Abstract:
The invention provides a method of inputting a code to a thermostat comprising the following steps, providing a thermostat having a display panel and a receiver for receiving signals from a local router, the local router configured to receive signals via the internet from a remote wireless device (RID), transmitting a register command to the local router, transmitting new user information to the local router and the thermostat receiving a serial number from the local router and the thermostat synchronizing with the RID without requiring any direct inputs to the display panel of the thermostat. The RID may verify the service set identifier (SSID).

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional application No. 62/067,148 filed on Oct. 22, 2014. 
     
    
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (HVAC) control system that accommodates and facilitates control from a remote input device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    HVAC control systems are used to control the environment within a building and are more frequently linked via the interact for web-enabled building control. The internet connection allows receipt of instructions from a remote and/or mobile device. However, there are many levels of complexity that can lead to difficult implementation and use of such controllers. For example, many wireless network communication protocols exist, such as Bluetooth, DSRC, EnOcean, IrDA, Redlink, RFC, Wi-Fi or Zigbee®. These wireless network communications must reliably link to components such as routers, hubs, sensors, computers, mobile phones or tablets and thermostats. A multitude of software and graphical user interfaces may be used to attempt to set-up and control the systems. All of this complexity can lead to layers of technical problems for the system installers and unsophisticated users. In particular, many users have difficulty with set-up procedures when there are a multitude of steps required to link the components of the system. The present invention overcomes many of such difficulties and provides for easy set-up and synchronization between a remote device and a HVAC control. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention provides for a method of inputting a code to a thermostat comprising the following steps providing a thermostat having a receiver for receiving signals from a local router, the local router configured to receive signals via the internet from a remote input device (RID), transmitting, by the RID, a register command to the local router, and placing a thermostat in a listen mode, transmitting, by the RID, new user information to the local router in order to trigger the local router to communicate with the thermostat, the thermostat synchronizing with the RID and receiving information from the RID without requiring any direct user inputs to the thermostat, and the thermostat receiving registration information from the local router and verifying, by the RID, the service set identifier (SSID). 
         [0005]    The method wherein the local router provides a Wi-Fi network and the method including the step of receiving a Wi-Fi password at the thermostat. The method wherein the thermostat uses software tools to synchronize with the RID in one step. The method wherein the remote server sends a message to the user that a user account has been created successfully. The method wherein a successful account creation message is transmitted to the RID, the RID having a display and including one of a computer, tablet, phone, laptop, notebook, wireless computer, wireless tablet, wireless phone, wireless laptop, wireless notebook. The method wherein the RID receives an alert transmission that no valid internet connection is available, there is a communication loss, there is an unknown error, or other types of alerts. 
         [0006]    The method wherein a user obtains the serial number by examining an authentication card or a panel of the thermostat where the thermostat serial number is displayed and inputting the thermostat serial number to the RID. The method wherein the transmission of the device name is input to the local router from the RID. The method wherein the transmission of appropriate Wi-Fi network data is transmitted to the RID. 
         [0007]    The method wherein a se protocol is transmitted to a remote server that transmits the set-up protocol to the local router to associate the thermostat with the RID without requiring a single direct input by the user to the thermostat and a display panel of the thermostat is solely for manual control of the thermostat and there are no commands available on the display panel to input the SSID to synchronize the thermostat with the RID. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the invention provides a thermostat configured for remote control comprising a display panel of the thermostat that is solely for manual control of the thermostat and there are no commands available on the display panel and no built in web server to synchronize the thermostat with a remote input device (RID) after the thermostat is placed in listen mode, a receiver disposed in the thermostat for receiving synchronizing codes from a local router, the local router capable of receiving instructions from the RID and the RID verifying the service set identifier (SSID). 
         [0009]    The thermostat wherein the local router is capable of receiving communications from a Wi-Fi network, the RID configured to transmit a Wi-Fi password to the thermostat. The thermostat may receive a signal from the local router that a user account has been created successfully. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the invention provides a web enabled building control system comprising a web enabled control device linked to al first network, and for receiving synchronizing instructions via the first network, one or more building environment control devices coupled to the web enabled building control device over a second network, at least one of the one or more building environment control devices coupled to one or more HVAC units, the web enabled control device configured to receive sensor information from at least one or more building environment control devices via the second network. The web enabled control device configured to link with and receive information via a server displaying a web-page or app page including configuration information and building schedule information, a set-up protocol is received by the building environment control device placed in listen mode over the second network without requiring a single direct input by a user to configure the building environment control device in order to receive signals from the web enabled control device, a display panel of the building environment control device is solely for manual control and there are no commands available on the display panel to synchronize the building environment control device from a web-page and the web enabled control device verifying the service set identifier (SSID). 
         [0011]    The system wherein the web enabled building control device is further adapted to issue commands to at least one of the building environment control devices via the second network to activate or deactivate one or more HVAC units. The system wherein at least some of the commands are based in part on received sensor information. The system wherein at least some of the commands are based in part on building schedule information. The system wherein the building environment control device is a thermostat having as display panel and there are no commands available on the display panel or via physical buttons to configure or synchronize the thermostat via a remote wireless device after the thermostat has been placed in listen mode. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment, the present invention provides for a method of inputting a code to a thermostat comprising the steps of providing a thermostat having a display panel and a receiver for receiving signals from a local router, the local router configured to receive signals via the internet from a remote input device (RID), receiving by the local router a register command from the RID, receiving by the local router new user information from the RID and the thermostat receiving a serial number from the local router and the thermostat synchronizing with the RID without requiring any direct inputs to the display panel of the thermostat. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1-21  are screen shots of set-up displays for registering a user account and linking to a local router; 
           [0014]      FIG. 22  is a flow diagram depicting the steps to configure and set-up a home comfort control device; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 23  is a schematic diagram of a household or building system for receiving configuration data from a remote wireless device to program a thermostat within the home. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternate forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail, it should be understood that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Turning to  FIGS. 1-23 , an embodiment of the invention will be described.  FIGS. 1-21  depict screen shots of a mobile device illustrating the steps of the present invention.  FIG. 22  depicts a flow diagram illustrating the steps of the present invention.  FIG. 23  depicts a schematic view of the present invention depicting the present invention.  FIG. 23  depicts a mobile device such as a Smartphone or other handheld wireless device  10  that is capable of transmissions using Wi-Fi or WLAN under IEEE Communication Standard 802.11, or any other well-know wireless communication system. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a remote input device (RID) such as a Smartphone or other device that is capable of transmissions using Wi-Fi or WLAN under IEEE Communication Standard 802.11, or any other well-known wireless communication system. It is well known to use encryption means to send data and each of the data transmissions described below may be encrypted and decrypted. The RID may include a computer, tablet, phone, laptop, notebook, wireless computer, wireless tablet, wireless phone, wireless laptop or wireless notebook. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1-2 , the device  10  includes a touchscreen  15  including a data input, area  18  and keypad area  20 . Using well known systems such iPhone apps or Play apps from Google, or other well-known methods. The user starts the process at step  101  loading the (BlueLink) application on a mobile device  10 . The display screen  15  in  FIG. 1  depicts account registration screen and includes touch pad buttons for “Register” to create a new account, “Have an Account” to access an existing account, empty input blocks for “Email” and “Confirm email” input blocks. A user types on the keypad  20  in order to input their email address. This coincides with Step  102  of  FIG. 22 . 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , the account registration screen is depicted in the display area  15  and the user inputs a first and last name using keypad  20 . At  FIG. 3 , the “Company Name” may be entered on the touch screen  15 . At  FIG. 4  the “Address” (1,2) may be entered.  FIG. 5  provides the screen  15  for entry of city, state or providence and zip or post code.  FIG. 6  depicts the screen  15  for entry of phone number for text alerts and allows the user to elect to receive news about updates and other products by marking the check box.  FIG. 7  depicts screen  15  for the user to identify a contact reference by selecting a check box for Email, Text Message or BlueLink Application according step  103  ( FIG. 22 ). 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 7  the User&#39;s preferred method of being contacted is selecting by clinking on check boxes for “E-Mail,” “Text Messages,” or “BlueLink Application.” 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , step  104  is accomplished by selecting a time zone where the equipment resides. A scroll bar is present on the screen to allow display of multiple time zones. Also selection of Daylight Savings Time may be selected. Note that the keyboard area  20  has been removed and in this embodiment a time zone is selected by touching the screen. For example, when the “Central Time” Zone is selected, it will be highlighted in grey. This step is shown in  FIG. 22  as step  104 . Also at step  104 , the user inputs an e-mail address using screen  15  depicted in  FIG. 9  and password using screen  15  depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts account registration screen  15  where the user agrees to the terms and conditions by pressing the “Agree” button or reviewing terms and conditions by pressing the “MIMS and Conditions” button on the display area  15 . This coincides with Step  105  of  FIG. 22 . 
         [0024]    At  FIG. 12 , account registration screen  15  (continued) is displayed and allows the user to register by pressing the “Register” button on the display area  15  or to cancel the transaction by pressing the “Cancel” button. This coincides with Step  106  of  FIG. 22 . Upon selecting the Register button, the new user information will be transmitted. 
         [0025]    Following the transmission of the new user information to a cloud server  201  ( FIG. 23 ) configured to handle transactions for this system (BlueLink), a new user account is created. Well-known means of creating customer accounts using software tools may be accomplished at this Step  107 . 
         [0026]    At Step  108 , the server sends a message that the account has been created successfully. As depicted in  FIG. 13  on the display area  15  of the mobile device  10 , a window is opened that states “Account Successfully created”. Other alerts that may be posted via the mobile device  10  include “No Valid Internet Connection,” “Communication Loss,” “Unknown Error,” or other types of alerts. At the next Step  109 , ( FIG. 14 ) the screen display area  15  changes and the keyboard area  20  is redisplayed so that the user can input the thermostat serial I.D. number. The user can review the user manual or authentication card were the serial I.D. number is displayed. Using the keypad  20 , the user will enter the number in the block area in the display section  15  of the mobile device  10  as depicted in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0027]    At Step  110 , the service set identifier (SSID) name is displayed on the mobile device ( FIG. 22 ). 
         [0028]    At step  111  the Wi-Fi SSID network to use is verified after the thermostat is placed in listen mode. At Step  112 , the application receives the identification of the Wi-Fi network to be used and the password for the Wi-Fi network is input into the display area  15  of the mobile device  10  ( FIG. 15 ). Once the application receives the password via input screen as shown in  FIG. 10 , the application will activate the communication via the Wi-Fi network to the thermostat and at Step  113  the mobile device is connected to the thermostat SSID ( FIG. 16 ) and the connect mode is confirmed by pressing “OK” on the screen  15 . There are no commands available on the display panel and no built in web server to synchronize the thermostat with a remote input device (RID) after the thermostat is placed in listen mode. 
         [0029]    At Step  114 , a display is provided by the mobile device that a connection is being made to the thermostat device (or web enabled control device that Verifies the SSID. As shown in  FIG. 17  the mobile device  10  includes a pop-up window on the screen  15  that states, “1) Go to your devices Wi-Fi settings and select BlueLink_WiFi, Important: Don&#39;t close this app. 2) Return here when done and press OK.” At Step  115 , a P2P set-up protocol is communicated to the application running on the thermostat. As shown in  FIG. 18 , a new pop-up window is displayed on the screen  15  that states, “Connecting to thermostat. Please do not close window until complete. This could take a few minutes.” This screen may also display a timer or revolving circle to show that the connection process is occurring. 
         [0030]    At Step  116 , a display appears on the mobile device that the connection is successful as depicted in display area  15  depicted in  FIG. 19 . At Step  117 , the application will transfer via the Wi-Fi network a selection and Wi-Fi password to the thermostat and not the SSID and there are no commands available on the display panel or via physical buttons to configure or synchronize the thermostat via a remote wireless device after the thermostat has been placed in listen mode. 
         [0031]    At Step  119 , the thermostat device is set up according to the instructions from the server via communication from the Wi-Fi network and attempts to login to available network(s) with the received password. At successful completion at Step  120 , the device transmits login information to the cloud server. At Step  121 , the Cloud server associates the user mobile device via a unique serial number so that the mobile device  10  and the thermostat are synchronized as confirmed in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0032]    At Step  122 , a display on the mobile device is displayed that the connection between the thermostat and the mobile device has been successful. At Step  123 , the thermostat device is added to the app device list the mobile device  10 . At Step  124 , a display is made on the hand-held mobile device that the thermostat (as named previously in step  110 ) has been successfully added. Step  124  corresponds with  FIG. 20  that depicts a pop-up window that states, “Uploading thermostat data . . . WAIT.” Upon completion of successfully adding the device the pop-up window in  FIG. 20  will disappear. 
         [0033]    At Step  125 , the application on the mobile device is enabled. Enablement allows for control of the thermostat to begin via the mobile device  10 . Step  125  is the final step that completes the code input and set-up between the mobile device and the thermostat.  FIG. 21  depicts a screen shot of the standard control screen following installation of the device. This screen allows a user to designate which locations in a building where a thermostat is located and has been linked for control by the mobile device. For example “Family Room” is highlighted in  FIG. 21 , so that the user may select an option with respect to the family room thermostat, such as “Update Thermostats,” Step  126  is the end of the input and set-up process ( FIG. 22 ). 
         [0034]    It is noted that during the code input and set-up process, there is no requirement for the user to make any inputs to the thermostat itself or to interact with the display screen on the thermostat itself. The present invention allows for the set-up process solely via the user&#39;s hand-held mobile device  10 . As can be understood, following the set-up, the user can anywhere in the world and control the thermostat via the mobile device with communications being sent through the standard communication networks to the Cloud, and the Cloud server which can interact with the Wi-Fi network at the user&#39;s residence or commercial facility.  FIG. 23  depicts a diagram of the entire system in schematic form. The mobile device  10 , having been set-up and synchronized as describe above communicates via cloud server  201  to a WiFi router  220  located in a home or business. The router  220  communicates with the thermostat  210  via transceiver  215  that includes communication protocol for wireless transmission and receiver functions, such IEEE 802.11. The transceiver communicates with the microprocessor  214  to control the systems connected to the thermostat, such HVAC system control relays  211  that control a furnace or boiler, etc. In an embodiment the microprocessor  214  may be programmed to include wireless mesh communication as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,410,931 and/or 8,233,471 assigned to SIPCO, the total disclosure of such publications are each incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0035]    It is noted that the thermostat  210  may include a touch pad display screen  212 , however the operation and set-up of the above invention does not require the user to input any commands or instructions via the thermostat display  212 . All set-up steps can be accomplished via a mobile device  10  running the communication app and code input system that causes the microprocessor  214  to move to P2P when the set-up steps  100  to  126  are followed, as discussed herein. 
         [0036]      FIG. 23  depicts a diagram of the entire system in schematic form. The mobile device  10 , having been set-up and synchronized as describe above communicates via cloud server  201  to a WiFi router  220  located in a home or business. The router  220  communicates with the thermostat  210  via transceiver  215  that includes communication protocol for wireless transmission and receiver functions such IEEE 802.11. The transceiver communicates with the microprocessor  214  to control the systems connected to the thermostat, such HVAC system control relays  211  that control a furnace or boiler, etc. In an embodiment the microprocessor  214  may be programmed to include wireless mesh communication as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,410,931 and/or 8,233,471 assigned to SIPCO, the total disclosure of such publications are each incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0037]    It is noted that the thermostat  210  as shown in  FIG. 23  may include a touch pad display screen  212 , however the operation and set-up of the above invention does not require the user to input any commands or instructions via the thermostat display  212 . All set-up steps and control can be accomplished via a remote input device  10  running the communication app and code input system that causes the microprocessor  214  to move to a listen mode when the set-up steps  100  to  126  are followed, as discussed above. In an alternate embodiment, a remote computer (wired or wireless) may be used to set-up or control the thermostat  210  via the internet and a browser by similar set-up screens depicted in  FIGS. 1-11  displayed on a web page according to well known TCP/IP systems. 
         [0038]    The links outside of the thermostat  210  ( FIG. 23 ). The thermostat links with local router and its Wi-Fi network that links to the internet or first network  201 . External devices such as cloud server, personal computer of repairman or other service providers, external database, the external user&#39;s remote input device, such as a wireless tablet or phone and other wired users may communicate with the local router  220  (through firewall). The local router  220  can then communicate via Wi-Fi or other protocol such as Zigbee® on a second network with components including the thermostat  210  or other building environment control device that in turn can control HVAC equipment including a furnace heat pump (electric geothermal), electric heat, air conditioning unit, humidifier, dehumidifier, air exchanger, air cleaner or air damper  211 . The thermostat  211  may receive input from wireless components  215 ,  220 , that can provide temperature, humidity and other environmental factors either within the building or outside that may be used by the router  720  to automatically issue commands to the thermostat  210  based on the sensor input or building schedule information. The code input system of the present invention may also be operated via web-site on a computer or other means and each of the components of the system may have a unique identifier, such as an IP address. The router  220  may have a local cache to store the IP addresses when each device is joined to the network. The second network may require a service set identifier (SSID) as an access parameter or a passcode sent from transceiver  215  ( FIG. 23 ). 
         [0039]    Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art one the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.