Facilitating Installation and/or Use of a Controller and/or Maintenance of a Climate Control System
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a web-based server configured for remote communication via the Internet with a user communication device having a user interface that includes a display;
the server configured to;
receive, from the user communication device, user input identifying a climate control system controller and specifying a task through which to be guided whereby to change a configuration state of the controller; and
based on the identified controller and specified task, send to the user communication device, for visual depiction as images on the display and elicitation of user response thereto, steps to be performed (a) to install the identified controller in a climate control system or (b) to enter a schedule and/or other settings onto the installed identified controller;
whereby the user communication device performs as a conduit between the server and the user to interactively and visually guide the user to change the configuration state of the controller by installing the controller for use in the climate control system and/or setting one or more customization settings of the installed controller.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for facilitating installation and/or customization of controllers, e.g., thermostats. In one embodiment, a web-based server communicates with a user communication device having a display. The server receives, from the user communication device, user input identifying a thermostat and specifying a task through which to be guided. The server sends to the user communication device, for visual depiction as images on the display and elicitation of user response thereto, steps to be performed (a) to install the thermostat in a climate control system or (b) to enter a schedule and/or other settings onto the thermostat. The user communication device performs as a conduit between the server and user to interactively and visually guide the user to change the configuration state of the thermostat by installing the thermostat and/or setting thermostat customization settings.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a web-based server configured for remote communication via the Internet with a user communication device having a user interface that includes a display; the server configured to; receive, from the user communication device, user input identifying a climate control system controller and specifying a task through which to be guided whereby to change a configuration state of the controller; and based on the identified controller and specified task, send to the user communication device, for visual depiction as images on the display and elicitation of user response thereto, steps to be performed (a) to install the identified controller in a climate control system or (b) to enter a schedule and/or other settings onto the installed identified controller; whereby the user communication device performs as a conduit between the server and the user to interactively and visually guide the user to change the configuration state of the controller by installing the controller for use in the climate control system and/or setting one or more customization settings of the installed controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system-performed method of facilitating installation and/or customization of a controller in a climate control system, the method comprising:
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a server of a website providing data to a remote user communication device via the website, the user communication device having a user interface and a display; the user communication device converting at least some of the data to one or more display images illustrating user options for inputting a description of a wire arrangement situated where the controller is to be installed for use in the climate control system; and based on user input to the user options received via the user interface of the user communication device, the server specifying wiring connections between the wire arrangement and the controller and specifying configuration parameters for the climate control system; whereby a configuration state of the controller is changed upon the user making the specified wiring connections and entering the configuration parameters specified by the server into the controller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of facilitating installation and/or customization of a controller in a climate control system, the method comprising:
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interactively instructing a user, through images displayed on a user display of a user communication device, how to expose and describe a wire arrangement situated where the controller is to be installed for use in the climate control system; receiving user input entered via the displayed images and a user interface of the user communication device, the user input indicating how the wire arrangement is connected with an existing controller; based on the user input, determining a configuration of the climate control system and how to connect the wire arrangement with the controller to be installed; and based on the determining, interactively guiding the user to install the controller, the guiding performed by displaying images on the display and eliciting user response thereto via the displayed images and the user interface; the method performed by a server in communication with the user communication device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification