System for Remote Control of a Condition at a Site

• US 20140244048A1
• Filed: 05/06/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Comfort Control LP (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Drew, David S., Ramachandran, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 9,292,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system is provided for remote control of at least one operating condition of a site. The system includes a proximity detection module at a residential site, which is configured to receive a communication regarding a location of a location reporting device or a mobile device. The proximity detection module is configured to alter or adjust a current temperature setting for the site based on a distance or location of the location reporting device or mobile device relative to the site.

Claims

1. A system for remote control of a temperature setting of a site based on proximity of a mobile device relative to the site, the system comprising a thermostat configured to alter a current temperature setting for the site in response to a communication of an adjustment that is based on (a) a distance between the site and a mobile device where the distance is determined from location data provided by the mobile device, and/or (b) a time-to-arrival estimate sent by the mobile device and used to determine the adjustment without having to determine a distance between the site and the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment is determined in response to the time-to-arrival estimate and in accordance with a user-established temperature adjustment profile.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat is configured to detect the proximity of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermostat comprises a communication device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the thermostat is configured for connection with a server remote from the site via the communication device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the mobile device is configured to provide the location data to the remote server for determining the distance.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the remote server determines a temperature setting adjustment based on the determined distance.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the thermostat is configured for connection in a wireless network via the communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is received from (a) a server remote from the site or (b) a mobile device local to the site.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the time-to-arrival estimate is (a) input by the user or (b) generated by the mobile device based on the location data.

11. A system for remote control of a temperature setting of a site based on proximity of a mobile device relative to the site, the system comprising a thermostat configured to alter a current temperature setting for the site in response to a communication of an adjustment that is based on (a) presence in a zone defined to exist relative to the site and where presence in the zone is determined from location data provided by the mobile device, and/or (b) a time-to-arrival estimate sent by the mobile device and used to determine the adjustment without having to determine presence in a zone relative to the site.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the adjustment is determined in response to the time-to-arrival estimate and in accordance with a user-established temperature adjustment profile.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the thermostat is configured to detect the proximity of the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the thermostat comprises a communication device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the thermostat is configured for connection with a server remote from the site via the communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to provide the location data to the remote server for determining presence in a zone.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote server determines a temperature setting adjustment based on the determined presence in a zone.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the thermostat is configured for connection in a wireless network via the communication device.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication is received from (a) a server remote from the site or (b) a mobile device local to the site.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the time-to-arrival estimate is (a) input by the user or (b) generated by the mobile device based on the location data.

21. A thermostat for controlling temperature of a site, the thermostat comprising a communication device;

the thermostat configured to alter a current temperature setting for the site in response to a communication, received via the communication device, of an adjustment that is based on (a) a distance between the site and a mobile device where the distance is determined from location data provided by the mobile device, and/or (b) a time-to-arrival estimate sent by the mobile device and used to determine the adjustment without having to determine a distance between the site and the mobile device.