Touchscreen device user interface for remote control of a thermostat
First Claim
1. A method of interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component, a processing system, and an electronic display, the method comprising:
- on a touch-screen display in a location separate and apart from the thermostat, graphically displaying a circular region and one or more control symbols located thereon, the one or more control symbols graphically representing user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat;
detecting user input motion on the touch screen display in response to a touch and drag gesture by a user which is representative of user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat;
dynamically identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the detected user input motion;
on the touch-screen display, dynamically displaying in real-time information representative of the identified set point temperature value on the circular region of the touch-screen display;
waiting for an amount of time such that there is a relatively high likelihood that the identified setpoint temperature value corresponds to a setpoint temperature desired by the user; and
after said waiting, wirelessly transmitting data representative of said identified setpoint temperature value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for interactively and graphically interfacing with a user on an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat. The user interface is implemented on a touch screen display on a remote wirelessly connected device such as smartphone or a tablet PC. The interface displays a screen that mimics the display on the thermostat including allowing one or more input methods that are analogous to input methods used on the thermostat. Touch screen gestures such as touch and drag, touch and hold and tapping are used in an intuitive way. The user experience is enhanced by allowing large-scale changes while reducing the risk of sudden unintended changes. The control signals are judiciously tailored to protect the HVAC equipment from unwarranted over-controlling, reduce unnecessary network traffic, and prevent the waste of energy.
240 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component, a processing system, and an electronic display, the method comprising:
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on a touch-screen display in a location separate and apart from the thermostat, graphically displaying a circular region and one or more control symbols located thereon, the one or more control symbols graphically representing user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat; detecting user input motion on the touch screen display in response to a touch and drag gesture by a user which is representative of user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat; dynamically identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the detected user input motion; on the touch-screen display, dynamically displaying in real-time information representative of the identified set point temperature value on the circular region of the touch-screen display; waiting for an amount of time such that there is a relatively high likelihood that the identified setpoint temperature value corresponds to a setpoint temperature desired by the user; and after said waiting, wirelessly transmitting data representative of said identified setpoint temperature value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat, the thermostat comprising a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component, a processing system and a rounded electronic display with a temperature marker symbol displayed thereon that moves along an arc-shaped path near an outer periphery of the electronic display in response to rotation of the ring-shaped control member, the method comprising:
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on a touch-screen display device in a location separate and apart from the thermostat, graphically displaying a circular region and an arc-shaped path near an outer periphery thereof, and a temperature control marker symbol that is positioned along the arc-shaped path of the circular region at a position associated with a current setpoint temperature value; detecting a user input gesture on the touch screen display in response to a touch and hold gesture by a user at a location on the arc-shaped path displayed on the circular region; gradually moving said temperature control marker symbol along the arc-shaped path on the circular region towards the location of the touch and hold gesture; dynamically identifying a setpoint temperature value based on the detected user input gesture; and wirelessly transmitting data representative of said identified setpoint temperature value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system comprising:
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a thermostat comprising; a housing; a ring-shaped user-interface component; a processing system configured to control an HVAC system based at least in part on a comparison of a measured ambient air temperature and a setpoint temperature value; a rounded electronic display under operative control of the processing system; and a touch screen display device operable from a location separate and apart from the thermostat, the touch screen display device including a touch screen display and a processing system communicatively coupled thereto, the display device processing system programmed and configured to; graphically display a circular region and one or more control symbols located thereon, the one or more control symbols graphically representing user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat; detect user input motion on the touch screen display in response to a touch and drag gesture by a user which is a representative of user manipulation of said ring-shaped user-interface component on the thermostat; dynamically identify a setpoint temperature value based on the detected user input motion; on the touch screen display, dynamically display in real-time information representative of the identified set point temperature value corresponding to a setpoint temperature desired by the user; waiting for an amount of time such that there is a relatively high likelihood that the identified setpoint temperature value corresponds to a setpoint temperature desired by the user; after said waiting, wirelessly transmitting data representative of said identified setpoint temperature value so as to update the setpoint temperature value of the thermostat. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification