METHODS AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR REPORTING PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM CONTROLLED BY A SELF-PROGRAMMING NETWORK-CONNECTED THERMOSTAT

• US 20130090767A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: MATSUOKA, Yoky, SLOO, David, FADELL, Anthony Michael, ROGERS, Matthew Lee, PLITKINS, Michael, FISHER, Evan J., SIMISTER, James B., BRUCK, Timo A., KNIEPER, Clemens M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,453,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/89 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/00 Control inputs relating to environmental factors not covered by group F24F2110/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2130/10 Weather information or forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/32 preventing human errors during the installation, use or maintenance, e.g. goofy proof
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for interactively and graphically displaying performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily summary each of several days. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

Claims

1. A method of interactively and graphically displaying performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a thermostat comprising:

using the thermostat, gathering information relating to HVAC system usage;

on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying performance information based on the gathered information, the displayed performance information including a graphical daily summary for each of a plurality of days; and

in response to a user selection of a day, graphically displaying on the display device detailed performance information for the user selected day.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the thermostat is self-programming network-connected thermostat.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display device is a touch sensitive display on mobile computing device.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the mobile computing device is a smartphone, and the user selection of a day is made by the user touching a location of the display corresponding to the selected day.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display device is a touch sensitive display on a tablet computer, and the user selection of a day is made by the user touching a location of the display corresponding to the selected day.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display device is a personal computer, and the user selection of a day is made by the user clicking on a location corresponding to the selected day using a pointing device.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the detailed performance information includes a graphical indication of HVAC activity on a timeline.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the detailed performance information includes an indication of the number of hours of HVAC activity for the day.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the detailed performance information includes one or more symbols indicating setpoint changes.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the detailed performance information includes a symbol indicating on a timeline when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the graphical display of the detailed performance information replaces the graphical summary for the user selected day.

12. A method according to claim 1 further comprising in response to a user selection of the detailed performance information for the selected day, replacing the detailed performance information with the graphical summary for the day.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the graphical summary for a day includes a symbol indicating energy saving performance was achieved during the day.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the graphical summary for a day includes a symbol indicating a primary causative agent which is responsible for above or below HVAC energy performance.

15. A method according to claim 1 further comprising periodically sending an email to the user indicating a summary of performance information for a time interval.

16. A system for interactively and graphically interfacing with a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat, the system adapted and programmed to carry a method according to claim A1.

17. A method of analyzing performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat comprising:

using the thermostat, gathering information relating to HVAC system usage;

calculating one or more HVAC usage parameters for a time interval as being above or below an average;

evaluating a plurality of potential causative agents for potential causation for the calculated usage parameter being above or below the average; and

based on the evaluation, selecting a primary causative agent.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of potential causative agents includes user changes to thermostat setpoints.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the time interval is twenty-four hours.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes a parameter relating to energy consumption.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes duration of HVAC system activity.

22. A method according to claim 17 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes an amount of time multiplied by a temperature differential.

23. A method according to claim 17 further comprising gathering weather information including outdoor temperature for a location in the vicinity of the HVAC system, wherein at least one of the potential causative agents is weather.

24. A method according to claim 17 wherein the location of the outdoor temperature information and the HVAC system are located in the same postal code.

25. A method according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the causative agents is an energy saving feature of the thermostat.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the energy saving feature includes automatic detection of non-occupancy.

27. A method according to claim 17 further comprising graphically displaying to a user a symbol indicating the selected primary causative agent.

28. A system for analyzing performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat using a method according to claim 17.

29. A method of encouraging a user to adopt energy saving thermostat temperature settings using an interactive display, the method comprising:

receiving user input representing a change in a temperature setting;

in response to received user input, displaying in real time a graphical symbol in a first form indicating to the user that the change in the temperature setting would result in moderate energy savings;

receiving further user input indicating a further change in the temperature setting; and

in response to the received further user input, in real time altering the first form of the graphical symbol to a second form indicating that the further change would result in even greater energy savings.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein in the first and second form of the graphical symbol are displayed in a same location to the user.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein the second form of the graphical symbol has a higher contrast against a background than the first form of the graphical symbol.

32. A method according to claim 29 wherein the second form of the graphical symbol has a more saturated color than the first form of the graphical symbol.

33. A method according to claim 29 wherein the temperature setting is a setpoint temperature.

34. A method according to claim 29 wherein the temperature setting is an away temperature that is used by the thermostat when a structure being conditioned under control of the thermostat is unoccupied.

35. A method according to claim 29 wherein the graphical symbol is displayed on a display on the thermostat and the user input is made directly on the thermostat.

36. A method according to claim 29 wherein the graphical symbol is in a leaf shape.

37. A interactive thermostat adapted and programmed to encourage a user to adopt energy saving thermostat temperature settings using a method according to claim 29.