Method for programming a thermostat

• US 6,628,997 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Fox, Kenneth P., Kolk, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/562,236
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 700/16, 700/18-19, 700/28, 700/86-88, 700/89, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 165/238, 165/200, 165/205, 165/265, 165/11.1, 165/11.2, 165/269, 165/209, 165/217, 165/239, 165/267, 165/268, 236/46.R, 236/51, 236/94, 236/1.B
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A method for programming a thermostat, comprising the steps of providing a thermostat programmed to convert programming codes into time-temperature schedules; determining a desired time-temperature schedule; developing a programming code corresponding to the desired time-temperature schedule; and entering the programming code into the thermostat, whereby the programming code is translated into the desired time-temperature schedule. The schedule and programming code can advantageously be determined by a user by accessing a server via computer network, on a suitably programmed personal computer, by telephone, or by any other suitable method of allowing the user access to software for determining the schedule and developing the desired code.

Claims

1. A method for programming a thermostat, comprising the steps of:

providing a thermostat programmed to convert programming codes into time-temperature schedules;

determining a desired time-temperature schedule;

developing a programming code corresponding to said desired schedule, wherein said developing step is carried out externally of said thermostat; and

entering said programming code into said thermostat, whereby said programming code is translated into said desired time-temperature schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said developing step is carried out by accessing a programming server using a communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said developing step is carried out utilizing a personal computer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said entering step comprises decoding said programming code at said thermostat so as to provide said desired time-temperature schedule at said thermostat.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said developing step comprises determining time and temperature data from said desired time-temperature schedule, mapping said time and temperature data into indices, and encoding said indices so as to provide said programming code.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said entering step comprises decoding said programming code into said time and temperature indices at said thermostat, and mapping said time and temperature indices to said desired time-temperature schedule.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said entering step includes recursively generating a dictionary at said thermostat for decoding said programming code whereby memory requirements at said thermostat can be reduced.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said generating step includes executing dictionary generating instructions at said thermostat, said instructions including a first portion contained within said programming code and a second portion stored at said thermostat.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises presenting said user with a subset of time-temperature options within a time-temperature operational space, and wherein said developing step comprises recording selections from said subset.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said subset is presented to said user in a graphical user interface including actual time-temperature options for selection by said user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said developing step comprises:

providing a table of n columns each having a number of entries (n_xn), selecting values from said table, converting said values into indices (i_x1−

i_xn) from said table, and encoding said indices using an encoding algorithm as follows;

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said entering step comprises decoding said programming code by recursively deflating said encoding algorithm so as to obtain said indices, and mapping said indices to said values.

13. A thermostat, comprising:

a storage member; and

a decoding program stored in said storage member for receiving a programming code prepared with a predetermined encoding algorithm and for decoding said programming code to obtain a time-temperature schedule corresponding to said programming code.

14. The thermostat according to claim 13, wherein said decoding program is further adapted to receive a command to operate in a programming code receiving mode.

15. The thermostat according to claim 13, wherein said decoding program is adapted to decode said programming code into time and temperature indices and to map said indices to said desired time-temperature schedule.

16. The thermostat according to claim 13, wherein said decoding program is adapted to recursively generate a dictionary for decoding said programming code.

17. The thermostat according to claim 16, further comprising dictionary generating instructions having a first portion stored in said storage member and a second portion contained in said programming code.

18. A method for preparing a programming code for a programmable thermostat, comprising the steps of:

determining a desired time-temperature schedule, wherein said determining step is carried out by a computer external to said programmable thermostat; and

generating a programming code corresponding to said desired time-temperature schedule, said programming code being enterable into a thermostat for causing operation at said desired time-temperature schedule.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said determining step comprises generating a user interface for allowing entry of said desired time-temperature schedule by a user.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said user interface comprises a plurality of options for selection by said user.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said options comprise a subset of time-temperature options within a time-temperature operational space, and wherein said generating step comprises recording selections from said subset.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said computer is a programming server on a communications network.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said generating step comprises determining time and temperature data from said desired time-temperature schedule, mapping said time and temperature data into indices and encoding said indices so as to provide said programming code.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein said generating step comprises providing a table of n columns each having a number of selectable entries (n_xn), converting selected entries into indices (i_x1−

i_xn) from said table, and encoding said indices using an encoding algorithm as follows;

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of arranging said selectable entries in a vector for each of said n columns, and wherein said converting step comprises assigning vector positions of said selected entries as said indices.