Devices and methods for interacting with an HVAC controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837667-B2
Application number	US-201816048008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2018
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A method of controlling an HVAC system can include receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of the HVAC system to a requested set point value, converting the audio into a natural language audio stream, identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream, transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, and receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of an HVAC system to a requested set point value;
converting the audio into a natural language audio stream;
identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream;
transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein;
when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device, wherein the first building control device command is understandable by the building control device and instructs the building control device to change the set point temperature to the requested set point value;
when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range, receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device, wherein the second building control device is understandable by the building control device and instructs the building control device to change the set point temperature to an in range set point value that is within die predetermined range; and
executing the first building control device command or the second building device control command at the building control device to control the HVAC system in accordance with the first building control device command or the second building control device command.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to the remote web service responsive to identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving feedback from a user when the predefined trigger phrase is incorrectly identified and in response, adjusting a trigger phrase sensitivity factor that is used in identifying the predefined trigger phrase.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the first building control device command or the second building control device command from the remote web service at the building control device via an internet gateway.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the first building control device command or the second building control device command from the remote web service at the building control device via a wide area network (WAN).

6. The method of claim 1 , thither comprising:
receiving the audio at the building control device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream at the building control device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the audio at a user device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream at the user device.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Nelson Jay
• Bures David
• Kasparik Petr
• Kolavennu Soumitri
• Konecny Roman
• Kulkarni Amit
• Becvar Daniel
• Adamek Martin
• Buno Juraj
• Hoglund Steven
• Horky Libor
• Malek Jan
• Nemcek Adam
• Skala Martin
• Losak Tomas
• Novotny Josef
• Gessner Thomas
• Gilmer Preston
• Ix
• Thiruvengada Hari
• Goh Christopher
• Juntunen Robert D
• Mulhouse David
• Leen Cary
• Finch Heidi

Classifications

• F24F11/58 Primary

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

  for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring · CPC title

• F24F2110/00

  Control inputs relating to air properties · CPC title

• G10L15/22

  Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue · CPC title

• F24F11/56

  Remote control · CPC title