HVAC controller with proximity based message latency control
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A building controller comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification