Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080229353 | Providing context-appropriate advertisements in video content - Detailed herein is a technology which, among other things, allows integration of context-relevant advertisements with non-real-time video playback. In one approach to this technology, context information related to video content is determined, and used to select advertisements which are contextually related to video content. These advertisements can then be integrated into the video presentation in a number of ways. | 09-18-2008 |
20080229354 | Contextual television advertisement delivery - Various technologies for delivering contextual television advertisement are described. A user selection of a media title is received. The media title has an associated set of contextual metadata that includes information regarding the media title. A request for the media title is forwarded to a first server and an advertisement request including the set of contextual metadata is forwarded to a second server. The second server uses the set of contextual metadata to retrieve contextual television advertisement information. The contextual television advertisement information and the media title are received from the second server and the first server respectively. Also, the contextual television advertisement information and the media title are played. | 09-18-2008 |
20090222520 | SYNCHRONIZING MULTIPLE USER REMOTE CONTENT PLAYBACK - Playback of content downloaded or streamed from a network service is automatically synchronized for users at different client devices. Synchronization is achieved using user approved actions to perform during content playback. Each client device submits playback status to a server while the server generates and sends synchronization instructions for each client device. The synchronization instructions are based on user parameters and the difference in playback position between the users. | 09-03-2009 |
20090222769 | INTERFACE FOR NAVIGATING INTERRELATED CONTENT HIERARCHY - An interface allows navigation of a hierarchy of related content organized into a node tree. Each node may be associated with media content and navigation input may be received to navigate between the nodes. The interface includes a mechanism for viewing graphical data representing related content within the node tree. A user may provide input to navigate between nodes in the same hierarchy level or different hierarchy levels while graphical data for the selected node is provided in the interface. | 09-03-2009 |
20090235361 | SEGMENT BASED DIGITAL CONTENT PROTECTION - Techniques are disclosed herein for applying different content protection schemes to different segments of digital content. A method for protecting digital content includes determining segments within digital content that is organized to allow presentation in a certain order. Each of the segments is assigned to a category of a group of categories. Each of the categories has a different content protection scheme associated therewith. One of the protection schemes is applied to each segment based on the category associated with the segment. | 09-17-2009 |
20100164745 | REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE ACTIVE SURFACES - A remote control unit is disclosed having multiple active surfaces. In general, the side facing upward (with respect to the direction of gravity) will be active and illuminated, and the side facing downward will be inactive and blank. The present system further includes one or more orientation/motion sensors for sensing rotation about three axes and translation along three axes. The sensor detects initial movement of the remote control unit after a dormant period, and senses which side is facing upward relative to gravity so as to allow activation of the upper side. The sensor also detects when the RC unit is turned over or otherwise tilted in any plane relative to horizontal more than a threshold angle. Once turned over or tilted beyond the threshold angle, the previously active side is deactivated and the opposite side is activated. | 07-01-2010 |
20110173194 | IMPLICIT USER INTEREST MARKS IN MEDIA CONTENT - Automatically marking locations of user interest in media content is disclosed. Data that describes user interaction with media content is analyzed to determine locations of potential interest. For each of the locations of potential interest, the data is analyzed to determine whether user interest satisfies a criterion for establishing a mark for the location. Marks are determined for those locations that satisfy the criterion. A mark includes a description for a given location and information that allows the given location to be automatically presented to a user upon selection of the description. In another aspect, extrinsic data that is separate from a piece of media content is analyzed to determine whether moments of high user interest might exist in the piece of media content. Then, the piece of media content is scanned to find locations in the media content that correspond to the moments. | 07-14-2011 |
20120056752 | CONTENT SIGNATURING - Content signaturing is provided by a display receiver device comprising one or more source inputs, where each source input is configured to receive a content signal from a corresponding content source. The display receiver device further comprises a content identification module to send sample information derived from each received content signal to a signature processor and to receive from the signature processor content information for each corresponding content source, the content information for a particular content source indicating a content item embodied by the content signal received from that particular content source. The display receiver device further comprises an association module to associate the content item corresponding to the particular content source with one or more associated content items not corresponding to the particular content source. | 03-08-2012 |
20120060116 | CONTENT SIGNATURING USER INTERFACE - Content signaturing is provided by a display device comprising one or more source inputs, where each source input is configured to receive a content signal from a corresponding content source. The display device further comprises a content identification module to send sample information derived from each received content signal to a signature processor and to receive from the signature processor content information for each corresponding content source. The display device further comprises a user interface module to produce a unified user interface including a menu option for each content source, where each menu option includes content information identified via the content identification module for the corresponding content source. The display device further comprises a display to visually present the unified user interface. | 03-08-2012 |
20120125559 | TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER WITH TIME TO TARGET DISPLAY - A thermostat is described for controlling air temperature in a building. The time associated with causing the controlled air temperature to reach a target temperature is estimated and displayed to a user. Input from a user indicating the target temperature can be received and the estimating and displaying can be carried out in real time. The thermostat can be wall-mounted or the user input can be received and estimated time can be displayed using a remote device, for example that communicates wirelessly with other components of the HVAC system. | 05-24-2012 |
20120125592 | HVAC FILTER MONITORING - A method is described for identifying faults relating to an HVAC system, such a clogged filter. Sensor data is used to estimate HVAC system efficiency. Trends in system efficiency are then used to identify faults such as clogged filters. The sensor(s) can include one or more of the following types: optical sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, acoustic transducer, humidity sensor, resistive sensor, capacitive sensor, and infrared sensor. The efficiency estimation can also be based on conditions external to the building, such as data from exterior sensors and/or data gathered from third parties such as government or private weather stations. The efficiency estimation can also be based on performance metrics such as the time used to reach a set point temperature. The fault identification includes filtering out non-fault related events. | 05-24-2012 |
20120128025 | System and method for integrating sensors in thermostats - Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130546 | USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR CONTROL UNIT - A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a circular body having a large central display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated an pressed inward by a user so as to receive user input in a simple elegant fashion. Different colors can be displayed to the user to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different shades of colors can be displayed to a user to indicate an estimated amount of time and/or energy for reaching a target temperature. The thermostat is wall mountable and is made up of a head unit removeably mounted to a backplate. A locking mechanism can be provided so as to increase security against unauthorized removal of the head unit. The backplate can be adapted to be mounted on a wall so as to be level, for example by including a bubble level on the backplate. One or more vents are preferably located on the sides of the body, such as in a gap beneath the translatably mounted ring, and/or in a gap between the head unit and the backplate. The target temperature for the device can be altered in response to sensing rotation of the rotating ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to and altered by the user in response to sensing rotation of the ring and the translational movement of the ring. Historical information such as temperature and cost information can be displayed to a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating ring. One or more device settings can be displayed to and edited by a user in response to sensing rotating of the rotating member and the translational movement. According to some embodiments, text characters can be entered by the user. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130547 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130548 | COMPUTATIONAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING PLURAL SENSING MICROSYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and related computer program products for controlling one or more HVAC systems using a distributed arrangement of wirelessly connected sensing microsystems are described. A plurality of wirelessly communicating sensing microsystems is provided, each sensing microsystem including a temperature sensor and a processor, at least one of the sensing microsystems being coupled to an HVAC unit for control thereof. The plurality of sensing microsystems is configured to jointly carry out at least one shared computational task associated with control of the HVAC unit. Each sensing microsystem includes a power management circuit configured to determine an amount of electrical power available for dedication to the at least one shared computational task. The at least one shared computational task is apportioned among respective ones of the plurality of sensing microsystems according to the amount of electrical power determined to be available for dedication thereto at each respective sensing microsystem. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130679 | THERMOSTAT FACILITATING USER-FRIENDLY INSTALLATION THEREOF - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system and related systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating user-friendly installation of the thermostat are described. For one embodiment, automated installation verification is performed by the thermostat by automatically sensing which wires have been inserted, selecting a candidate HVAC operating function (e.g., heating or cooling) that is consistent with a subset of HVAC signal types indicated by the inserted wires, applying control signals to the HVAC system to invoke that HVAC operating function, and processing a time sequence of acquired temperature readings to determine whether that HVAC operating function was successfully carried out. For one embodiment, the initial automated testing of the heating and cooling functions are only carried out at times for which such heating or cooling function would normally be invoked during normal operation of the thermostat. Automated determination of a heat pump call convention is also described. | 05-24-2012 |
20120131504 | THERMOSTAT GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing intuitive navigation within a menuing system. In a first mode of operation, an electronic display of the thermostat displays a population of tick marks arranged in an arcuate arrangement including a plurality of background tick marks, a setpoint tick mark representing a setpoint temperature, and an ambient temperature tick mark representing an ambient temperature, the setpoint temperature being dynamically changeable according to a tracked rotational input motion of a ring-shaped user interface component of the thermostat. In a second mode, the a plurality of user-selectable menu options is displayed in an arcuate arrangement along a menu option range area, and respective ones of the user-selectable menu options are selectively highlighted according to the tracked rotational input motion of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 05-24-2012 |
20120159338 | MEDIA NAVIGATION VIA PORTABLE NETWORKED DEVICE - Embodiments are disclosed that relate to navigation in a media consumption environment. One embodiment provides, on a portable networked device, a method comprising receiving media metadata from a server via a network, wherein the media metadata corresponds to media content available for viewing. The method further comprises displaying on a display of the portable networked device a user interface presenting the media metadata, receiving a user input via the user interface selecting a media item, and in response, sending a request for the media item to a media rendering device. | 06-21-2012 |
20120191257 | User interfaces for remote management and control of network-connected thermostats - Aspects of the present invention provide user interface methods for interacting with and managing network-connected thermostats through a thermostat management system. The user interface method identifies a primary enclosure associated with a thermostat management account with the remaining enclosures deemed secondary enclosures. The user interface displays the primary enclosure using a primary enclosure selection appearing in a foreground area of the user interface as a house and adjacent to thermostat selections representing each of the network-connected thermostats installed in the primary enclosure. In a background area of the user interface, a primary weather visual incorporates images of various weather patterns reflecting both a weather pattern in the vicinity of the primary enclosure and an approximate time of day at the geographic location of the primary enclosure. Secondary enclosure selections are visually deemphasized on the user interface when compared with the primary enclosure selection displayed on the user interface. | 07-26-2012 |
20120203379 | USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE FOR CONTROL UNIT - A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks. Different colors and intensities can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions and an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint can be altered by user rotation of the ring. The schedule can be displayed and altered by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring. Initial device set up and installation, the viewing of device operation, the editing of various settings, and the viewing of historical energy usage information are made simple and elegant by virtue of the described form factor, display modalities, and user input modalities of the device. | 08-09-2012 |
20120229521 | Methods and apparatus for control unit with a variable assist rotational interface and display - Provided is a method and system of processing rotational inputs to a control device having an electronic display and user interface, such as a programmable thermostat. Displayed on the electronic display is an initial display element selected from a sequence of display elements. In response to seeing such information, the user applies a rotational input applied to a rotational input device, such as a rotatable ring around the electronic display. A variable scroll assist engine determines an angular movement provided through the rotational input device and applies one or more heuristics to variably assist with a scrolling movement of a sequence of display elements. The variable scroll assist engine may reduce the rotational user input required to traverse an arbitrary number of display elements to as little as a quarter-revolution of the rotational input device in order that a user is better able to operate the control device. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239207 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 09-20-2012 |
20130024799 | DYNAMIC DEVICE-ASSOCIATED FEEDBACK INDICATIVE OF RESPONSIBLE DEVICE USAGE - Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion. | 01-24-2013 |
20130046397 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 02-21-2013 |
20130087629 | HVAC CONTROLLER WITH USER-FRIENDLY INSTALLATION FEATURES FACILITATING BOTH DO-IT-YOURSELF AND PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION SCENARIOS - A thermostat includes a housing, a user interface, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system using setpoint temperature values. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system may be further configured to identify, based on the subset of HVAC connectors, whether (i) only a single possible HVAC system configuration is indicated thereby, or (ii) multiple possible HVAC system configurations are indicated thereby, resolve a particular one of the multiple possible HVAC system configurations that is applicable based on a user response to an inquiry presented on the user interface, and operate the HVAC system according to the HVAC system configuration. | 04-11-2013 |
20130090767 | METHODS AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR REPORTING PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM CONTROLLED BY A SELF-PROGRAMMING NETWORK-CONNECTED THERMOSTAT - Systems and methods are described for interactively and graphically displaying 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 summary each of several days. 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. | 04-11-2013 |
20130099010 | THERMOSTAT WITH WIRING TERMINALS CONFIGURED FOR SPATIAL COMPACTNESS AND EASE OF WIRE INSTALLATION - A wall-mountable programmable electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a circular wall-mountable backplate with a central opening to allow for the passage of HVAC wires for electrical connection to the thermostat. The head unit body is also circular and is removeably mountable to the back plate. A plurality of wedge-shaped wiring terminals are mounted on the backplate for making a tool-free connection to HVAC wires. Each wiring terminal has button that a user can depress while a wire is inserted in a wire hole. The terminals are arranged along one or more circular arcs about the central opening of the backplate such that the wire holes face the central opening and the buttons are located close to the outer periphery of the backplate. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099011 | ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROMOTING SCHEDULE LEARNING ALGORITHMS FOR INTELLIGENT THERMOSTAT - A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes receiving an immediate-control input to change set point temperature, controlling temperature according to the set point temperature for a predetermined time interval, and then automatically resetting the set point temperature upon the ending of the predetermined time interval such that the user is urged to make further immediate-control inputs. A schedule for the programmable thermostat is automatically generated based on the immediate-control inputs. Methods are also described for receiving user input relating to the user's preference regarding automatically generating a schedule, and determining whether or not to automatically adopt an automatically generated schedule based on the received user input. | 04-25-2013 |
20130204440 | HVAC CONTROLLER WITH USER-FRIENDLY INSTALLATION FEATURES WITH WIRE INSERTION DETECTION - A thermostat includes a housing, a user interface, and a processing system configured to control an HVAC system using setpoint temperature values. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system is further configured to select and display one or more user inquiries using the user interface based on which connectors have wires inserted, thereby enhancing and streamlining the user installation procedure. | 08-08-2013 |
20130204441 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR SETPOINT CREATION AND MODIFICATION - A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The thermostat can be used to graphically display a two-dimensional setpoint plot area that includes a number of setpoint symbols each being positioned according to the time of day and temperature associated with the setpoint. The user can initiate the “birth” of a new setpoint, which includes presenting an animated sequence in which a new setpoint symbol is moved to a position on the plot area associated with the time of day and temperature for the new setpoint. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211783 | ATTRIBUTING CAUSATION FOR ENERGY USAGE AND SETPOINT CHANGES WITH A NETWORK-CONNECTED THERMOSTAT - Systems and methods are described for attributing a primary causative agent for HVAC system usage being above or below an average, the HVAC system being controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. Systems and method are also described interactively and graphically displaying schedule information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a network-connected thermostat. The displayed information can include indications of the manner in which one or more setpoints was created or last modified. Historical HVAC performance information can also be displayed that can include details of certain energy-effecting events such as setpoint changes, adaptive recovery, as well as automatic and manually set non-occupancy modes. | 08-15-2013 |
20130218351 | INSTALLATION OF THERMOSTAT POWERED BY RECHARGEABLE BATTERY - A thermostat is described that includes a rechargeable battery, a graphical user interface and a wireless network communication capabilities. During installation, in cases where the rechargeable battery is below a first threshold, the installation procedure is limited so as to avoid energy intensive installation steps which may not be supported by the low battery level. An example of an installation step that is avoided due to low battery level is set up of wireless communication. According to some embodiments, if the battery level is very low during initial installation, the installation process is halted while the battery is charged. An indication such as a flashing LED may be displayed so as to indicate to the user that the battery is being charged. | 08-22-2013 |
20130253710 | COMPUTATIONAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING PLURAL SENSING MICROSYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and related computer program products for controlling one or more HVAC systems using a distributed arrangement of wirelessly connected sensing microsystems are described. A plurality of wirelessly communicating sensing microsystems is provided, each sensing microsystem including a temperature sensor and a processor, at least one of the sensing microsystems being coupled to an HVAC unit for control thereof. The plurality of sensing microsystems is configured to jointly carry out at least one shared computational task associated with control of the HVAC unit. Each sensing microsystem includes a power management circuit configured to determine an amount of electrical power available for dedication to the at least one shared computational task. The at least one shared computational task is apportioned among respective ones of the plurality of sensing microsystems according to the amount of electrical power determined to be available for dedication thereto at each respective sensing microsystem. | 09-26-2013 |
20130255297 | ENCLOSURE COOLING USING EARLY COMPRESSOR TURN-OFF WITH EXTENDED FAN OPERATION - Systems and methods are described for controlling fan-only cooling duration following normal air conditioning operation. Following normal AC cooling, economical fan cooling is used. The duration of the fan cooling period is adjusted based on temperature measurements made during the previous cooling cycle that ended with fan cooling. An expected temperature drop to be provided by fan cooling as well as an expected time to achieve that drop is calculated based on prior measurements. The expected values are then used improve fan cooling for subsequent cooling cycles. In some cases, fan cooling is not initiated unless: (1) a time limit has an elapsed, such that sufficient condensation is allowed to form on the evaporator coil during the first phase, and (2) indoor relative humidity is below a predetermined threshold. | 10-03-2013 |
20130268129 | HVAC CONTROL SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE CONTROL UNITS - Embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature control system having multiple programmable, interchangeable docking thermostats that work cooperatively making it easier for a user to achieve desired temperature control in an enclosure with increased energy efficiency. One embodiment provides first and second docking thermostats each having a microprocessor in communication with at least one or more temperature sensors, an electrical connector connected to the microprocessor and a user interface. Also provided is a first HVAC docking device directly wired to the HVAC wire system and a second docking device that connects to a power source other than the HVAC wire system, where each of the docking devices have an electrical connector mateable to the electrical connector of the docking thermostats. The first and second docking thermostats may interchangeably mate to the docking devices, and either may control the HVAC system to achieve a desired comfort level with increased energy efficiency. | 10-10-2013 |
20130345883 | Systems and Methods for a Graphical User Interface of a Controller for an Energy-Consuming System Having Spatially Related Discrete Display Elements - Devices and methods are provided for generating and/or displaying a graphical user interface used to control an energy-consuming system, such as a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. Such an electronic device may include, for example, a processor that generates the graphical user interface and an electronic display that displays the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may include a menu formed from discrete display elements that, owing to the way in which the discrete display elements are shifted into and out of view on the screen, appear to be spatially related to one another. | 12-26-2013 |
20140005837 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE | 01-02-2014 |
20140058567 | HVAC SCHEDULE ESTABLISHMENT IN AN INTELLIGENT, NETWORK-CONNECTED THERMOSTAT - HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules. | 02-27-2014 |
20140084072 | THERMOSTAT SYSTEM WITH SOFTWARE-REPURPOSABLE WIRING TERMINALS ADAPTABLE FOR HVAC SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT RANGES OF COMPLEXITY - An auxiliary hardware box is described that can be installed at or near the HVAC system. The auxiliary box includes a large number of wiring terminals, for example 16 or more, for connecting to a relatively large number of HVAC control wires. The auxiliary box can include a “train map” type graphic display that is visible to the installer and provides a graphical indication as to which relays or switches are currently open and which are currently closed. A small sleek visually pleasing thermostat is also described that can be connected either directly to an HVAC system or to the auxiliary box, and can automatically detect an purpose the connected wires according to which it is connected to. | 03-27-2014 |
20140091153 | HVAC CONTROLLER WITH USER-FRIENDLY INSTALLATION FEATURES FACILITATING BOTH DO-IT-YOURSELF AND PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION SCENARIOS - A thermostat includes a processing system configured to control an HVAC system. The thermostat may also include a plurality of HVAC connectors configured to receive corresponding HVAC control wires, and a connection sensing module configured to determine the identities of HVAC connectors into which corresponding wires have been inserted. The processing system may be further configured to identify, based on the subset of HVAC connectors, whether (i) only a single possible HVAC system configuration is indicated thereby, or (ii) multiple possible HVAC system configurations are indicated thereby, resolve a particular one of the multiple possible HVAC system configurations that is applicable, and operate the HVAC system according to the HVAC system configuration. | 04-03-2014 |
20140096126 | UPDATING CONTROL SOFTWARE ON A NETWORK-CONNECTED HVAC CONTROLLER - Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing software updates to client devices. A client device (such as a thermostat) executes software to perform one or more functionalities of the device. Upon receiving an indicating that a software update is available, the device waits to download the software update until pre-download conditions are satisfied. Once the software update is downloaded, the device then waits to install the software update until pre-install conditions are satisfied. If the software update is non-critical and received during an initial installation of the device, the software update may not be installed until after installation of the device is complete. If the device is a thermostat, the device may delay installation of the software update until a controlled HVAC system in inactive. Control of the HVAC system may be disabled during installation of the software update. | 04-03-2014 |
20140222220 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component. | 08-07-2014 |
20140222367 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING SENSORS IN THERMOSTATS - Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction. | 08-07-2014 |
20140263679 | THERMOSTAT SYSTEM WITH SOFTWARE-REPURPOSABLE WIRING TERMINALS ADAPTABLE FOR HVAC SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENT RANGES OF COMPLEXITY - An auxiliary hardware box is described that can be installed at or near the HVAC system. The auxiliary box includes a large number of wiring terminals, for example 16 or more, for connecting to a relatively large number of HVAC control wires. The auxiliary box can include a “train map” type graphic display that is visible to the installer and provides a graphical indication as to which relays or switches are currently open and which are currently closed. A small sleek visually pleasing thermostat is also described that can be connected either directly to an HVAC system or to the auxiliary box, and can automatically detect an purpose the connected wires according to which it is connected to. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266669 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND ASSOCIATED INFORMATION PROCESSING FOR SECURITY IN A SMART-SENSORED HOME - This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security objectives. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277769 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DEMAND-RESPONSE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS - Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for managing demand-response programs and events. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat acquires various information about the residence, such as a thermal retention characteristic of the residence, a capacity of an HVAC associated with the residence to cool or heat the residence, a likelihood of the residence being occupied, a forecasted weather, a real-time weather, and a real-time occupancy. Such information is used to manage the energy consumption of the structure during a demand-response event. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277795 | UTILITY PORTALS FOR MANAGING DEMAND-RESPONSE EVENTS - Various utility portals that enable utility companies to manage demand-response events are disclosed. The disclosed utility portals include several different options for enabling utility companies to communicate information to and received information from an energy management system. The energy management system can host the portal and can carry out a demand response event via intelligent, network-connected devices based on information provided by the utility company. | 09-18-2014 |
20140316581 | Systems and Methods for Energy-Efficient Control of an Energy-Consuming System - Systems and methods are provided for efficiently controlling energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems. For example, an electronic device used to control an HVAC system may encourage a user to select energy-efficient temperature setpoints. Based on the selected temperature setpoints, the electronic device may generate or modify a schedule of temperature setpoints to control the HVAC system. | 10-23-2014 |
20140345845 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor. | 11-27-2014 |
20140346239 | THERMOSTAT FACILITATING USER-FRIENDLY INSTALLATION THEREOF - A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system and related systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating user-friendly installation of the thermostat are described. For one embodiment, automated installation verification is performed by the thermostat by automatically sensing which wires have been inserted, selecting a candidate HVAC operating function (e.g., heating or cooling) that is consistent with a subset of HVAC signal types indicated by the inserted wires, applying control signals to the HVAC system to invoke that HVAC operating function, and processing a time sequence of acquired temperature readings to determine whether that HVAC operating function was successfully carried out. For one embodiment, the initial automated testing of the heating and cooling functions are only carried out at times for which such heating or cooling function would normally be invoked during normal operation of the thermostat. Automated determination of a heat pump call convention is also described. | 11-27-2014 |
20140346241 | Round Thermostat with Flanged Rotatable User Input Member and Wall-Facing Optical Sensor that Senses Rotation - A sleek, low-profile wall-mountable thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a ring-shaped controller that rotates about a central axis, and an optical sensor directed away from the central axis and toward a radially inward-facing surface of the ring-shaped controller so as to accurately detect optical signals indicating controller's rotational movement. | 11-27-2014 |
20140358293 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A thermostat user interface for a network-connected thermostat is described. The thermostat includes a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a sidewall extending between first and second ends, the second end being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted; a circular rotatable ring being user rotatable for adjusting a setting of the thermostat; and a circular cover including a clear circular center portion surrounded by a painted outer portion. The clear circular center portion permits a corresponding circular portion of a non-circular dot-matrix color display element to be visible through the circular cover and the painted outer portion masks a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface. | 12-04-2014 |
20140358297 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A user-friendly, network-connected learning thermostat is described. The thermostat is made up of (1) a wall-mountable backplate that includes a low-power consuming microcontroller used for activities such as polling sensors and switching on and off the HVAC functions, and (2) separable head unit that includes a higher-power consuming microprocessor, color LCD backlit display, user input devices, and wireless communications modules. The thermostat also includes a rechargeable battery and power-stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from HVAC triggering circuits. By maintaining the microprocessor in a “sleep” state often compared to the lower-power microcontroller, high-power consuming activities, such as learning computations, wireless network communications and interfacing with a user, can be temporarily performed by the microprocessor even though the activities use energy at a greater rate than is available from the power stealing circuitry. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365019 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A system including a thermostat user interface for a network-connected thermostat is described. The system includes a thermostat including a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a circular rotatable ring, which is user rotatable for adjusting a setting of the thermostat. The system further includes a client application that is operable on a touch-screen device separate from the thermostat, that displays a graphical representation of a circular dial, that detects a user-input motion proximate the graphical representation, that determines a user-selected setpoint temperature value based on the user-input motion, that displays a numerical representation of the user-selected setpoint temperature value, and that wirelessly transmits to the thermostat data representative of the user-selected setpoint temperature. | 12-11-2014 |
20140367475 | ROUND THERMOSTAT WITH ROTATABLE USER INPUT MEMBER AND TEMPERATURE SENSING ELEMENT DISPOSED IN PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION WITH A FRONT THERMOSTAT COVER - An electronic thermostat is described that includes a head unit, a rotatable ring, a backplate, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a printed circuit board, and a daughter circuit. The daughter circuit is coupled to the printed circuit board, and senses motion of the rotatable ring and includes a first temperature sensor. A second temperature sensor separated from the first temperature sensor, are both used to calculate ambient temperature. The first temperature sensor is positioned at least partially within a cavity formed between a front surface of the head unit and the printed circuit board. | 12-18-2014 |
20150025691 | DYNAMIC DEVICE-ASSOCIATED FEEDBACK INDICATIVE OF RESPONSIBLE DEVICE USAGE - Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion. | 01-22-2015 |
20150058779 | User Interfaces for HVAC Schedule Display and Modification on Smartphone or Other Space-Limited Touchscreen Device - A novel small format touch screen user interface for displaying, adding and editing program setpoints is described. When editing a setpoint the user's input is constrained such that the user can only alter one parameter (either time or temperature). As soon as the user begins to drag a setpoint icon in either a horizontal (i.e. adjusting time), or vertical (i.e. adjusting temperature), the other parameter is constrained. Additionally, the disclosed user interface includes displaying information as to how the setpoint was most recently added or adjusted. For example the display can be used to indicate whether a setpoint was added or adjusted (1) on the thermostat itself; (2) by an automated learning algorithm; (3) by a user on a web client; or (4) by a user using a mobile client (such as a smart phone or tablet PC). Further, the name of the particular device is also displayed if known. | 02-26-2015 |
20150061859 | SECURITY SCORING IN A SMART-SENSORED HOME - This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security objectives. | 03-05-2015 |
20150066220 | THERMOSTAT USER INTERFACE - A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a body having a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint temperature are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks over a range of background tick marks on the electronic display. Different colors can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions, and different intensities of colors can be displayed to indicate an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint temperature for the device can be altered by user rotation of the rotatable ring, and the programmed schedule can be displayed to the user and altered by the user by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring. Initial device set up and installation, the viewing of device operation, the editing of various settings, and the viewing of historical energy usage information are made simple and elegant by virtue of the described form factor, display modalities, and user input modalities of the device. | 03-05-2015 |
20150074658 | UPDATING CONTROL SOFTWARE ON A NETWORK-CONNECTED HVAC CONTROLLER - Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing software updates to client devices. A client device (such as a thermostat) executes software to perform one or more functionalities of the device. Upon receiving an indicating that a software update is available, the device waits to download the software update until pre-download conditions are satisfied. Once the software update is downloaded, the device then waits to install the software update until pre-install conditions are satisfied. If the software update is non-critical and received during an initial installation of the device, the software update may not be installed until after installation of the device is complete. If the device is a thermostat, the device may delay installation of the software update until a controlled HVAC system in inactive. Control of the HVAC system may be disabled during installation of the software update. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081109 | COMPUTATIONAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN AN ENVIRONMENT HAVING MULTIPLE SENSING MICROSYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and related computer program products for using a distributed arrangement of wirelessly connected sensing microsystems are described. A plurality of wirelessly communicating sensing microsystems is provided, each sensing microsystem including a temperature sensor and a processor. The plurality of sensing microsystems is configured to jointly carry out at least one shared computational task. Each sensing microsystem may include a power management circuit configured to determine an amount of electrical power available for dedication to the at least one shared computational task or a heating effect generated in performing the shared computational task. The at least one shared computational task is apportioned among respective ones of the plurality of sensing microsystems according to the amount of electrical power determined to be available for dedication thereto at each respective sensing microsystem or the determined heating effect. | 03-19-2015 |