Methods and graphical user interfaces for reporting performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat

• US 9,453,655 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Bruck, Timo A., Fisher, Evan J., Simister, James B., Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Knieper, Clemens M., Fadell, Anthony Michael, Rogers, Matthew Lee, Plitkins, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US13/434,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/248, 700/276, 700/295, 700/278, 705/34, 455/420, 345/156
• 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 11/52 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, comprising:

controlling an HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment during a period of a plurality of days;

obtaining usage information related to HVAC system usage that occurred during the period;

processing the usage information, the processing including;

determining a reference daily amount of HVAC system usage during the period;

identifying a day within the period when HVAC system usage deviates by at least a predetermined amount from the reference daily amount;

calculating a credit or blame value for each of a plurality of causative agents, each of the plurality of causative agents being a potential cause for why HVAC system usage deviated by the predetermined amount on the identified day, each credit or blame value representing a net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to one of the plurality of causative agents; and

selecting from the plurality of causative agents a primary causative agent based at least in part on a comparison of the net amount of HVAC system usage attributable to each of the plurality of causative agents; and

graphically representing the processed usage information, the representing including;

displaying, via a display device, a plurality of selectable graphical elements, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being displayed in association with one of the plurality of days of the period, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements being sized to indicate HVAC system usage for a corresponding one of the plurality of days of the period, wherein one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements (i) corresponds to the identified day and (ii) is sized to indicate HVAC system usage for the identified day; and

displaying, in association with the identified day, a symbol that represents the primary causative agent.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the usage information related to HVAC system usage during the period is at least partially obtained from a network-connected thermostat that controls the HVAC system.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a user selection of one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements, replacing the selected one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements with a graphical representation of energy usage during the corresponding one of the plurality of days, wherein the graphical representation includes a timeline that indicates when the HVAC system was active.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the display device is part of a mobile computing device.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the display device is a touch sensitive display, and the user selection of one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements is made by touching a location of the display device corresponding to the one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the display device is part of a personal computer, and the user selection of one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements is made by using a pointing device to click on a location corresponding to the one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements.

7. A method according to claim 3 wherein the graphical representation is superimposed over the corresponding one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements indicates an amount of time the HVAC system was active during one of the plurality of days of the period.

9. A method according to claim 3 wherein the graphical representation includes one or more symbols indicating when an adjustment was made to the setpoint temperature of the thermostat.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the graphical representation usage includes a symbol indicating whether the adjustment to the setpoint temperature of the thermostat was due to non-occupancy.

11. A method according to claim 5 further comprising in response to a user selection of the graphical representation, toggling back to the corresponding one of the plurality of selectable graphical elements that is sized to indicate the energy-usage amount during the corresponding one of the plurality of days.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the graphically representing the processed usage information related to HVAC system usage during the period further includes displaying in association with one of the plurality of days an energy-savings symbol indicating energy saving performance was achieved during the one of the plurality of days.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the primary causative agent is weather, a user, or auto away.

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

15. A system adapted and programmed to carry a method according to claim 1.

37. A method according to claim 12 wherein, when HVAC system usage for the identified day is less than the reference daily amount of HVAC system usage, the energy-savings symbol is a graphical image of a leaf.

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

using the thermostat, controlling the HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment;

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 a reference value;

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

based on the evaluation, selecting a primary causative agent;

on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, graphically displaying performance information based on the gathered information relating to the HVAC system usage, the displayed performance information including a graphical representation of energy usage, wherein the graphical representation of energy usage includes a symbol that indicates the selected primary causative agent that was responsible for causing the one or more HVAC usage parameters for the time interval to be above or below the reference value.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of potential causative agents includes user changes to thermostat setpoints, wherein the graphical representation of energy usage indicates when a user change to thermostat setpoints occurred and a corresponding setpoint temperature after the user change.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the time interval is twenty-four hours.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes a parameter relating to energy consumption.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes duration of HVAC system activity.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein the one or more usage parameters includes an amount of time multiplied by a temperature differential.

22. A method according to claim 16 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.

23. A method according to claim 16 wherein the location of the outdoor temperature information and the HVAC system are located in the same postal code.

24. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the causative agents is an energy saving feature of the thermostat.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the energy saving feature includes automatic detection of non-occupancy.

26. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the symbol indicating the selected primary causative agent is a weather symbol.

27. A system for analyzing performance information for an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat using a method according to claim 16.

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

controlling an HVAC system for heating or cooling an environment

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;

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; and

on a display device in a location remote from the thermostat, displaying a timeline representation of energy usage during a period, wherein the timeline includes one or more symbols indicating when the thermostat received the user input representing the change in the temperature setting.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein in the first and second form of the graphical symbol are displayed in a same location to the user.

30. A method according to claim 28 wherein the second form of the graphical symbol has a higher contrast against a background than the first form of the graphical symbol.

31. A method according to claim 28 wherein the second form of the graphical symbol has a more saturated color than the first form of the graphical symbol.

32. A method according to claim 28 wherein the temperature setting is a setpoint temperature.

33. A method according to claim 28 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.

34. A method according to claim 28 wherein the graphical symbol is displayed on a display on the thermostat and the user input is made directly on the thermostat.

35. A method according to claim 28 wherein the graphical symbol is in a leaf shape.

36. An interactive thermostat adapted and programmed to encourage a user to adopt energy saving thermostat temperature settings using a method according to claim 28.