Methods and graphical user interfaces for reporting performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- controlling an HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment during a period of a plurality of days;
obtaining usage information related to HVAC system usage that occurred during the period;
processing the usage information, the processing including;
determining a reference daily amount of HVAC system usage during the period;
identifying a day within the period when HVAC system usage deviates by at least a predetermined amount from the reference daily amount;
calculating a credit or blame value for each of a plurality of causative agents, each of the plurality of causative agents being a potential cause for why HVAC system usage deviated by the predetermined amount on the identified day, each credit or blame value representing a net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to one of the plurality of causative agents; and
selecting from the plurality of causative agents a primary causative agent based at least in part on a comparison of the net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to each of the plurality of causative agents; and
graphically representing the processed usage information, the representing including;
displaying, via a display device, a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being displayed in association with one of the plurality of days of the period, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being sized to indicate HVAC system usage for a corresponding one of the plurality of days of the period, wherein one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements (i) corresponds to the identified day and (ii) is sized to indicate HVAC system usage for the identified day; and
displaying, in association with the identified day, a symbol that represents the primary causative agent.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for interactively and graphically displaying performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily summary each of several days. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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controlling an HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment during a period of a plurality of days; obtaining usage information related to HVAC system usage that occurred during the period; processing the usage information, the processing including; determining a reference daily amount of HVAC system usage during the period; identifying a day within the period when HVAC system usage deviates by at least a predetermined amount from the reference daily amount; calculating a credit or blame value for each of a plurality of causative agents, each of the plurality of causative agents being a potential cause for why HVAC system usage deviated by the predetermined amount on the identified day, each credit or blame value representing a net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to one of the plurality of causative agents; and selecting from the plurality of causative agents a primary causative agent based at least in part on a comparison of the net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to each of the plurality of causative agents; and graphically representing the processed usage information, the representing including; displaying, via a display device, a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being displayed in association with one of the plurality of days of the period, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being sized to indicate HVAC system usage for a corresponding one of the plurality of days of the period, wherein one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements (i) corresponds to the identified day and (ii) is sized to indicate HVAC system usage for the identified day; and displaying, in association with the identified day, a symbol that represents the primary causative agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 37)
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16. A method of analyzing performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat comprising:
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using the thermostat, controlling the HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment; using the thermostat, gathering information relating to HVAC system usage; calculating one or more HVAC usage parameters for a time interval as being above or below a reference value; evaluating a plurality of potential causative agents for potential causation for the calculated usage parameter being above or below the reference value; based on the evaluation, selecting a primary causative agent; on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying performance information based on the gathered information relating to the HVAC system usage, the displayed performance information including a graphical representation of energy usage, wherein the graphical representation of energy usage includes a symbol that indicates the selected primary causative agent that was responsible for causing the one or more HVAC usage parameters for the time interval to be above or below the reference value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of encouraging a user to adopt energy saving thermostat temperature settings using an interactive display, the method comprising:
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controlling an HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment receiving user input representing a change in a temperature setting; in response to received user input, displaying in real time a graphical symbol in a first form indicating to the user that the change in the temperature setting would result in moderate energy savings; receiving further user input indicating a further change in the temperature setting; in response to the received further user input, in real time altering the first form of the graphical symbol to a second form indicating that the further change would result in even greater energy savings; and on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, displaying a timeline representation of energy usage during a period, wherein the timeline includes one or more symbols indicating when the thermostat received the user input representing the change in the temperature setting. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification