Method to control a communication rate between a thermostat and a cloud based server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11098913-B2
Application number	US-201816013883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising:
a display for displaying one or more operating parameters of the HVAC controller;
an input/output port;
a communications port configured to send and/or receive messages to and from an external server over a communications network;
an energy storage device for powering at least part of the HVAC controller; and
one or more processors configured to:
communicate with the external server via the communications port at a polling rate to receive information indicative of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the polling rate represents a rate at which the one or more processors control the communications port to emit a sequence of poll signals to the external server;
receive, from a user device, location data which indicates a location of the user device;
determine, based on the location data, whether a distance between the user device and the HVAC controller is less than a threshold distance;
set, in response to the distance being less than the threshold distance, the polling rate to a first polling rate so that first changes to the one or more operating parameters made at the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller via the external server and displayed on the display of the HVAC controller with a first latency;
set, in response to the distance being greater than or equal to the threshold distance, the polling rate to a second polling rate so that second changes to the one or more operating parameters made at the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller via the external server without increasing the polling rate from the second polling rate, wherein the second changes are displayed on the display of the HVAC controller with a second latency, and wherein the second latency is greater than the first latency; and
send one or more control signals via the input/output port to control one or more building control components of the building in accordance with the one or more operating parameters of the HVAC controller.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
set, in response to the distance being greater than or equal to the threshold distance, the polling rate to the second polling rate in order to conserve energy consumption from the energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprises a temperature setpoint.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprises a humidity setpoint.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprises one or more schedule parameters of an operating schedule.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprises a start time of a schedule period of the operating schedule.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more building control components comprise one or more HVAC components of the building.

8. A system comprising:
an external server;
a user device;
a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controller comprising:
a display for displaying one or more operating parameters of the HVAC controller;
an input/output port;
a communications port configured to send and/or receive messages to and from the external server over a communications network;
an energy storage device for powering at least part of the HVAC controller; and
one or more processors configured to:
communicate with the external server via the communications port at a polling rate to receive information indicative of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the polling rate represents a rate at which the one or more processors control the communications port to emit a sequence of poll signals to the external server;
receive, from the user device, location data which indicates a location of the user device;
determine, based on the location data, whether a distance between the user device and the HVAC controller is less than a threshold distance; and
send one or more control signals via the input/output port to control one or more building control components of the building in accordance with the one or more operating parameters of the HVAC controller,

wherein one or both of the one or more processors and the external server is configured to:
set, in response to the distance being less than the threshold distance, the polling rate to a first polling rate so that first changes to the one or more operating parameters made at the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller via the external server and displayed on the display of the HVAC controller with a first latency; and
set, in response to the distance being greater than or equal to the threshold distance, the polling rate to a second polling rate so that second changes to the one or more operating parameters made at the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller via the external server without increasing the polling rate from the second polling rate, wherein the second changes are displayed on the display of the HVAC controller with a second latency, and wherein the second latency is greater than the first latency.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the user device is proximate the HVAC controller when a user of the user device is in range to observe one or more operating parameters displayed on the display of the HVAC controller.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the polling rate is dictated by the HVAC controller.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the polling rate is dictated by the external server.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first changes and the second changes received by the external server from the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller before the system sends one or more control signals to control the one or more building control components of the building in accordance with the first changes and the second changes.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more operating parameter changes comprises a change to a temperature setpoint.

14. A method for controlling one or more building components of a building, the method comprising:
displaying, by a display of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controller, one or more operating parameters of the HVAC controller;
sending and/or receiving, by a communications port of the HVAC controller, messages to and from an external server over a communications network;
powering, by an energy storage device of the HVAC controller, at least a part of the HVAC controller;
communicating, by one or more processors of the HVAC controller, with the external server via the communications port at a polling rate to receive information indicative of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the polling rate represents a rate at which the one or more processors control the communications port to emit a sequence of poll signals to the external server;
receiving, from a user device, location data which indicates a location of the user device;
determining, based on the location data, whether a distance between the user device and the HVAC controller is less than a threshold distance;
setting, in response to the distance being less than the threshold distance, the polling rate to a first polling rate so that first changes to the one or more operating parameters made at the user device are communicated to the HVAC controller via the external server and displayed on the display of the HVAC controller with a first latency;
setting, in response to the distance being greater than or equal to the threshold distance, t

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Lemire Patrick R
• Juntunen Robert D
• Robideau Kurt

Classifications

• F24F11/61

  using timers · CPC title

• F24F11/58

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F11/30 Primary

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

• H04W4/20 Primary

  Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel · CPC title