Building automation system setup using a remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10436977-B2
Application number	US-201414565306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

An HVAC controller may be programmed using a mobile device having a touch screen display, a wireless port and a controller that is in operative communication with the touch screen display and the wireless port. The controller may establish communication with and download an application program code from the remote download server. The controller may establish a direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller and execute the application program code, which provides one or more configuration screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device to enable the user to configure the HVAC controller via one or more configuration parameters, and then upload the one or more configuration parameters to the HVAC controller via the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile device for programming an HVAC controller having a wireless interface, the HVAC controller configured to operate HVAC equipment installed at a particular site, the mobile device comprising:
a touch screen display configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information;
a wireless port;
a controller in operative communication with the touch screen display and the wireless port, the controller of the mobile device configured to establish communication to a remote download server via the wireless port and to download an application program code from the remote download server to the mobile device;
a memory for storing the application program code once downloaded;
the controller of the mobile device further configured to establish a direct wireless connection, without an intervening wireless gateway, between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller;
the controller of the mobile device configured to execute the application program code, which provides a predetermined sequence of two or more configuration screens on the touch screen display of the mobile device that facilitate the user in at least partially configuring the HVAC controller by setting two or more configuration parameters via the touch screen display of the mobile device, the predetermined sequence of two or more configuration screens including a configuration screen that solicits a configuration parameter pertaining to a heating system type, a configuration screen that solicits a configuration parameter pertaining to a number of heating stages, and a configuration screen that solicits a configuration parameter pertaining to a number of cooling stages for the HVAC equipment installed at the particular site;
the controller of the mobile device further configured to upload the two or more configuration parameters to the HVAC controller via the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller; and
wherein after the controller of the mobile device uploads the two or more configuration parameters to the HVAC controller via the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller, the mobile device is configured to drop the direct wireless connection between the wireless port of the mobile device and the wireless interface of the HVAC controller and establish communication with a remote monitoring server, and wherein the HVAC controller is configured to also establish communication with the remote monitoring server.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises one of a smart phone and a tablet.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the remote download server is the same server as the remote monitoring server.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the application program code is also configured to display one or more install screens, wherein the one or more install screens include information on removing an old thermostat as part of a process of installing the HVAC controller.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the application program code is configured to also display one or more install screens, wherein the one or more install screens include information on wiring the HVAC controller as part of a process of installing the HVAC controller.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sequence of two or more configuration screens further includes a configuration screen that solicits a configuration parameter pertaining to one of a fuel type, a reversing valve control type, a fan control type, and a backup heat type.

7. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sequence of two or more configuration screens include a configuration screen that solicits a configuration parameter pertaining to a comfort preference of the user.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sequence of two or more configuration screens includes a configuration screen instructing the user enter configuration information to configure a wireless connection between the HVAC controller and a home wireless network.

9. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein communication between the HVAC controller and the mobile device over the direct wireless connection, the communication between the HVAC controller and the remote monitoring server, and the communication between the mobile device and the remote monitoring server all use a same communication protocol.

10. An HVAC controller configured to operate HVAC equipment installed at a particular site, the HVAC controller comprising:
a user interface configured to display information to be viewed by a user and to accept inputs from the user;
a controller operably coupled to the user interface;
an on board wireless interface operably coupled to the controller, the controller configured to establish the on board wireless interface to create a direct communication path, without an intervening wireless gateway, with a wireless mobile device for initially configuring the HVAC controller, including:
for initially configuring the HVAC controller for communication with a wireless gateway by receiving network configuration information from the wireless mobile device;
for specifying two or more HVAC equipment configuration parameters that identify characteristics of the HVAC equipment installed at the particular site, the two or more HVAC equipment parameters including a heating system type, a number of heating stages and a number of cooling stages;

the controller configured to accept the network configuration information and the two or more HVAC equipment configuration parameters from the mobile device via the direct communication path established between the on board wireless interface and the wireless mobile device;
wherein after the controller accepts the network configuration information and the two or more HVAC equipment configuration parameters from the mobile device via the direct communication path established between the on board wireless interface and the wireless mobile device, the mobile device is configured to drop the direct wireless connection between the mobile device and the HVAC controller, and establish communication with a remote monitoring server, and wherein the HVAC controller is configured to establish communication with the wireless gateway using the network configuration information received from the wireless mobile device via the direct communication path, and to establish communication with the remote monitoring server via the wireless gateway; and
wherein communication over the direct wireless connection between the HVAC controller and the mobile device and the communication between the HVAC controller, the wireless gateway, and the remote monitoring server all use a same communication protocol.

11. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the mobile device is one of a smart phone and a tablet.

12. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

13. The HVAC controller of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to display, via the user interface, a screen instructing a user that the HVAC controller is wirelessly coupled to the mobile device, and to utilize the mobile device to configure the HVAC controller.

14. The HVAC controller of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to display, via the user interface, a screen instructing a user to utilize the mobile device to initially configure the HVAC controller for communication with a wireless gateway.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Bergman Gabriel
• Quam David
• Stuart Jeffrey
• Amundson John
• Schwendinger Paul
• Weirich Kevin
• Bruce Michael
• Kolavennu Soumitri
• Nichols Steven

Classifications

• F21V23/005

  the substrate is supporting also the light source · CPC title

• F24F11/62

  characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values · CPC title

• H02G3/10

  for surface mounting on a wall · CPC title

• H04L67/025

  for remote control or remote monitoring of applications · CPC title

• H04L12/2818

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title