Methods and systems for data interchange between a network-connected thermostat and cloud-based management server
First Claim
1. A thermostat, comprising:
- a battery configured to provide operational power for the thermostat;
a processor coupled to the battery and configured to operate in a sleep mode and a wake mode; and
a Wi-Fi chip coupled to the processor and configured to wirelessly communicate with a thermostat management server via an access point, wherein;
the processor is further configured to, while operating in the wake mode, send to the thermostat management server via the Wi-Fi chip a request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server;
the processor is further configured to, after sending the request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server, change its mode of operation from the wake mode to the sleep mode; and
the Wi-Fi chip is further configured to;
receive data packets from the thermostat management server while the processor operates in the sleep mode;
determine a priority level of the received data packets, wherein the priority level comprises a standard priority level and a keep-alive priority level;
filter the received data packets based on the determined priority level of each packet such that the keep-alive priority level packets are discarded; and
forward the standard priority level packets to the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention provide energy conserving communications for networked thermostats powered, in part, by batteries. A thermostat communication server stores a thermostat battery-level to determine what data should be sent to the thermostat. The thermostat communication server classifies types of data to be transmitted to the thermostat according to a data priority ranging from a low-priority to a high-priority data type. If the battery-level associated with the battery on the thermostat is at a low battery-level, the thermostat communication server may only transmit data classified under a high-priority data type. This conserves the power used by the thermostat, allows the battery on the thermostat time to recharge and perform other functions. If the battery-level of the thermostat is at a high level, the thermostat communication server may transmit a range of data to the thermostat classified from a low-priority type to a high-priority data type.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A thermostat, comprising:
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a battery configured to provide operational power for the thermostat; a processor coupled to the battery and configured to operate in a sleep mode and a wake mode; and a Wi-Fi chip coupled to the processor and configured to wirelessly communicate with a thermostat management server via an access point, wherein; the processor is further configured to, while operating in the wake mode, send to the thermostat management server via the Wi-Fi chip a request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server; the processor is further configured to, after sending the request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server, change its mode of operation from the wake mode to the sleep mode; and the Wi-Fi chip is further configured to; receive data packets from the thermostat management server while the processor operates in the sleep mode; determine a priority level of the received data packets, wherein the priority level comprises a standard priority level and a keep-alive priority level; filter the received data packets based on the determined priority level of each packet such that the keep-alive priority level packets are discarded; and forward the standard priority level packets to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of communicating data between a thermostat and a thermostat management server, comprising:
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operating a processor of a thermostat in a wake mode, the wake mode being selected from a plurality of modes of operation of the thermostat including the wake mode and a sleep mode; sending, from the thermostat to the thermostat management server, while the processor is operating in the wake mode, and via a Wi-Fi chip included in the thermostat and coupled to the processor, a request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server through an access point; changing, at the thermostat and after sending the request to establish a communication channel between the thermostat and the thermostat management server, the mode of operation of the thermostat from the wake mode to the sleep mode; receiving, by the Wi-Fi chip, data packets from the thermostat management server while the processor operates in the sleep mode; determining, by the Wi-Fi chip, a priority level of the received data packets, wherein the priority level comprises a standard priority level and a keep-alive priority level; filtering, by the Wi-Fi chip, the received data packets based on the determined priority level of each packet such that the keep-alive priority level packets are discarded; and forwarding, by the Wi-Fi chip, the standard priority level packets to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification