Power-preserving communications architecture with long-polling persistent cloud channel for wireless network-connected thermostat
First Claim
1. A thermostat, comprising:
- a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) connectors;
an energy-storage device;
a charging circuit configured to harvest power from an HVAC system to charge the energy-storage device;
a processor powered at least in part by the energy-storage device, wherein;
the processor is configured to operate in a low-power state; and
the processor is configured to operate in a high-power state; and
a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the processor and configured to;
establish and maintain wireless communications with a router, including receiving transmissions from the router;
process the transmissions from the router by discriminating between a first type of transmission, a second type of transmission, and a third type of transmission, wherein;
the first type of transmission comprises keep-alive messages associated with a communication channel sent from a remote thermostat-controller server to the thermostat,the second type of transmission is characterized as having a high thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with controlling the HVAC system; and
the third type of transmission is characterized as having a low thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with updating the thermostat itself; and
during times when the processor is operating in the low-power state;
discard transmissions from the router of the first type;
cause the processor to transition from the low-power state to the high-power state in response to receiving transmissions of the second type, and forwarding the transmissions of the second type to the processor to control the HVAC system, andsave transmissions of the third type until the processor has transitioned to the high-power state, then forwarding the transmissions of the third type to the processor to update the thermostat itself.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems facilitate network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a energy-storage device of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the energy-storage device (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the energy-storage device to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.
267 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A thermostat, comprising:
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a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) connectors; an energy-storage device; a charging circuit configured to harvest power from an HVAC system to charge the energy-storage device; a processor powered at least in part by the energy-storage device, wherein; the processor is configured to operate in a low-power state; and the processor is configured to operate in a high-power state; and a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the processor and configured to; establish and maintain wireless communications with a router, including receiving transmissions from the router; process the transmissions from the router by discriminating between a first type of transmission, a second type of transmission, and a third type of transmission, wherein; the first type of transmission comprises keep-alive messages associated with a communication channel sent from a remote thermostat-controller server to the thermostat, the second type of transmission is characterized as having a high thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with controlling the HVAC system; and the third type of transmission is characterized as having a low thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with updating the thermostat itself; and during times when the processor is operating in the low-power state; discard transmissions from the router of the first type; cause the processor to transition from the low-power state to the high-power state in response to receiving transmissions of the second type, and forwarding the transmissions of the second type to the processor to control the HVAC system, and save transmissions of the third type until the processor has transitioned to the high-power state, then forwarding the transmissions of the third type to the processor to update the thermostat itself. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling an environmental condition, the method comprising:
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charging an energy-storage device using a first power harvested from an external power source; powering a circuit at least in part with energy from the energy-storage device, wherein; the circuit is configured to operate in a low-power mode; and the circuit is configured to operate in a high-power mode; establishing one or more communication channels with a server; communicating with the server using a protocol, wherein the protocol comprises; a first type of transmission comprising keep-alive messages sent from the server at least in part to maintain one or more communication channels, a second type of transmission characterized as having a high environmental priority and comprising information for controlling the environmental condition; and a third type of transmission characterized as having a low environmental priority and comprising information associated with updating the circuit itself; and discriminating between transmissions of the first type, transmissions of the second type, and transmissions of the third type; in response to identifying a transmission of the first type during a time period in which the circuit is operating in the low-power mode, allowing the circuit to continue operating in the low-power mode and discarding the transmission of the first type; in response to identifying a transmission of the second type during a time period in which the circuit is operating in the low-power mode, causing the circuit to transition from the low-power mode to the high-power mode, and forwarding the transmissions of the second type to the circuit to control the environmental condition; and in response to identifying a transmission of the third type during a time period in which the circuit is operating in the low-power mode, saving the transmission of the third type until the circuit has transitioned to the high-power mode, then forwarding the transmission of the third type to the circuit to update the circuit itself. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A thermostat, comprising:
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a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) connectors; an energy-storage device; a processor; and a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the processor and configured to; establish and maintain wireless communications with a router, including receiving transmissions from the router; and process the transmissions from the router by discriminating between a first type of transmission, a second type of transmission, and a third type of transmission, wherein; the first type of transmission comprises keep-alive messages associated with a communication channel sent from a remote thermostat-controller server to the thermostat, the second type of transmission is characterized as having a high thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with controlling the HVAC system; and the third type of transmission is characterized as having a low thermostatic priority and comprising information associated with updating the thermostat itself; and during times when the processor is operating in a low-power state; discard transmissions from the router of the first type; cause the processor to transition from the low-power state to a high-power state in response to receiving transmissions of the second type, and forwarding the transmissions of the second type to the processor to control the HVAC system, and save transmissions of the third type until the processor has transitioned to the high-power state, then forwarding the transmissions of the third type to the processor to update the thermostat itself. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification