Device assisted settings adjustment for HVAC controllers

• US 9,658,609 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Khiani, Sunil K., Ho, Nguyen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Adam
• Application Number:
  US14/270,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method for device-assisted adjustment of a HVAC unit controller is provided. A HVAC unit controller receives a geographical location from a device over a data connection. The HVAC unit controller obtains location-specific setting information. The location-specific setting information is specific to the geographical location. The HVAC unit controller adjusts one or more settings of the HVAC unit controller in accordance with the location-specific setting information.

Claims

1. A method for device-assisted settings adjustment of a HVAC unit controller, the method comprising:

the HVAC unit controller receiving a geographical location from a device over a data connection, wherein said geographical location is the geographical location of said HVAC unit controller;

the HVAC unit controller obtaining location-specific setting information, the location-specific setting information specific to the geographical location; and

the HVAC unit controller adjusting one or more settings of the HVAC unit controller in accordance with the location-specific setting information, wherein the location-specific setting information comprises a regulatory compliance setting specific to the geographical location and an energy use setting specific to the geographical location and when the regulatory compliance setting and energy use setting overlap the regulatory compliance setting dictates the one or more settings of the HVAC unit controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises one or more smart defaults, and further comprising the HVAC unit controller adjusting the one or more settings in accordance with the one or more smart defaults.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the HVAC unit controller obtaining the location-specific setting information comprises:

the HVAC unit controller sending the geographical location to a second device; and

the HVAC unit controller receiving the location-specific setting information from said second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location-specific setting information comprises searching a local database for the location-specific setting information, the HVAC unit controller storing the local database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings comprises a language setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings comprises a climate setting, and further comprising the IIVAC unit controller operating a dehumidifier in accordance with the climate setting.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the HVAC unit controller receiving dealer information from the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more settings comprises a dealer information setting.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the HVAC unit controller receiving a time from the device, the time comprising a time zone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an address.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the regulatory compliance setting comprises one or more smart defaults set to one or more values mandated by regulations specific to the geographical location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy use setting comprises one or more settings that increase comfort at the expense of energy based on the cost of energy specific to the geographical location.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a heat source setting.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an airflow setting.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an analytics setting.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a sensor calibration setting.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a demand response plan setting.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a weather forecast setting.

19. An HVAC unit controller having device-assisted settings adjustment, the HVAC unit controller comprising a configuration to:

receive a geographical location from a device over a data connection, wherein said geographical location is the location of said HVAC unit controller;

obtain location-specific setting information, the location-specific setting information specific to the geographical location; and

adjust one or more settings of the HVAC unit controller in accordance with the location-specific setting information, wherein the location-specific setting information comprises a regulatory compliance setting specific to the geographical location and an energy use setting specific to the geographical location and when the regulatory compliance setting and energy use setting overlap the regulatory compliance setting dictates the one or more settings of the HVAC unit controller.

20. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises one or more smart defaults, and wherein the HVAC unit controller is further configured to adjust the one or more settings in accordance with the one or more smart defaults.

21. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the configuration to obtain the location-specific setting information comprises a configuration to:

send the geographical location to a second device; and

receive the location-specific setting information from said second device.

22. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the configuration to obtain the location-specific setting information comprises a configuration to search a local database for the location-specific setting information, the local database stored by the HVAC unit controller.

23. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the one or more settings comprises a language setting.

24. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the one or more settings comprises a climate setting, and wherein the HVAC unit controller is further configured to operate a dehumidifier in accordance with the climate setting.

25. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, further comprising the HVAC unit controller receiving dealer information from the device.

26. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the one or more settings comprises a dealer information setting.

27. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, further comprising the HVAC unit controller receiving a time from the device, the time comprising a time zone.

28. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an address.

29. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the regulatory compliance setting comprises one or more smart defaults set to one or more values mandated by regulations specific to the geographical location.

30. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the energy use setting comprises one or more settings that increase comfort at the expense of energy based on the cost of energy specific to the geographical location.

31. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a heat source setting.

32. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an airflow setting.

33. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises an analytics setting.

34. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a sensor calibration setting.

35. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a demand response plan setting.

36. The HVAC unit controller of claim 19, wherein the location-specific setting information further comprises a weather forecast setting.