System and method for using a mobile electronic device to optimize an energy management system
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting at least one temperature setpoint of an HVAC system associated with a structure, the method comprising:
- associating the at least one mobile electronic device with the structure;
receiving with one or more computer processors, the geographic location of the at least one mobile electronic device;
receiving with one or more computer processors, at least a measurement of a temperature obtained from within the structure and predicting a length of time to reach a desired temperature;
using traffic data to predict a length of time for a user of the at least one mobile electronic device to reach the structure; and
adjusting with one or more computer processors, at least one temperature setpoint of an HVAC system associated with the structure based at least in part upon the predicted length of time to reach the desired temperature and upon the predicted length of time for a user of the mobile electronic device to reach the structure.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
232 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting at least one temperature setpoint of an HVAC system associated with a structure, the method comprising:
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associating the at least one mobile electronic device with the structure; receiving with one or more computer processors, the geographic location of the at least one mobile electronic device; receiving with one or more computer processors, at least a measurement of a temperature obtained from within the structure and predicting a length of time to reach a desired temperature; using traffic data to predict a length of time for a user of the at least one mobile electronic device to reach the structure; and adjusting with one or more computer processors, at least one temperature setpoint of an HVAC system associated with the structure based at least in part upon the predicted length of time to reach the desired temperature and upon the predicted length of time for a user of the mobile electronic device to reach the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
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8. The method of claim in 2 wherein adjusting the at least one temperature setpoint is initiated by a remote computer.
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11. A system for adjusting at least one temperature setpoint of an HVAC system associated with a structure, the system comprising:
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one or more computer processors that associate at least one mobile electronic device with the structure; the one or more computer processors receive a geographic location of the at least one mobile electronic device; the one or more computer processors receive at least a measurement of a temperature obtained from within the structure and predict a length of time to reach a desired temperature; the one or more computer processors use traffic data to predict a length of time for a user of the at least one mobile electronic device to reach the structure; and the one or more computer processors adjust at least one temperature setpoint associated with the structure based at least in part upon the predicted length of time to reach the desired temperature, and at least in part upon the predicted length of time for a user of the mobile electronic device to reach the structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. The system of claim in 11 wherein adjustment of the at least one temperature setpoint is initiated by a remote computer.
Specification