Patent ID: 9552002
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: F24F,G05D

Claim:
1. A method of graphically interacting with a user to establish a new setpoint temperature value on a thermostat for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising: graphically displaying a two dimensional setpoint plot area to a user via an electronic display of a user interface, the display being disposed within a housing of the thermostat, the setpoint plot area including a first axis direction indicating a temperature value associated with one or more setpoints and a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction, the second axis direction indicating a time of day value associated with the one or more setpoints, receiving user input indicating the user's desire to establish a new setpoint, the user input being received on the user interface; in response to said received user input, displaying on the electronic display a graphical representation indicative of the new setpoint, wherein the new setpoint is associated with a particular point in time; on the plot area being displayed on the electronic display, presenting an animated sequence in which the graphical representation is moved to a first position on the plot area indicative of a first temperature value and a first time of day value associated with the new setpoint, the animated graphical representation tending to facilitate attraction of the user's attention thereto, the first time of day value being the particular point in time; receiving user input via the user interface indicating the user's desire to modify the first temperature value to a second temperature value associated with the new setpoint, wherein the user input is used to determine a user-defined temperature for the second temperature value associated with the new setpoint for evaluation based on an energy-savings parameter; displaying an energy savings indicator simultaneously with the two dimensional setpoint plot area in response to the second temperature value associated with the new setpoint satisfying the energy-savings parameter; receiving user input via the user interface indicating the user's desire to modify the first time of day value to a second time of day value associated with the new setpoint, wherein the second time of day is a second particular point in time; and using the processing system, controlling one or more HVAC system components of the HVAC system in accordance with the second temperature value and the second time of day value associated with the new setpoint as modified by the user until a point in time occurs that is associated with a setpoint of the one or more setpoints.