Interview programming for an HVAC controller
First Claim
1. A method of programming an HVAC schedule of an HVAC controller, the HVAC schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least two days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising:
- activating a guided programming routine, wherein once activated, the guided programming routine does not request user entry of the number of set points in a day and the routine sequentially providing two or more solicitations to a user via a user interface from a first solicitation to a last solicitation, the two or more solicitations directed to user activities and collectively soliciting schedule and comfort information from a user without specifically identifying the two or more time periods of the HVAC schedule within the solicitations;
accepting a user response to each of the two or more solicitations via the user interface;
translating the accepted user responses into at least some of the schedule parameters for two or more days the HVAC schedule, including at least one time parameter and at least one temperature parameter of the HVAC schedule;
updating the HVAC schedule parameters of the HVAC controller with the translated schedule parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Controllers and methods are disclosed for aiding a user in programming a schedule of a programmable controller. In an illustrative embodiment, a guided programming routine can be activated by a user, which then guides a user through two or more screens that are designed to collect sufficient information from the user to generate and/or update at least some of the schedule parameters of the controller.
159 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of programming an HVAC schedule of an HVAC controller, the HVAC schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least two days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising:
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activating a guided programming routine, wherein once activated, the guided programming routine does not request user entry of the number of set points in a day and the routine sequentially providing two or more solicitations to a user via a user interface from a first solicitation to a last solicitation, the two or more solicitations directed to user activities and collectively soliciting schedule and comfort information from a user without specifically identifying the two or more time periods of the HVAC schedule within the solicitations; accepting a user response to each of the two or more solicitations via the user interface; translating the accepted user responses into at least some of the schedule parameters for two or more days the HVAC schedule, including at least one time parameter and at least one temperature parameter of the HVAC schedule; updating the HVAC schedule parameters of the HVAC controller with the translated schedule parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of programming an HVAC schedule of an HVAC controller, the HVAC schedule having a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least some days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods, the method comprising:
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activating a guided programming routine, wherein once activated, the guided programming routine does not request user entry of the number of set points in a day and the routine providing two or more solicitations to a user via a user interface, the two or more solicitations directed to user activities and collectively soliciting schedule and comfort information from a user without specifically identifying the two or more time periods of the HVAC schedule within the solicitations themselves; at least one of the solicitations soliciting a time that is related to a user'"'"'s schedule; at least one of the solicitations soliciting a temperature that is related to a user'"'"'s comfort; accepting a user response to each of the two or more solicitations via the user interface; using the user responses to determine at least some of the schedule parameters of the HVAC schedule of the HVAC controller including at least one time parameter and at least one temperature parameter of the schedule; and updating at least some of the schedule parameters of the HVAC controller including both time and temperature parameters. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system comprising:
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a memory for storing an HVAC schedule, wherein the HVAC schedule includes a number of schedule parameters including time parameters related to two or more time periods for each of at least some days of a week, and a number of temperature parameters related to one or more temperature set points for each of the two or more time periods; a controller coupled to the memory, the controller configured to control one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with the HVAC schedule; a user interface, the user interface configured to; display two or more solicitations to a user, wherein each solicitation solicits specific information directed to a user'"'"'s schedule and comfort but does not request user entry of the number of set points in a day; at least one of the solicitations soliciting a time that is directed to the user'"'"'s schedule without specifically identifying any of the two or more time periods of the HVAC schedule; at least one of the solicitations soliciting a temperature that is directed to a user'"'"'s comfort; accept a user response to each of the two or more solicitations; and the controller configured to translate the accepted user response into one or more schedule parameters and to update the schedule parameters in the memory with the one or more schedule parameters translated from the user responses. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification