, the disabling reducing at least some energy consumption by the HVAC system.

21. The computing device of claim 13, wherein determining that at least one condition for adjusting an operation of a thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

determining, based on a temperature setting of the thermostat, that an outside temperature for a geographic region in which the property is located is within a threshold range of the temperature setting.

22. The computing device of claim 13, wherein sending, to the user device, the notification indicating that the at least one condition for adjusting the operation of the thermostat is satisfied further causes the computing device to perform the operations of:

sending, to the user device, the notification requesting confirmation for adjusting a temperature setting of the thermostat, wherein the notification indicates that an outside temperature for a geographic region in which the property is located is within a threshold range of the temperature setting of the thermostat.