Adaptive hierarchy usage monitoring HVAC control system

• US 20050120012A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Original Assignee: MMI Controls Ltd.
• Inventors: McDowell, Johnnie L., Poth, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• 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 11/88 Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24168 Identify connected programmer to allow control, program entry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2131 Lost password, e.g. recovery of lost or forgotten passwords

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for an adaptive hierarchy usage monitoring HVAC control system. A method, includes: regulating user access to at least one menu of an interactive user interface of a programmable digital thermostat, including: reversibly defining at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu.

Claims

1. A method, comprising regulating user access to at least one menu of an interactive user interface of a programmable digital thermostat, including:

reversibly defining at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu including;

reading and storing a hierarchical personal identification number associated with a hierarchical user level;

permitting hierarchical user access to a user level menu when the hierarchical personal identification number is both valid and associated with a hierarchical user level greater than or equal to a minimum hierarchical user level predefined to be required for access to the user level menu; and

reading and storing the at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu; and

then

permitting user access to the at least one menu when a personal identification number entered by another user is both valid and associated with a user level greater than or equal to the minimum user level reversibly defined by the hierarchical user to be required for access to the at least one menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reversibly defining includes reversibly defining a plurality of minimum user levels required to access a plurality of menus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a centralized set menu is utilized to reversibly define the plurality of minimum user levels.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a plurality of distributed menus are utilized to reversibly define the plurality of minimum user levels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one menus controls a number of events per day that in-turn defines in-part a multi-stage cooling/heating program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a daylight savings state function.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a relative humidity sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing a clock of the programmable digital thermostat using a power line frequency.

9. A method, comprising defining a multi-stage cooling/heating program of a programmable digital thermostat having an interactive user interface, including:

reversibly defining a number of events per day including;

reading and storing a hierarchical personal identification number associated with a hierarchical user level;

permitting hierarchical user access to a system menu when the hierarchical personal identification number is both valid and associated with a hierarchical user level greater than or equal to a minimum hierarchical user level required for access to the system menu; and

reading and storing the number of events per day; and

then

permitting user access to another menu when a personal identification number entered by another user is valid to further define the multi-stage cooling/heating program.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising regulating user access to at least one menu of the interactive user interface of the programmable digital thermostat, including:

reversibly defining at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu including;

reading and storing a hierarchical personal identification number associated with a hierarchical user level;

permitting hierarchical user access to a user level menu when the hierarchical personal identification number is both valid and associated with a hierarchical user level greater than or equal to a minimum hierarchical user level predefined to be required for access to the user level menu; and

reading and storing the at least one minimum user level required to access the at least one menu; and

then

permitting user access to the at least one menu when a personal identification number entered by another user is both valid and associated with a user level greater than or equal to the minimum user level reversibly defined by the hierarchical user to be required for access to the at least one menu.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein reversibly defining includes reversibly defining a plurality of minimum user levels required to access a plurality of menus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a centralized set menu is utilized to reversibly define the plurality of minimum user levels.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a plurality of distributed menus are utilized to reversibly define the plurality of minimum user levels.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising defining a daylight savings state function.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring a relative humidity sensor.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising synchronizing a clock of the programmable digital thermostat using a power line frequency.

17. A method, comprising recovering from a lost personal identification number situation and restoring programmability to a device, including:

generating a SEED PIN using the device

calculating a KEY PIN using an algorithm within a code of the device and storing the KEY PIN in the device, without displaying the KEY PIN, wherein the KEY PIN is a function at-least-in-part of both the SEED PIN and an identifier associated with the device;

sending the SEED PIN and the identifier associated with the device to an authenticating source;

recalculating the KEY PIN at the authenticating source using the algorithm within the code and the SEED PIN and the other identifying information;

receiving the KEY PIN from the authenticating source; and

entering the KEY PIN into the device to temporarily assign hierarchical access to a user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier includes a fixed character sequence embedded within the code of the device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier includes a serial number.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier includes a variable character sequence that is a function of parameter values set within the device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the identifier includes values of an internal clock.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the device includes a programmable digital thermostat.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein entering the KEY PIN changes the SEED PIN value without displaying the changed SEED PIN value, preventing reuse of the KEY PIN.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein entering the KEY PIN changes, after a time period, the SEED PIN value without displaying the changed SEED PIN value, preventing reuse of the KEY PIN after the time period has elapsed.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein entering the KEY PIN does not change the SEED PIN value.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after entering the KEY PIN, at least one member selected from the group consisting of finding missing or forgotten PIN information, assigning a LVL 9 to an existing PIN and assigning a new PIN with LVL 9.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein after entering the KEY PIN, the user is allowed temporary access to thermostat resources to assign top level access to at least one hierarchical PIN.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the user has LVL 9 access until an automatic 1-minute timeout occurs, power is lost or the user implements an ENTER PIN menu to enter a PIN having non-LVL 9 access.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein after entering the KEY PIN the user continues to have access to device resources until KEY PIN access is canceled.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein access is canceled via a timeout.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein access is canceled via user actions.

32. A method, comprising a synchronization sequence including:

reading a base time from an internal clock at a first time and saving the base time;

measuring an elapsed time interval, from the first time to a second time, by counting an external clock using a frequency counter; and

then

resetting the internal clock to the base time plus the elapsed time.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising, before measuring the elapsed time interval, clearing the frequency counter.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising, before measuring the elapsed time interval, setting a flag to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the flag is set to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence when the external clock transitions from an unavailable state to an available state.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the flag is set to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence when a user exits a clock menu.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein measuring the elapsed time interval includes setting a flag to indicate that the synchronization sequence has commenced.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein resetting occurs when the flag indicates that the synchronization sequence has commenced and the frequency counter indicates that the elapsed time interval has passed.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein measuring the elapsed time interval commences at a predetermined time increment.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising, after resetting the internal clock, repeating the synchronization sequence.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the internal clock is derived from a direct current powered oscillator located in an integrated-circuit real-time clock.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the external clock is derived from an alternating current power source.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein counting includes counting zero-voltage transitions of an alternating power line waveform.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

an internal clock;

an external clock; and

a microcontroller coupled to the internal clock and the external clock, the microcontroller including a frequency counter,

wherein the microcontroller reads a base time from the internal clock at a first time and saves the base time,

wherein the microcontroller measures an elapsed time interval, from the first time to a second time, using the frequency counter, and

wherein the microcontroller resets the internal clock to the base time plus the elapsed time.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the microcontroller clears the frequency counter before measuring the elapsed time interval.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the microcontroller sets a flag to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the microcontroller sets the flag to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence when the external clock transitions from an unavailable state to an available state.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the microcontroller sets the flag to enable commencement of the synchronization sequence when a user exits a clock menu.

49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the microcontroller sets a flag to indicate that the synchronization sequence has commenced at the beginning of measuring the elapsed time interval.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the microcontroller resets the internal clock when the flag indicates that the synchronization sequence has commenced and the frequency counter indicates that the elapsed time interval has passed.

51. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the microcontroller commences measuring the elapsed time interval at a predetermined time increment.

52. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the microcontroller repeating a synchronization sequence after resetting the internal clock.

53. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the internal clock includes an integrated-circuit real-time clock having a direct current powered oscillator.

54. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the external clock includes an alternating current power line.

55. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the frequency counter includes a zero-voltage transition counter.

56. A programmable thermostat comprising the apparatus of claim 44.