HVAC controller having a network-based scheduling feature

• US 9,657,957 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Goh, Christopher, Bergman, Gabriel A., Murr, Dan, Hudson, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Azad, Md
• Application Number:
  US13/559,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 700276, 700299, 700300, 700301, 340 12
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/00 Control or safety arrangements
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A master HVAC schedule for an HVAC controller may be stored on an external server accessible over a computer network. The external server may maintain the master HVAC schedule, and may translate a portion of the master HVAC schedule into a basic HVAC schedule that is executable by an HVAC controller. The external server may deliver the basic HVAC schedule to an HVAC controller according to a predetermined schedule. In some cases, the external server may deliver an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller in response to a user initiated change made to the master HVAC schedule or upon restoration of a lost network connection between the HVAC controller and the external server.

Claims

1. A server accessible over a computer network, the server comprising:

an input/output port for sending and/or receiving data via the computer network;

a data storage device;

a controller coupled to the input/output port and the data storage device, the controller configured to;

maintain a master HVAC schedule having up to 366 days, the master HVAC schedule being capable of being updated by a user over the computer network via the input/output port of the server;

translate a sub-portion of the master HVAC schedule into a basic HVAC schedule, wherein the basic HVAC schedule has at least one less day than the master HVAC schedule; and

deliver the basic HVAC schedule to an HVAC controller over the computer network via the input/output port of the server.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to deliver an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller according to a predetermined schedule.

3. The server of claim 2, wherein the updated basic HVAC schedule covers at least one day not covered by the previously delivered basic HVAC schedule.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to deliver an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller in response to an update to the master HVAC schedule.

5. The server of claim 4, wherein the update to the master HVAC schedule is a result of a user updating the master HVAC schedule over the computer network.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to deliver an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller upon restoration of a lost computer network connection between the HVAC controller and the server.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive scheduling data from a third party calendar application over the computer network;

translate at least a portion of the scheduling data received from the third party calendar application into the master HVAC schedule.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the master HVAC schedule is associated with a user account.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the HVAC controller has a unique identifier, which is also associated with the user account.

10. The server of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

implement a web application, wherein the web application is configured to display one or more web pages viewable from a remote location via the computer network, wherein one or more of the web pages provide a virtual user interface for the HVAC controller.

11. The server of claim 1, wherein the basic HVAC schedule covers at least one day.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the basic HVAC schedule comprises at least one schedulable time period per day, where each time period has a corresponding operating set point.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the master HVAC schedule includes thirty days or more for scheduling operation of an HVAC system.

14. An HVAC controller for controlling one or more HVAC components of an HVAC system in accordance with a programmable HVAC schedule, the HVAC controller comprising:

an output port for sending one or more control signals to one or more HVAC components;

a communications port for receiving data from a remote server via a computer network;

a memory having at least one day of a programmable HVAC schedule stored therein;

a controller coupled to the output port, the communications port and the memory, the controller configured to;

output one or more control signals via the output port to control the one or more HVAC components in accordance with the programmable HVAC schedule stored in the memory;

receive an updated HVAC schedule having scheduling data for at least one entire day from the remote server via the communications port; and

overwrite the at least one day of the programmable HVAC schedule stored in the memory of the HVAC controller with scheduling data from the updated HVAC schedule.

15. The HVAC controller of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to automatically connect with the remote server and receive an updated HVAC schedule in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

16. The HVAC of claim 14, wherein the controller overwrites at least one previous day of the HVAC schedule stored in the memory of the HVAC schedule with scheduling data of the updated HVAC schedule.

17. The HVAC controller of claim 14, wherein the communications port is a wireless communication port including a wireless transceiver for wirelessly sending and/or receiving data.

18. The HVAC controller of claim 14, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the controller.

19. The HVAC controller of claim 14, further comprising a display including a user interface coupled to the controller.

20. A method of controlling one or more components of an HVAC system in accordance with a programmable HVAC schedule, the method comprising:

receiving a programmable HVAC schedule having at least one day from a remote server at an HVAC controller;

storing the programmable HVAC schedule in a memory of the HVAC controller;

operating the HVAC system in accordance with the programmable HVAC schedule;

receiving an updated HVAC schedule from the remote server according to a predetermined schedule, the updated HVAC schedule including scheduling data for one or more additional days beyond the at least one day of the programmable HVAC schedule; and

overwriting at least one day of the programmable HVAC schedule with scheduling data from the updated HVAC schedule.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving an updated HVAC schedule from the remote server at one or more times that are not set by the predetermined schedule.

22. The method of claim 21, where at least one of the one or more times that are not set by the predetermined schedule corresponds to a time when a user changes the HVAC schedule on the remote server, resulting in an updated HVAC schedule.

23. A method of controlling one or more components of an HVAC system in accordance with an HVAC schedule, the method comprising:

maintaining at a remote server a master HVAC schedule having scheduling data corresponding to up to 366 days;

translating at least a portion of the scheduling data of the master HVAC schedule into a basic HVAC schedule for controlling one or more components of an HVAC system, the basic HVAC schedule having at least one less day than the master HVAC schedule; and

delivering the basic HVAC schedule to an HVAC controller via a computer network, the HVAC controller controlling one or more components of an HVAC system in accordance with the basic HVAC schedule.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the remote server receives at least a portion of the master HVAC schedule from a third party calendar over the computer network.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

delivering an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller according to a predetermined schedule, the updated basic HVAC schedule including scheduling data for at least one day that is not expressed in the current basic HVAC schedule.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

delivering an updated basic HVAC schedule to the HVAC controller in response to a master HVAC schedule change, the updated basic HVAC schedule including scheduling data associated with the master HVAC schedule change.