Thermostat having network connected branding features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11080800-B2
Application number	US-201916698365-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Sep 11, 2015
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A thermostat for a building space includes a communications interface, an electronic display, and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to receive service provider information via a network connection. The electronic display includes a user interface configured to display the service provider information. The processing circuit is configured to determine when to display the service provider information on the electronic display by monitoring thermostat events.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display device of a building space comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive service provider information via a network connection;
an electronic display configured to display the service provider information; and
a processing circuit configured to:
cause the electronic display to display the service provider information in response to one or more thermostat events occurring;
receive, via the communications interface, second service provider information, wherein the second service provider information is an update replacing the service provider information; and
cause the electronic display to display the second service provider information on the electronic display in response to the one or more thermostat events occurring.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is a thermostat of the building space.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
receive the service provider information from a dealer; and
receive the second service provider information from a second dealer in response to a contract between the dealer and the second dealer ending.

4. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive the service provider information via the communications interface when a thermostat is first installed in the building space.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the service provider information comprises customized branding, the customized branding comprising at least one of:
a dealer phone number;
a dealer address;
dealer store hours;
a dealer RSS feed; or
a dealer logo.

6. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to receive, via the communications interface, the second service provider information when a dealer creates new branding, wherein the second service provider information comprises the new branding.

7. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermostat events comprise at least one of:
a first fault occurring in a thermostat;
a second fault occurring in equipment connected to the thermostat;
a first detection that maintenance is due for the thermostat;
a second detection that maintenance is due for the equipment connected to the thermostat;
a third detection that a threshold time has passed since the service provider information was last displayed; and
a fourth detection that a user is adjusting settings in the thermostat for a time longer than a predetermined amount of time.

8. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the service provider information comprises advertisements;
wherein the processing circuit is configured to select the advertisements based on at least one of:
a schedule of a thermostat; and
an ambient temperature.

9. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further configured to collect revenue information and serve the revenue information to a dealer via the communications interface, the revenue information comprising at least one of:
number of service calls placed;
number of technician visits to the building space associated with a thermostat;
advertising revenue; and
equipment and parts purchased.

10. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to:
cause the electronic display to display a user interface element for placing a phone call with a dealer;
detect a user interacting with the user interface element;
place the phone call to the dealer via the communications interface in response to a detection of the user interacting with the user interface element; and
transmit, via the communications interface, communications between the user and the dealer using at least one of a microphone and a speaker of a thermostat in response to the phone call being placed.

11. The display device of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to facilitate the phone call with the dealer via voice over Internet, wherein the network connection comprises a connection to the Internet.

12. A method of a display device comprising:
causing, by a processing circuit, an electronic display of the display device to display service provider information in response to one or more thermostat events occurring, wherein the service provider information is received by the processing circuit via a communications interface and a network connection;
receiving, by the processing circuit via the communications interface, second service provider information, wherein the second service provider information is an update replacing the service provider information; and
causing, by the processing circuit, the electronic display to display the second service provider information on the electronic display in response to the one or more thermostat events occurring.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the display device is a thermostat of a building space.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processing circuit, the service provider information from a dealer; and
receiving, by the processing circuit, the second service provider information from a second dealer in response to a contract between the dealer and the second dealer ending.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving, by the processing circuit, the service provider information via the communications interface when a thermostat is first installed in a building space.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the service provider information comprises customized branding, the customized branding comprising at least one of:
a dealer phone number;
a dealer address;
dealer store hours;
a dealer RSS feed; or
a dealer logo.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving, by the processing circuit via the communications interface, the second service provider information when a dealer creates new branding, wherein the second service provider information comprises the new branding.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more thermostat events comprise at least one of:
a first fault occurring in a thermostat;
a second fault occurring in equipment connected to the thermostat;
a first detection that maintenance is due for the thermostat;
a second detection that maintenance is due for the equipment connected to the thermostat;
a third detection that a threshold time has passed since the service provider information was last displayed; and
a fourth detection that a user is adjusting settings in the thermostat for a time longer than a predetermined amount of time.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the service provider information comprises advertisements;
wherein the method further comprises selecting, by the processing circuit, the advertisements based on at least one of:
a schedule of a thermostat; and
an ambient temperature.

20. A thermostat of a building space comprising:
a communications interface configured to receive service provider information via a network connection and communicate with building equipment;
an electronic display configured to display the service provider information; and
a processing circuit configured to:
cause the electronic display to display the service provider information in response to one or more thermostat events occurring;
receive, via the communications interface, second service provider information, wherein the second service provider information is an update replacing the service provider information;
cause the elect

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co
• Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP

Inventors

• Bentz Jedidiah O
• Rigg Brian D
• Gillette Theresa N
• Tasker Tom R
• McCune Tyler
• Uerkvitz John W
• Atchison Shaun B
• Middleton Daniel S
• Noor Aneek Muhammad
• Alberth Jr William P
• Ribbich Joseph R

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• H04B5/20

  characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium · CPC title

• F24F2120/00

  Control inputs relating to users or occupants · CPC title

• F24F11/88

  Electrical aspects, e.g. circuits · CPC title

• F24F11/64

  using pre-stored data · CPC title