System and method for using a networked electronic device as an occupancy sensor for an energy management system

• US 8,180,492 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/502,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/278, 700/295, 700/296, 621/766, 236/46.R
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/14 Activity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/20 Feedback from users
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/60 Energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and methods for detecting the use of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one networked electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

Claims

1. A method for varying temperature setpoints for an HVAC system comprising:

storing at least a first HVAC temperature setpoint associated with a structure that is deemed to be non-occupied and at least a second HVAC temperature setpoint associated with said structure deemed to be occupied;

determining whether one or more networked electronic devices inside said structure are in use, wherein said networked electronic devices comprise a graphic user interface comprising a display, wherein said networked electronic devices receive input from one or more users and wherein use of said networked electronic devices comprises at least one of cursor movement, keystrokes or other user interface actions intended to alter a state of one or more of said networked electronic devices by one or more users;

in response to use of said one or more networked devices, determining that said HVAC system is set to said first HVAC temperature setpoint indicating that said structure is deemed to be non occupied;

determining that said one or more users has previously indicated a preference that said user'"'"'s input be obtained before automatically changing said first HVAC temperature setpoint to said second HVAC temperature setpoint indicating that said structure is deemed to be occupied;

prompting said one or more users based on said determining that said one or more of said user'"'"'s input should be obtained, wherein said prompting sends a message to at least one of said networked electronic devices that said first HVAC system is set for a non-occupied structure and whether to change said first HVAC temperature setpoint to said second HVAC temperature setpoint associated with occupancy of said structure;

in response to said prompting, receiving input from said one or more users to keep said first HVAC temperature setpoint; and

keeping said first HVAC temperature setpoint based upon said input from said one or more users.

2. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said networked electronic devices is a television.

3. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said networked electronic devices is a personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said networked electronic devices is connected to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 in which programming being watched or listened to using at least one of said networked electronic devices is used to determine which occupant of said structure is likely to be present, and the second HVAC temperature setpoint for said thermostatic controller is selected based upon the preferences of the occupant, determined to be using said at least one networked electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said networked electronic devices is a game console.

7. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of said networked electronic devices communicates with a remote server.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting said temperature setpoint with a remote computer.

9. The method of claim 1 in which said first HVAC temperature setpoint is varied automatically based on said input from said one or more users.

10. A system for altering the setpoint on a thermostat for space conditioning of a structure comprising:

at least one thermostat having at least a first temperature setpoint associated with a non-occupied structure, and at least a second temperature setpoint associated with the existence of occupants in said structure;

one or more electronic devices having at least a graphic user interface comprising a display wherein said electronic devices receive input from one or more users and wherein use of said electronic devices comprises at least one of cursor movement, keystrokes or other user interface actions intended to alter a state of one or more of said electronic devices by one or more users wherein activity of one or more networked electronic devices indicates whether said thermostat should be changed from said first temperature setpoint to said second temperature setpoint;

wherein said electronic devices and said thermostat are connected to a network;

an application comprising one or more computer processors in communication with said network, wherein said application determines whether said one or more electronic devices are in use and in response, whether said thermostat is set to said first temperature setpoint that indicates said structure is not occupied,

said application determining that said one or more users has previously indicated a preference that said user'"'"'s input be obtained before automatically changing said first HVAC temperature setpoint to said second HVAC temperature setpoint indicating that said structure is deemed to be occupied;

said application prompting said one or more users based on said determining that said one or more of said user'"'"'s input should be obtained,

wherein said application provides electronic notice to one or more of said users of said electronic devices that said thermostat is set for a non-occupied structure and whether to keep said first temperature setpoint or change to said second temperature setpoint; and

wherein said application in response to said prompting, receives input from said one or more users to keep said first HVAC temperature setpoint; and

wherein said thermostat is kept at said first temperature setpoint based upon said input from said one or more users.

11. The system of claim 10 in which at least one of said electronic devices is a television.

12. The system of claim 10 in which at least one of said electronic devices is a personal computer.

13. The system of claim 10 in which at least one of said electronic devices is connected to the Internet.

14. The system of claim 10 in which the programming being watched or listened to using said electronic devices is used to determine which occupant of said structure is likely to be using at least one of said electronic devices, and the setpoint for said thermostatic controller is selected based upon the preferences of the occupant determined to be using said at least one electronic device.

15. The system of claim 10 in which at least one of said electronic devices is a game console.

16. The system of claim 10 in which at least one of said electronic devices communicates with a remote server.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a remote computer that varies said first temperature setpoint.

18. The system of claim 10 in which said first temperature setpoint is varied automatically based on said input from said one or more users.