(12) United States Patent
`Rosen
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 11111 11111 11111 111111111111111 IIII IIII
`
`US006789739B2
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`Sep.14,2004
`
`(54)
`
`THERMOSTAT SYSTEM WITH LOCATION
`DATA
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Howard Rosen, 5756 Royalmount
`Avenue, Montreal, Quebec (CA), H4P
`lKS
`
`6,182,113 Bl
`6,260,765 Bl *
`6,336,142 Bl
`6,510,212 B2 *
`* cited by examiner
`
`1/2001 Narayanaswami .......... 709/203
`7/2001 Natale et al.
`................. 236/47
`1/2002 Kato et al.
`1/2003 Ito et al. . ... ... ... ... ... 379/102.03
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`Primary Examiner-Harry B. Tanner
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David T. Bracken
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 10/287,677
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 4, 2002
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0150927 Al Aug. 14, 2003
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/075,886, filed on
`Feb. 13, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,619,555.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................ G0SD 23/00; F23N 5/20
`U.S. Cl. ................... 236/51; 379/102.05; 236/46 R
`Field of Search ................................. 236/51, 46 R;
`455/420; 379/102.05, 102.5
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,568,385 A
`5,761,083 A *
`5,896,443 A
`5,915,026 A *
`5,999,882 A
`6,161,133 A
`
`10/1996
`6/1998
`4/1999
`6/1999
`12/1999
`12/2000
`
`Shelton
`..... 340/825.06
`Brown, Jr. et al.
`Dichter ....................... 709/220
`Mankovitz .. .. ... ... ... ... .. . 340/49
`Simpson et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 702/3
`Kikinis .................... 379/93.08
`
`A thermostat system includes a temperature sensor, an LCD
`for selectively displaying an alphanumeric message and a
`processor having a memory for storing program and data
`information. In one embodiment, the data includes a table
`storing key terms on a predetermined subject. A communi(cid:173)
`cations interface connects the processor and a remote cor(cid:173)
`respondent which is a source of current information.
`Periodically, communications is established with the remote
`correspondent to read the current information and parse the
`current information against the stored key terms. If a match
`is found, the current information is further searched for a
`value associated with the matched key term in order to
`display an alphanumeric message which shows a first mes(cid:173)
`sage component representative of the connotation of the
`matched key term and a second message component repre(cid:173)
`sentative of the associated value. In a variant embodiment,
`the remote correspondent provides a service periodically
`sending predetermined information for display on the LCD.
`In another variant embodiment, the thermostat system can
`use current information received from the first remote cor(cid:173)
`respondent to send directive information to suitably change
`the temperature ( or other parameter) set point at a second
`remote site.
`
`12 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`AT PREDETERMINED TIME(S),
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH AN
`~ - - - - - - - - - - REMOTE CORRESPONDENT WHICH IS
`A SOURCE OF CURRENT INFORMATION
`
`READ INFORMATION FROM
`THE REMOTE CORRESPONDENT
`
`PARSE TERMS IN THE INFORMATION
`AGAINST KEY TERMS STORED IN MEMORY
`
`SEARCH THE INFORMATION FOR AT
`LEAST ONE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH
`THE MATCHED KEY TERM
`
`DISPLAY AN ALPHANUMERIC MESSAGE
`INCLUDING A FIRST COMPONENT REPRESENTATIVE
`OF THE CONNOTATION OF THE MATCHED KEY
`TERM AND A SECOND COMPONENT REPRESENTATIVE
`OF THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MATCHED KEY TERM
`
`GOOGLE 1012
`
`001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14,2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`13
`
`CLOCK
`
`MEMORY
`
`8
`
`9
`
`CPU
`
`10 ~
`\
`I
`
`15
`
`~;
`
`I
`
`16
`
`14
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`UNIT
`
`11
`
`12
`
`TOUCH
`PA'J
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`MEMORY
`
`8
`
`9
`
`CPU
`
`13
`
`CLOCK
`
`1
`
`10
`
`~l
`
`c£15
`C
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`UNIT
`
`11
`
`12
`
`TOUCH
`PAD
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`3
`
`SPACE
`CONDITIONING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`7
`
`CONDITIONED
`SPACE
`
`6
`
`5
`
`4
`
`1
`
`6
`
`5
`
`FIG. 1
`
`3
`
`SPACE
`CONDITIONING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`7
`
`I '
`
`CONDITIONED
`SPACE
`
`4
`
`FIG. 2
`
`002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.14,2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`13
`
`CLOCK
`
`MEMORY
`
`8
`
`9
`
`CPU
`
`I NP UT/OUTPUT
`UNIT
`
`11
`
`12
`
`TOUCH
`PAD
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`6
`
`5
`
`SPACE
`CONDITIONING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`7
`
`CONDITIONED
`SPACE
`
`4
`
`FIG. 3
`
`MEMORY
`
`8
`
`9
`
`13~
`
`CLOCK
`
`~23
`
`CPU
`
`I 2\6
`
`24
`
`10
`
`3
`
`SPACE
`CONDITIONING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`6
`
`5
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT
`------ s
`UNIT
`Y=C=l =;::::_ _____ --.-_ __J
`
`CONDITIONED
`SPACE
`
`__l_~-
`-- r 15
`,RL~
`
`14
`
`12
`
`,
`
`11
`
`~
`~
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`4
`
`FIG. 4
`
`003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14,2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`START
`
`AT PREDETERMINED TIME(S),
`ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH AN
`REMOTE CORRESPONDENT WHICH IS
`A SOURCE OF CURRENT INFORMATION
`
`READ INFORMATION FROM
`THE REMOTE CORRESPONDENT
`
`PARSE TERMS IN THE INFORMATION
`AGAINST KEY TERMS STORED IN MEMORY
`
`N
`
`N
`
`SEARCH THE INFORMATION FOR AT
`LEAST ONE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH
`THE MATCHED KEY TERM
`
`N
`
`DISPLAY AN ALPHANUMERIC MESSAGE
`INCLUDING A FIRST COMPONENT REPRESENTATIVE
`OF THE CONNOTATION OF THE MATCHED KEY
`TERM AND A SECOND COMPONENT REPRESENTATIVE
`OF THE VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MATCHED KEY TERM
`
`FIG. 5
`
`004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 14,2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`CURRENT SET POINT: 25C
`
`9:27 AM
`
`26C
`
`CURRENT MONTREAL TEMPERATURE: +18C
`MONTREAL HIGH TODAY: +24C
`MONTREAL LOW TODAv +9C
`CURRENT QUOTE FOR MAGELLAN: 102.75
`
`FIG. 6
`
`START
`
`'
`AT PREOETERM:NED TIMES, ESTABLISH
`COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LOCAL
`THERMOSTAT SYSTEM AND A
`PREDETERMINED REMOTE
`CORRESPONDENT WHICH IS A SOURCE OF
`KNOWN CURRENT INFORMATION
`
`-
`
`,
`
`READ CURRENT INFORMATION
`FROM THE REMOTE CORRESPONDENT
`
`, r
`
`DISPLAY THE
`CURRENT INFORMATION
`
`FIG. 7
`
`005
`
`

`

`1
`THERMOSTAT SYSTEM WITH LOCATION
`DATA
`
`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A thermostat system according to the invention includes:
`a temperature sensor for providing an electrical signal
`indicative of the temperature of a conditioned space in
`5 which the temperature sensor is situated; a liquid crystal
`display (LCD) for selectively displaying an alphanumeric
`message; and a processor having: a CPU, real time clock and
`a memory for storing program and data information. In one
`embodiment, the data includes a table storing key terms on
`10 a predetermined subject (e.g., current and predicted weather
`conditions in a given locale). A communications interface is
`adapted to establish bi-directional communications (via the
`Internet or some other suitable facility) between the proces(cid:173)
`sor and a remote correspondent which is a source of current
`15 information on the predetermined subject. Periodically, or
`on demand if provided for, a program stored in the memory
`causes the CPU to selectively: establish communications
`with the remote correspondent, read the current information
`and parse the current information against the stored key
`20 terms. If a match is found, the current information is further
`searched for at least one value associated with the matched
`key term; and if at least one such value is found, an
`alphanumeric message is displayed on the LCD to show a
`first message component representative of the connotation of
`25 the matched key term and a second message component
`representative of the associated value.
`In a variant embodiment, the remote correspondent pro(cid:173)
`vides a service sending, periodically or on demand, prede(cid:173)
`termined information for display on the LCD. In this variant,
`there is no parsing against locally stored key terms. In
`another variant embodiment, the thermostat system can use
`current weather information received from the first remote
`correspondent to determine and act if the received informa(cid:173)
`tion is such that a second remote correspondent interfacing
`with a remotely controllable thermostat system should be
`contacted, and send directive information to suitably change
`the temperature ( or other parameter) set point at the second
`remote site.
`
`This application is a continuation in part of Regular
`Utility patent Ser. No. 10/075,886, filed Feb. 13, 2002 now
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,555.
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to the art of thermostats and, more
`particularly, to a thermostat system incorporating a commu(cid:173)
`nication interface for receiving and displaying diverse infor(cid:173)
`mation from a remote correspondent. In an extended
`version, this invention relates to a thermostat system for
`receiving and displaying information from a first remote
`correspondent and selectively issuing an information/
`directive message to a second remote correspondent.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Thermostats have been used for many years as a tem(cid:173)
`perature sensitive switch which controls heating and/or
`cooling equipment for conditioning a space in which the
`thermostat, or a temperature sensor connected to the
`thermostat, is placed. In the well known manner, a simple
`thermostat can be adjusted to establish a temperature set
`point such that, when the temperature in the conditioned
`space reaches the set point, the thermostat interacts with the
`heating and/or/cooling equipment to take suitable action to
`heat or cool the conditioned space as may be appropriate for
`the season.
`Modern thermostat systems, which take advantage of the
`ongoing rapid advances in electronic technology and circuit 30
`integration, have many features which provide more precise
`supervision of the heating and/or cooling equipment to
`achieve more economical and more comfortable manage(cid:173)
`ment of the temperature of a conditioned space. Many
`modern thermostat systems include a real time clock, a 35
`memory and a data processor to run a process control
`program stored in the memory to accurately measure the
`temperature of a temperature sensor disposed in the condi(cid:173)
`tioned space and to send control signals to the heating and/or
`cooling equipment to closely control the temperature of the 40
`conditioned space. Modern thermostat systems permit
`anticipating and minimizing hysterisis or overshoot of the
`temperature in the conditioned space. In addition, the pro(cid:173)
`gram can specify different set points at different times of the
`day and week and may also include a "vacation" mode 45
`which employs different set points when the conditioned
`space is not occupied for an extended period.
`Many modern thermostat systems are programmable by a
`user. Typically, prior art programmable thermostat system
`employ a tactile touch pad with various fixed position 50
`buttons to be touched in a precise sequence to program set
`points (which may vary with the day of the week) for
`programmable time periods which may include a vacation
`mode. The programming sequence may be followed on a
`separate display, typically a liquid crystal display.
`Other types of modern thermostat systems may limit, or
`even make no provision for, user programming. For
`example, thermostats distributed throughout a large com(cid:173)
`mercial establishment may be programmable only by autho(cid:173)
`rized persons employing special tools or may even have 60
`their programs permanently set at the time of manufacturer
`or installation. These non-programmable thermostat systems
`do not have a user accessible touch pad ( or have no touch
`pad at all), but may incorporate a user readable display.
`The present invention finds use in both programmable and 65
`non-programmable thermostat systems which operate under
`control of a processor.
`
`55
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed
`out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the
`specification. The invention, however, both as to organiza(cid:173)
`tion and method of operation, may best be understood by
`reference to the following description taken in conjunction
`with the subjoined claims and the accompanying drawing of
`which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a space
`conditioning system incorporating a thermostat system
`employing the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a
`space conditioning system incorporating a thermostat sys(cid:173)
`tem employing the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a
`space conditioning system incorporating a thermostat sys(cid:173)
`tem employing the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a space
`conditioning system incorporating a thermostat system
`employing the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a high level process flow chart describing the
`operation of the invention in a first embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a pictorial of an exemplary display illustrating
`information presented to a user by the use of the invention;
`and
`FIG. 7 is a high level flow chart describing the operation
`of the invention in a second embodiment.
`
`006
`
`

`

`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`3
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT(S)
`
`20
`
`30
`
`Referring first to FIG. 1, a thermostat system includes a
`processor 1 and a temperature sensor 5 which is disposed in
`a conditioned space 4. The processor 1 and the sensor 5 may 5
`be situated in a common housing (not shown) or separated,
`all as very well known in the art. The common housing is
`usually, but not necessarily, placed in the conditioned space
`4. Thus, those skilled in the art will understand that the block
`diagram of FIG. 1 is very general in order to best explain the 10
`invention.
`The processor 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
`9 in communication with a memory 8 which stores data and
`program information and also, via an input/output unit (1/0
`unit) 10, an optional touch pad 11 and a liquid crystal display
`(LCD) 12. The liquid crystal display may optionally be
`backlit by any suitable means (not shown). The memory 8
`may include a read-only part which is factory-programmed
`and a random-access part which stores data subject to
`change during operation. A settable real time clock 13 is
`used to keep time in the thermostat system to facilitate
`diverse operations, such as different temperature set points
`(desired temperatures), during different periods of the day
`cycle. The thermostat system may be suitably powered by a 25
`battery (not shown) and/or from equipment to which is
`connected. The 1/0 unit includes a communications inter(cid:173)
`face 14 for coordinating communications between the CPU
`9 and a remote correspondent 15. The communications
`interface 14 may be, for example, a conventional serial port.
`Thus, in the usual manner during normal operation, the
`temperature sensor 5 sends an electrical signal ( e.g., if the
`sensor 5 is a simple thermistor, a resistance value; several
`types of temperature sensors are widely used) representative
`of the temperature within the conditioned space 4 which the 35
`processor can compare against a previously entered set point
`to determine if control signals need to be sent to the space
`conditioning equipment 3. For example, if the temperature
`in the conditioned space 4 is found to be too low when
`operation is in the heating mode, the processor 1 signals the 40
`space conditioning equipment 3 circulate, through ducts 6,
`7, air from/to the conditioned space 4 which is heated by the
`space conditioning equipment before return to the condi(cid:173)
`tioned space. This heating phase continues until the sensor
`5 indicates that the space is now too hot ( or approaching too 45
`hot) with reference to the set point such that the processor 1
`sends signal(s) to the space conditioning equipment 3 to
`cease the heating function, all as very well known in the art.
`In a cooling mode, a counterpart procedure is followed.
`Those skilled in the art will understand that the control 50
`process typically includes such refinements as anticipation,
`hysterisis accommodation, fan control, etc. which are
`acknowledged, but are not directly relevant to the invention.
`It may be noted that integrated circuit chips including all
`the processor components with all the necessary interface 55
`conditioning circuits are available off-the-shelf and are
`under constant refinement for increased power. The subject
`invention only requires the capabilities of such a processor,
`and off-the-shelf integrated circuit processor chips may be
`used to advantage in the subject thermostat system.
`Consider now a first embodiment of the invention. Refer(cid:173)
`ring to FIG. 5 as well as FIG. 1, there is stored in the memory
`8 (typically, in ASCII format) a series of key terms pertain(cid:173)
`ing to a subject of interest such as the local weather.
`Exemplary key terms for this subject may be "temperature", 65
`"relative humidity", "high", "low", "barometric pressure",
`etc. The key terms may be stored in the memory during the
`
`4
`manufacturing process of the thermostat system or, as will
`be described below, by user entry using the touchpad 11 and
`LCD 12.
`At one or more predetermined times of day (and/or
`on-demand if provided for in the operating program) which
`have been previously stored in the memory 8 and established
`by the clock 13, the CPU 9 starts the process shown in FIG.
`5 by issuing signals to the 1/0 unit 10 to cause the commu(cid:173)
`nications interface 14 to establish communications, via link
`16, with a remote correspondent 15. The remote correspon(cid:173)
`dent 15 has a known data communications "address" and, in
`the example, is a source of current information, such as local
`weather. Such local current weather information sources are
`widely available and are routinely accessed by, for example,
`15 using the Internet.
`When the current local weather information is transmitted
`from the remote correspondent 15 via link 16 to the com(cid:173)
`munications interface 14 and thence to the CPU 9, the CPU
`parses the information against the key terms stored in
`memory 8 to determine if there is a match. This is easily
`achieved because the source code (e.g., HTML if the com(cid:173)
`munication is via the Internet) of the information will
`typically also be in ASCII format. If the CPU 9 senses a
`match, the just-received information is searched for the
`presence of at least one "value" associated with the matched
`key term. If such a value is found and under control of the
`CPU 9, a first alphanumeric message component represen(cid:173)
`tative of the connotation of the matched key term and a
`second alphanumeric message component representative of
`the value associated with the key term are displayed on the
`LCD 12.
`If no value for the present matched term is found, but
`more key terms in the present set are yet to be compared to
`information just received from the remote correspondent 15,
`the same process is repeated until all the key terms in the
`present set have been parsed and alphanumeric messages, if
`generated, have been sent to the LCD 12. The immediate
`session then ends.
`As an example, assume that Montreal weather is of
`interest to an occupant of a conditioned space in the Mon(cid:173)
`treal area which uses the subject thermostat system and that
`"temperature", "high" and "low" are the key terms for the
`subject of local weather stored in the memory 8.
`Periodically, as determined by times stored in the memory 8,
`the CPU 9 issues signals to access the remote correspondent
`15 (a site providing local Montreal weather in the example)
`and download the current weather information as a data
`stream. If the CPU finds, by examining and processing the
`data stream, that the term "temperature" has been received,
`it looks for the next characters in the data stream which can
`be a value associated with "temperature"; e.g., it may
`quickly find "+18° C.". With this coupling established, the
`CPU may access the memory 8 to read the prestored
`alphanumeric message component "Current Montreal Tem(cid:173)
`perature:" and then concatenate, as a second alphanumeric
`message component, "18C." and then send the complete
`message to the LCD 12 which displays: "CURRENT MON(cid:173)
`TREAL TEMPERATURE: 18° C.".
`In a similar manner, if the key term "high" and an
`associated value are sensed, the exemplary message "MON(cid:173)
`TREAL HIGH TODAY: 26C." may be displayed; and if the
`key term "low" and an associated value are sensed, the
`exemplary message "MONTREAL LOW TODAY: 9C."
`may be displayed.
`While an obvious application for using the invention is
`acquiring and displaying current weather information, other
`
`60
`
`007
`
`

`

`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`5
`types of current information may be obtained and displayed
`in a like manner. For example, current stock quotations for
`stock indexes and individual stocks, mutual funds and the
`like can be automatically acquired, displayed and periodi(cid:173)
`cally updated by suitably programming the processor 1 with 5
`the address of a site which maintains such information
`current along with the desired key terms which may, in this
`example, be NYSE, etc. stock symbols. Thus, the "value"
`term would be the current stock quote. As an example, if the
`key term "FMAGX" is matched and an associated value of
`102.75 is also found, the alphanumeric message "CUR(cid:173)
`RENT QUOTE FOR MAGELLAN: 102.75" is generated
`and displayed. To closely track one or more stocks or funds,
`the remote correspondent can be accessed as often as desired
`to "refresh" the alphanumeric message showing the current
`quote. A wide variety of types of information may be 15
`programmed, accessed and displayed in a like manner.
`It will be understood that the processor 1 can communi(cid:173)
`cate successively or at different times with different remote
`correspondents. Thus, referring to FIG. 6, the current local
`weather information and the selected stock market informa- 20
`tion can be serially received and processed for display
`together in a manner which appears to be virtually simul(cid:173)
`taneous to a user. As previously noted, the overall display
`can be updated throughout the day at various times, as to
`each remote correspondent accessed, which have previously 25
`been entered in the memory 8.
`If the thermostat system is programmable, the operating
`program installed during manufacture may provide for user
`entry following conventional instructions similar to those
`used in user-programming the climate control operation of 30
`the thermostat system. For example, assuming that the
`remote correspondent has an Internet address, the address
`may be entered using the touchpad 11 in any suitable manner
`as previously set up by a system programmer during soft(cid:173)
`ware design. Then, various key terms the user wishes to 35
`employ with various remote correspondents having various
`addresses may be entered by a user.
`As previously mentioned, the invention is not limited to
`use in programmable thermostat systems or even to ther(cid:173)
`mostat systems in which correspondent addresses and key
`terms have previously been entered into memory 8. Still
`referring to FIG. 1 and also to FIG. 7, in a variant embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention, a thermostat system communicates
`with a remote correspondent 15 which provides a custom(cid:173)
`ized service to the user of the thermostat system. In this 45
`embodiment of the invention, the user is a subscriber to the
`customized service in order to receive known current infor(cid:173)
`mation on a predetermined schedule. At predetermined
`times ( or on demand), data communications is established
`between the processor 1 and the remote correspondent 15 50
`which, in this case, provides the customized service. The
`current information is downloaded and displayed. The
`resulting messages shown and periodically updated on the
`LCD 12 may be as shown in exemplary FIG. 6 if, for
`example, Montreal current temperature, daily high and low 55
`temperatures and the current quote for Magellan is what the
`user has subscribed to receive.
`When the service is set up, the user and the business
`which provides the service via the remote correspondent 15
`agree as to what current information (typically more than in
`the example) will be supplied on an agreed schedule.
`Depending upon the server-client relationship, either the
`processor 1 or the remote correspondent 15 may institute the
`current information transfer at the predetermined times or on
`demand.
`While the Internet is not the only facility which the
`subject thermostat system may use to communicate with a
`
`6
`remote correspondent, it is, at the state-of-the-art the most
`readily widely available and easily accessible. Thus, FIG. 2
`show a typical coupling in which the communications
`interface 14 sends/receives serial data to/from an external (to
`the thermostat system) modem 20 via serial link 16. The
`modem conventionally interfaces with an Internet Service
`Provider (ISP) 21 which completes the communications link
`to the remote correspondent in the well-known manner. The
`modem 20 may be dial-up, cable, DSL or any other type
`10 suitable for the communications environment in a given
`installation.
`At the state-of-the-art and as shown in FIG. 3, a modem
`24 for communicating with the ISP 21 may be integrated
`into the communications interface 14 of the input/output unit
`14 to eliminate the need for an external modem. Thus, when
`communications is established with the remote correspon-
`dent 15 according to a schedule or upon demand, the data
`transfer takes place via modem 24 and data link 26 as shown.
`Attention is now directed to FIG. 4 which illustrates an
`optional extension of the subject thermostat system. It will
`be observed that the ISP 21 is not only in communication
`with the first remote correspondent 15, but also with a
`second remote correspondent 26. The second remote corre-
`spondent 23 may be another thermostat system (controlling
`another conditioned space (not shown) with other space
`conditioning equipment (not shown)) which can be remotely
`controlled. In this embodiment, data received from the first
`remote correspondent 15 as previously described may
`include specific information which can be interpreted by the
`processor 1 to require action at the site of the second remote
`correspondent 23. As an example, assume that the site of the
`second remote correspondent 23 is a temporarily unoccupied
`dwelling and that weather data received by the subject
`thermostat system indicates a predicted significantly low
`temperature predicted for the region of the site of the second
`remote correspondent 23. The processor 1 may determine, in
`response to this new weather information supplied by the
`first remote correspondent 15, that the heat should be turned
`on ( or the set point raised) at the site of the second remote
`40 correspondent 23 in order to protect water pipes against
`freezing, warm the conditioned space controlled by the
`second remote correspondent in anticipation of its upcoming
`occupation, etc.
`Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in a large
`facility incorporating subdivisions in the conditioned space,
`each conditioned space having its own thermostat system,
`each of the thermostat systems may independently employ
`the invention as previously described.
`The invention described above includes additional
`embodiments. In a specific example of these additional
`embodiments, a thermostat stores data that establishes its
`physical location for interaction with remote devices located
`away from that thermostat. Those other devices may be
`Internet sites transmitting weather data to the thermostat
`based on the geographic location of the thermostat. More
`generally, this embodiment uses location based interactions
`between an environmental controller (with one or more parts
`such as transmitter means, a display, data storage means or
`60 control means) and a remote device which responds to
`location data received from the controller.
`Control means for an environmental controller, such as a
`thermostat, include the structure needed to turn HVAC
`functions on or off or change operation thereof, impose
`65 control setpoints or other control parameters, turn lighting
`on or off, sense and respond to environmental gases or
`smoke, or other of the several functions which may be
`
`008
`
`

`

`US 6,789,739 B2
`
`7
`accomplished locally or wirelessly by present day program(cid:173)
`mable thermostats and their distributed components. Trans(cid:173)
`mitter means for the environmental controller include one or
`more wireless and/or wired connections to the remote
`device. In a specific example, transmitter means are a
`modem with Internet or network connection that receives
`location data from the environmental controller and trans(cid:173)
`mits the location data to a specific address on the Internet or
`in the network.
`Remote devices for the present invention include, as 10
`described above, Internet or computer network nodes or
`other similar devices that receive location data from the
`transmitter means. A response in the remote device may be
`as little as simply recording the fact that an environmental
`controller is at a physical location. Another form of response
`is for the remote device to use the location data in an
`operation or algorithm that creates an output stored at the
`remote device or transmitted from it.
`In the above specific example, location data of a thermo(cid:173)
`stat is transmitted from transmission means (a modem)
`through the Internet to a website maintained to have access
`to weather or climate information (the remote device). The
`weather website (the remote device) receives the location
`data and associates it with local weather data for the ther(cid:173)
`mostat location, which is then transmitted to the thermostat
`through the modem (a response of the remote device). The
`thermostat uses the local weather data for display, stores it
`in storage means, and/or uses it within control means ( a
`response by the environmental controller). The word "local"
`with reference to weather data is relative to a desired
`geographic range and/or time into the future.
`The present embodiments of location data are for physical
`location of an environmental controller, not a specific net(cid:173)
`work address such as an IP address which does not have 35
`geographical relevance. Presently, a prior art thermostat may
`already have stored in it for its network use a unique IP
`address that identifies the thermostat for control via inputs
`from the Internet. Location data, unless correlated with that
`IP address to create a code system, is different from the IP
`address.
`This location data in one form can be as simple as a
`telephone number or portion thereof, a zip or postal code,
`longitude and latitude information or other systems or codes
`that correspond to location information. If location data is a 45
`telephone number, which would be easily input into the
`environmental controller with even a simple user interface,
`that telephone number can be "looked up" by a server and
`correlated to a geographical address. In a preferred form of
`the location data, a first environmental controller will have 50
`location data distinguishing it from all other environmental
`controllers. The way to distinguish between environmental
`controllers may be with specific codes, such as IP addresses,
`combined with physical location data which would be used
`for more than one environmental controller. In, this way, 55
`even nearby thermostats can have unique means of receiving
`geographical information pertaining to its climatic location.
`To date, the prior art contains no environmental control(cid:173)
`lers that have geographical information, such as location
`data in the form of a zip code or telephone number, stored 60
`in them. Location data may take several forms as it is
`originally input into and through a local environmental
`controller, output to transmitter means, delivered to and
`processed by a remote device, and retransmitted by that
`remote device to the environmental controller or other 65
`remote device. Whatever its form, location data correlates in
`some way to the physical and geographic location of the
`
`8
`environmental controller. For example, transmitter means
`may link the environmental controller to an intervening
`remote server which has stored in it a correlation between
`the specific IP address or other specific identifier and the
`5 physical location of that environmental controller. In that
`case, a specific IP address or specific identifier is the
`functional equivalent of location dat