HVAC controller with proximity based message latency control

• US 9,477,241 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Schultz, David, Diedrich, Devin
• Primary Examiner(s): ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS R
• Application Number:
  US14/088,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20150148964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

Message latency between an HVAC controller located within a building and a remote server may be reduced in response to a determination that a user is in proximity to the HVAC controller, and message latency may be increased when a user is not expected to be proximity to the HVAC controller. This may reduce the overall power consumption of an HVAC controller while still maintaining a good user experience. This can be particularly important for HVAC controllers that are powered by a local energy storage device, such as a battery.

Claims

1. A building controller comprising:

an input/output block configured to send one or more control signals to control one or more building components;

a communications port configured to send and/or receive messages via a communications network;

a user interface;

a sensor used to determine if a user is in proximity to the building controller; and

a controller operatively coupled to the input/output block, the communications port, the user interface and the sensor, the controller configured to communicate via the communications port, wherein;

when the sensor detects that a user is in proximity to the building controller, a first message latency occurs from when a user interacts with a remote device to interact with the building controller and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller; and

when the sensor does not detect that a user is in proximity to the building controller, a second message latency occurs from when a user interacts with a remote device to interact with the building controller and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller;

wherein the second message latency is longer than the first message latency.

2. The building controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.

3. The building controller according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor.

4. The building controller according to claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one or more buttons, wherein the sensor corresponds to sensing when a button is interacted with by a user.

5. The building controller according to claim 4, wherein the button is a touch region on a touch screen display.

6. The building controller according to claim 4, wherein the button is separate from a display.

7. The building controller according to claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a display.

8. The building controller according to claim 1, wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port for communicating over a wireless network.

9. The building controller according to claim 1, further comprising a energy storage device, wherein the energy storage device is configured to provide power to the building controller at least some of the time.

10. The building controller according to claim 9, wherein the energy storage device is rechargeable.

11. The building controller of claim 1, further comprising a power source that derives energy from energy harvesting.

12. The building controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate an indication of whether the sensor detects that a user is in proximity to the building controller.

13. The building controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate an indication of whether the sensor detects that a user is not in proximity to the building controller.

14. The building controller of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, and wherein the input/output block is configured to send one or more control signals to control one or more HVAC components.

15. The building controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate via the communications port at a first communication rate when the sensor detects that a user is in proximity to the building controller, and wherein the controller is configured to communicate via the communications port at a second communication rate when the sensor does not detect that a user is in proximity to the building controller, wherein the first communication rate is greater than the second communication rate.

16. A method for reducing power consumption of a building controller, wherein the building controller is configured to be manipulated by a user from a remote device by receiving one or more messages that correspond to user interaction at the remote device, the method comprising:

determining if a user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller;

when it is determined that a user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller, a first message latency occurs from when a user interacts with the remote device and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller; and

when it is determined that a user is not expected to be in proximity to the building controller, a second message latency occurs from when a user interacts with a remote device and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller, wherein the second message latency is longer than the first message latency.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining if the user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller comprises receiving location data from the remote device and comparing a location of the user to a location of the building controller based, at least in part, on the location data.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining if the user has crossed a proximity boundary relative to the location of the building controller.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining if the user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller comprises determining if the remote device has joined a network to which the building controller is connected.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored thereon, the instructions causing a server comprising a controller to execute a method comprising:

receiving an input that corresponds to a user interaction at a remote device;

receiving an indication of whether a user is expected to be in proximity to a building controller;

when it is determined that a user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller, a first message latency occurs from when an input is received that corresponds to a user interaction at a remote device and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller; and

when it is determined that a user is not expected to be in proximity to the building controller, a second message latency occurs from when an input is received that corresponds to a user interaction at a remote device and when a message corresponding to that user interaction at the remote device is communicated to the building controller, wherein the second message latency is longer than the first message latency.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, further comprising increasing the communication rate between the building controller and the server when it is determined that the user is expected to be in proximity to the building controller.