System and method for using a mobile electronic device to optimize an energy management system

• US 8,840,033 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: EcoFactor, Inc. (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Steinberg, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US14/048,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 236/1.C, 236/51, 165/237, 700/276, 342/357.25, 342/357.52
• US Class Current: 236/51
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• 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 2120/10 Occupancy
• 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: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1951 with control of the working time of a temperature controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location 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 mobile 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:

accessing stored data comprising a plurality of internal temperature measurements taken within a structure and a plurality of outside temperature measurements relating to temperatures outside the structure;

using the stored data to predict a temperature inside the structure in response to at least changes in the outside temperatures;

determining with one or more computer processors, the geographic location of a mobile electronic device that is connected to a network;

associating said mobile electronic device to a structure having a known geographic location that contains one or more networked climate control devices;

determining with one or more computer processors, whether the location of said mobile electronic device indicates occupancy of said structure by a person associated with said mobile electronic device;

using route data to determine whether a user of the mobile electronic device is traveling to said structure;

using traffic data to predict a length of time for a user of said mobile device to reach said structure; and

adjusting with one or more computer processors, the temperature setpoint on said controller for an HVAC system for said structure based upon said predicted length of time for a user of the mobile device to reach said structure, said predicted temperature inside said structure, and whether or not said structure is deemed to be occupied.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said mobile electronic device is a telephone.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said networked mobile electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said mobile electronic device is connected to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the method for determining the geographic location of a mobile electronic device is the global positioning system.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the method for determining the geographic location of a mobile electronic device is based upon estimation of the distance between the mobile electronic device and one or more antennas used to receive radio signals from said mobile electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1 in which said mobile electronic device communicates with a remote server.

8. The method of claim 1 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is logged to a database.

10. The method of claim 1 in which said temperature setpoints are varied automatically.

11. The method of claim 1 in which an occupant is prompted to confirm occupancy prior to adjustment of said temperature setpoint.

9. The method of claim in 1 in which said variation of temperature setpoints is initiated by a remote computer.

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

at least a database of stored data comprising a plurality of internal temperature measurements taken within a structure and a plurality of outside temperature measurements relating to temperatures outside the structure;

one or more computer processors configured to use the stored data to predict temperatures inside the structure in response to at least changes in the outside temperatures;

at least one thermostat having at least one temperature setting associated with the presence of one or more occupants in said structure, and at least one temperature setting associated with the absence of occupants in said structure;

one or more mobile electronic devices having at least a user interface;

where said mobile electronic devices and said thermostat are connected to a network;

one or more computer processors configured to use route data to determine whether a user of the mobile electronic device is traveling to said structure;

one or more computer processors configured to use traffic data to predict a length of time for a user of said mobile device to reach said structure; and

one or more computer processors configured to adjust at least one setpoint on said thermostat based upon said predicted length of time for a user of the mobile device to reach said structure, said predicted temperature inside said structure, and whether or not said structure is deemed to be occupied based upon the geographic location of said electronic device.

13. The system of claim 12 in which said mobile electronic device is a telephone.

14. The system of claim 12 in which said networked mobile electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

15. The system of claim 12 in which said mobile electronic device is connected to the Internet.

16. The system of claim 12 in which the method for determining the geographic location of a mobile electronic device is the global positioning system.

17. The system of claim 12 in which the method for determining the geographic location of a mobile electronic device is based upon estimation of the distance between the mobile electronic device and one or more antennas used to receive radio signals from said mobile electronic device.

18. The system of claim 12 in which said mobile electronic device communicates with a remote server.

19. The system of claim 12 in which variation of said at least one setpoint is logged to a database.

21. The system of claim 12 in which said at least one setpoint is varied automatically.

22. The system of claim 12 in which an occupant is prompted to confirm occupancy prior to adjustment of said at least one setpoint.

20. The system of claim in 12 in which variation of said at least one setpoint is initiated by a remote computer.