Thermostat and system and method for use of same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11978337-B2
Application number	US-202218062509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2022
Priority date	Dec 31, 2018
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A thermostat and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor, memory, and a camera. To improve convenience, the thermostat may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the thermostat may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network and, under certain conditions, the thermostat may provide a video feed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for remote control, the system comprising:
a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, storage, and a camera therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, the storage, and the camera, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture;
the non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process user input instructions relative to an amenity from a proximate programmable device, generate a command signal, and

send the command signal to the amenity;
the non-transitory memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process a beacon signal including a personal location device identification,
generate a broadcast signal including the personal location device identification, a thermostat identification, and a signal characteristics indicator, and

send the broadcast signal to a server; and
the non-transitory memory including third processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
in response to receiving and processing the beacon signal including an alert, capture video via the camera.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a single button programmable device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the amenity is selected from a group consisting of television, lighting control, speakers, window shade control, and door security.

6. The thermostat as recited in claim 1 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is based on the beacon signal being received at the thermostat.

7. The thermostat as recited in claim 1 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is selected from a group consisting of signal strength measurements, phase angle measurements, and flight time measurements.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory includes fourth processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
establish a pairing between the proximate programmable device and the thermostat,
send user interface instructions relative to the amenity to the proximate programmable device,
receive and process the user input instructions relative to the amenity from the proximate programmable device,
generate a status inquiry,
send the status inquiry to the amenity,
receive a response to the status inquiry at the thermostat, and
forward a status response to the proximate programmable device.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory includes fifth processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proximate programmable device and the thermostat,
send user interface instructions relative to the amenity to the proximate programmable device,
receive and process the user input instructions relative to the amenity from the proximate programmable device,
import content from the proximate programmable device,
reformat the imported content, and
forward the reformatted imported content to the amenity.

10. A system for remote control, the system comprising:
a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, storage, and a camera therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, the storage, and the camera, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture;
the non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
generate a status inquiry,
send the status inquiry to an amenity,
receive a response to the status inquiry at the thermostat;

the non-transitory memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive and process a beacon signal including a personal location device identification,
generate a broadcast signal including the personal location device identification, a thermostat identification, and a signal characteristics indicator, and
send the broadcast signal to a server; and

the non-transitory memory including third processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
in response to receiving and processing the beacon signal including an alert, capture video via the camera.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a proximate programmable device, the programmable device comprising a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a single button programmable device.

14. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the amenity is selected from a group consisting of television, lighting control, speakers, window shade control, and door security.

15. The thermostat as recited in claim 10 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is selected from a group consisting of signal strength measurements, phase angle measurements, and flight time measurements.

16. A system for remote control, the system comprising:
a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, storage, and a camera therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, the storage, and the camera, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture;
the non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
establish a pairing between the proxi

Assignees

• Enseo Llc

Inventors

• Fang William C
• Horton Raymond S
• Miller Thomas R
• Ogle Vanessa

Classifications

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H04N7/188

  Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253) · CPC title

• H04W76/14

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title

• G08C2201/93

  Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop · CPC title

• H04L12/2816 Primary

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title