Processing and reporting usage information for an HVAC system controlled by a network-connected thermostat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9890970-B2
Application number	US-201314389243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2013
Priority date	Mar 29, 2012
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for interactively, graphically displaying and reporting performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily or monthly summary each of several days or months respectively. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for characterizing the operation of an HVAC system controlled by an HVAC controller, the method comprising:
registering, using a registration server and the HVAC controller, the HVAC controller by pairing it with a management account;
receiving, by a management account server from the HVAC controller, first historical data representative of actual HVAC usage by said HVAC system for each of a first historical time interval and a second historical time interval, wherein the HVAC controller is paired with the management account maintained by the management account server;
processing said first historical data to determine an HVAC usage difference between said first historical time interval and said second historical time interval;
receiving second historical data representative of at least two parameters characterizing a preselected plurality of causative agents over each of said first and second historical time intervals, each said causative agent being known to at least partially influence HVAC usage by said HVAC system, wherein:
the plurality of causative agents is selected from the group consisting of weather, temperature schedule, occupancy, manual temperature settings, and time differences between said first historical time interval and said second historical time interval;

processing said first and second historical data to generate, for each said causative agent, a causative agent model that characterizes a relationship between said one or more causative agent parameters and an associated HVAC usage estimate of said HVAC system;
processing said second historical data in conjunction with said plurality of causative agent models to compute a relative contribution of each of said causative agents toward said HVAC usage difference between said first and second historical time intervals;
generating an energy usage report that includes at least (i) said HVAC usage difference between said first and second historical time intervals, and (ii) an attribution of a primary causative agent from said plurality of causative agents as a primary reason for said HVAC usage difference, wherein said primary causative agent has the highest relative contribution from said plurality of causative agents toward said HVAC usage difference;
accessing, by an access client executed by a remote computerized device, the management account paired with the HVAC controller; and
providing, by the access client executed by the remote computerized device, the energy usage report that includes at least (i) said HVAC usage difference between said first and second historical time intervals, and (ii) the attribution of the primary causative agent from said plurality of causative agents as a primary reason for said HVAC usage difference.

2. The method according claim 1 , wherein said processing said second historical data step further comprises:
processing said second historical data in conjunction with said plurality of causative agent models, a heat slope and a cool slope to compute said associated HVAC usage estimate for each of said plurality of causative agents toward said HVAC usage difference between said first and second historical time intervals.

3. The method according claim 1 , wherein said first historical time period and said second historical time period are calendar months.

4. The method according claim 1 , wherein said energy usage report further includes said associated HVAC usage estimate for at least said primary causative agent.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said energy usage report further includes at least one icon indicative of said primary causative agent.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said energy usage report further includes at least one tip on how to adjust said HVAC controller to result in future energy savings.

7. A method for generating an energy usage report for an HVAC system controlled by a programmable thermostat, the method comprising:
registering the programmable thermostat by pairing it with a management account using a registration server;
gathering, by a management account server, data on a plurality of metrics related to energy consumption by said HVAC system during a time period from the programmable thermostat;
modeling a plurality of candidate contributors using data on said plurality of metrics for said time period to form a plurality of candidate models, wherein:
at least one of said plurality of candidate contributors is potentially qualified for causing usage or non-usage of said HVAC system during said time period; and
the plurality of candidate contributors comprises: weather, temperature schedule, occupancy, and manual temperature settings;

determining qualified candidate contributors from each of said plurality of candidate models, wherein said qualified candidate contributors are attributed to cause usage or non-usage of said HVAC system during said time period;
quantifying an estimated HVAC usage or non-usage during said time period for at least one of said qualified candidate contributors from at least one of said plurality of candidate models;
accessing, by an access client executed by a remote computerized device, the management account paired with the HVAC controller; and
providing, by the access client executed by the remote computerized device, at least said estimated HVAC usage or non-usage for said at least one qualified candidate contributor on said energy usage report.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said estimated HVAC usage or non-usage is measured in units of time.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said estimated HVAC usage or non-usage is measured in units of energy.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said time period comprises a first time period and a second time period subsequent to said first time period, said method further comprising:
computing a first run time of said HVAC system for said first time period and a second run time of said HVAC system for said second time period;
computing a run-time difference by subtracting said second run time from said first run time;
gathering a first data set on said plurality of metrics related to energy consumption by said HVAC system for said first time period;
gathering a second data set on said plurality of metrics related to energy consumption by said HVAC system for said second time period;
modeling said plurality of candidate contributors from said first data set to form a first plurality of candidate models and from said second data set to form a second plurality of candidate models for said second time period;
determining qualified candidate contributors from each of said plurality of candidate contributors, wherein said qualified candidate contributors likely cause usage or non-usage of said HVAC system in said second time period as compared to said first time period;
quantifying a first estimated HVAC usage or non-usage for said first time period, using said first plurality of candidate models, for at least one of said qualified candidate contributors, and a second estimated HVAC usage or non-usage for said second time period, using said second plurality of candidate models, for said at least one of said qualified candidate contributors;
computing at least one estimated usage or non-usage difference by subtracting said first estimated HVAC usage or non-usage for said at least one of said qualified candidate contributors from said second estimated HVAC usage or non-usage for said at least one of said qualified candidate contributors; and
reporting at least (i) said run-time difference and (ii) said at least one estimated usage difference for said at least one qualified candidate contributor on said energy usage

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Bruck Timo A
• Fisher Evan J
• Simister James B
• Matsuoka Yoky
• Sloo David
• Knieper Clemens M
• Fadell Anthony Michael
• Rogers Matthew Lee
• Plitkins Michael
• Malhotra Mark

Classifications

• F24F11/30

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

• F24F11/58

  using Internet communication · CPC title

• F24F11/523

  for displaying temperature data · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · 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