Abstract:
A system and method for programming a thermostat is described. One embodiment includes a method for communicating a thermostat operation schedule to a media device that then communicates the thermostat operation schedule to a thermostat. An additional embodiment includes a computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions for establishing computer-readable code that effects operation of a thermostat. In yet another embodiment, a thermostat is included that operates upon computer-readable code to execute an operation schedule.

Description:
COPYRIGHT  
       [0001]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to computer software applications. In particular, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to systems and methods for programming a thermostat using a media device comprising executable instructions.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Thermostats are available in two forms. One is mechanical, where the movement of a dialing tool sets the temperature at a fixed level until the next change is executed. The other is programmable. Programmable thermostats automatically adjust temperature settings in buildings; thus allowing for conservation of energy during time periods when those buildings are not in use. The automatic adjustments ensure a consistent use of less energy, advantageously resulting in economic savings and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.  
         [0004]     Typically, the primary purpose of a programmable thermostat is to regulate the temperature in a building to maintain a desired comfort level when the building is occupied and then enter an economizing mode when the building is unoccupied. In most cases, the thermostat is programmed on the basis of a future schedule, which is set in advance by a user of the thermostat. The scheduling options vary with each thermostat, but typically operate on hour and/or day intervals. A single schedule may operate throughout the year or may be programmed to operated during specific time periods (e.g., the winter months).  
         [0005]     There are several downsides to programmable thermostats in their current state. One issue is the display which serves as a programming screen. The displays are generally limited by the size of the programmable thermostat, which is desirably small for aesthetic and space saving reasons. The small size of displays are difficult to read, while offering limited and confusing programming functions and/or symbols.  
         [0006]     Another downside to programmable thermostats is the effort required to learn and master them. Programming a thermostat can be a daunting task, intimidating many users who may hesitate to use the programming capabilities of a thermostat to their full advantage. The more features a programmable thermostat offers usually results in higher complexity. For example, a programmable thermostat that has two modes (e.g., a normal mode when the building is occupied and an economy mode when the building is not occupied) is typically less complex than a programmable thermostat with three modes (e.g., a normal mode when occupants are present and not sleeping in the building, a sleep mode when the occupants are sleeping, and an economy mode when the building is not occupied). Although the additional sleep mode feature may result it additional energy conservation (e.g., the sleep mode may maintain a comfort level lower than the normal mode), it requires that a user learn how to operate that specific mode (and each additional mode).  
         [0007]     A third downside to programmable thermostats is the potential loss of a program. If a program were to be lost, a user has to input a new program into the thermostat every time the previous program is erased. This results in user frustration and time inefficiency.  
         [0008]     Although present programmable thermostats are functional, they are not sufficiently accurate or otherwise satisfactory. Accordingly, a system and method are needed to address the shortfalls of present technology and to provide other new and innovative features.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that are shown in the drawings are summarized below. These and other embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.  
         [0010]     The present invention can provide a system and method for programming a thermostat. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a method wherein a media device connected to a computing device uploads computer-readable code for a thermostat. The media device is then connected to the thermostat so as to enable the thermostat to download the computer-readable code stored on the media device.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment, the present invention includes a thermostat that comprises a media reader, a schedule interpreter and a memory device. The media reader is configured to exchange computer-readable code with a portable media device. Some of the computer-readable code is released to the schedule interpreter which executes an operation schedule. The memory device is configured to store operating data and then release the operating data to the portable media device.  
         [0012]     In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions for establishing a thermostat operation schedule consisting of computer-readable code. The thermostat operation schedule is uploaded to a portable media device from a computing device and is downloaded by a thermostat from the portable media device.  
         [0013]     As previously stated, the above-described embodiments and implementations are for illustration purposes only. Numerous other embodiments, implementations, and details of the invention are easily recognized by those of skill in the art from the following descriptions and claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of the present invention are apparent and more readily appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description and to the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a computing device in accordance with one implementation of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a thermostat in accordance with one implementation of the present invention; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  depicts a process flow diagram in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     Referring now to the drawings, where like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and referring in particular to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a system  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]     According to  FIG. 1 , a computing device  110  (e.g., a handheld, a notebook or a desktop computing device) communicates with a portable media device  120  (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) card, a memory card (e.g., a flash memory card), a floppy disc). The portable media device  120  in turn communicates with a thermostat  130  which controls a heating, ventilation and/or cooling system  140 . The system  140  may be any environmental control system known in the art that is responsive to operation instructions from a thermostat.  
         [0021]     In an exemplary embodiment, the system  100  enables a thermostat operation schedule to be programmed at the computing device  110  and then transferred via the portable media device  120  to the thermostat  130  where the operation schedule is executed.  
         [0022]     Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 2 , which shows a block diagram  210  of the computing device  110  in accordance with one implementation of the present invention. The implementation shown in  FIG. 2  includes a processor  212  coupled to a memory  214  (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), a file storage device  216 , a media reader  217 , and an input/output  218  connected to both a user input device  213  (e.g., a keyboard or a mouse) and a display  215  (e.g., a computer monitor).  
         [0023]     As shown, the storage device  216  provides storage for a collection of N files. The storage device  216  is described herein in several implementations as hard disk drive for convenience, but this is certainly not required, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other storage media may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the storage device  216 , which is depicted for convenience as a single storage device, may be realized by multiple (e.g., distributed) storage devices.  
         [0024]     In an exemplary embodiment, the N files stored in the storage device  216  may include one or more files relating to operation schedule(s) of the thermostat  130 . The operation schedule(s) are programmed at the computing device  110  and then loaded onto the media  220  (e.g., the portable media device  120 ) for transfer to the thermostat  130 . In addition to the operating schedule(s), the N files may include operating data received from the thermostat  130  via the media  220 .  
         [0025]     As shown, a thermostat program application  250  includes a scheduling module  253 , an advice module  255 , and a reporting/analysis module  257 , which are implemented in software and are executed from the memory  214  by the processor  212 . The software  250  can be configured to operate on personal computers (e.g., a handheld, a notebook or a desktop), servers or any device capable of processing instructions embodied in executable code. Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that alternative embodiments, which implement one or more components (e.g., the thermostat program application  250 ) in hardware, are well within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]     For example only, the thermostat program  250  interacts, via the user input device  213  and the display  215 , with a user who wishes to program a thermostat, monitor energy usage and/or receive advice directed at more-efficient use of the system  140 .  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, the user input device  213  is a keyboard (e.g., a qwerty keyboard). In another embodiment, the user input device  213  may include a mouse or other device that allows the user to select options displayed on the display  215 . The display  215  may be any display capable of displaying several lines of text at once (e.g., an LCD, a CRT or other like technology. In several embodiments, the display  215  is capable of displaying color and graphics.  
         [0028]     It should be recognized that an operating system (not shown) of the computing device  110  is not limited to any particular type of operating system and may be operating systems provided by Microsoft Corp. under the trade name WINDOWS (e.g., WINDOWS 2000, WINDOWS XP, and WINDOWS NT). Additionally, the operating system may be an operating system such operating systems distributed under the LINUX trade name. For convenience, however, embodiments of the present invention are generally described herein with relation to WINDOWS-based systems. Those of skill in the art can easily adapt these implementations for other types of operating systems or computer systems.  
         [0029]     As shown, the media reader  217  is connected to the processor  212 . Any device external to the computing device  110  (e.g., the portable media device  120 ) that communicates with the computing device  110  does so by interfacing with the media reader  217 . The media reader  217  may be any peripheral device (e.g., a USB port, a memory card reader, and/or a disk drive) which is configured to communicate with the portable media device  120 .  
         [0030]     Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 3 , which shows a block diagram  330  of the thermostat  130  in accordance with one implementation of the present invention. The implementation of  FIG. 3  includes a controller  332  coupled to a media reader  331 , an input/output  333 , a security administrator  334 , an operating data collector  335  and a schedule interpreter  336 . The input/output  333  is connected to a user input device  337  (e.g., a keypad and/or buttons that allow a user to deliver commands to the thermostat), a display  338  (e.g., a liquid crystal display configured to send messages to a user), an environmental input device  339  and a heating, ventilation and/or cooling system  340  (e.g., the system  140 ).  
         [0031]     The controller  332  is configured to regulate information exchange within the thermostat  330 . Although it is shown in this embodiment, the controller  332  is not a necessary component of the present invention. It is included only to clarify the operation of the thermostat  330 , which in this embodiment is designed to work independent of the central control systems that may be found in the prior art. Specifically, the thermostat  330  in this embodiment is a unitary thermostat capable of executing an operation schedule in contrast to “dumb” sensors coupled to a centrally administered environmental control system.  
         [0032]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the media reader  331  exchanges information (e.g., operation schedule files and operating data files in the form of computer-readable code) with media  320  (e.g., the portable media device  120 ). An operation schedule file is transferred from the media  320 , to the media reader  331 , through the controller  332 , and then it arrives at the schedule interpreter  336 . The schedule interpreter  336  reviews the operation schedule and then releases command signals to the system  340  according to the operation schedule. The schedule interpreter  336  may also receive information from the environmental input device  339  (e.g., temperature readings) and then release command signals to the system  340  in view of that information.  
         [0033]     The operating data collector  335  is configured to receive operating data from the environmental input device  339  (e.g., temperature readings), the system  340  (e.g., energy usage, status information), and the schedule interpreter  336  (e.g., schedule-related information like run time). The operating data may be released to the media  320 , where it is transferred to the computing device  110  for analysis by the reporting/analysis module  257  of the thermostat program  250 .  
         [0034]     The security administrator  334  locks access to the thermostat  130  to unauthorized users. Authorization may be administered via the user input device  337 /display  338  or by encrypted security code delivered to the thermostat  130  via the media  320 . These measures prevent unauthorized or undesired access, especially to thermostat units placed in publicly accessed areas (e.g., hallways, large rooms).  
         [0035]     While referring to  FIG. 4 , simultaneous reference will be given to  FIGS. 1-3 . Attention is now drawn to  FIG. 4 , which depicts a process flow diagram  400  in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention. The process depicted in  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary exchange of information between the computing device  110 , the portable media device  120  and the thermostat  130 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional or fewer steps may be implemented than those shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0036]     To start, a user (not shown in any figure) runs the thermostat program  250  in the computing device  110 . In an exemplary embodiment, the program  250  is displayed to the user on a large screen (e.g., the display  215 ) which is capable of delivering images, text, and/or color. The output of the thermostat program  250  on the display  215  represents a departure from previously known thermostat programming in that the program  250  is capable of displaying a greater quantity and/or quality of images, text, color and/or programming options. By transferring the programming of a thermostat to the computing device  110 , a user is provided with an easier-to-use interface relative to the small LCD display and small quantity of buttons typically found on unitary programmable thermostats.  
         [0037]     After opening the program  250 , the user is provided with one or more options. In an exemplary embodiment, a tutorial option is provided to the user via the advice module  255 . The tutorial option may provide instructions that enable the user to understand and navigate the applications provided by the program  250 . The tutorial option may also provide advice to the user with respect to creating a thermostat schedule. This advice may include prearranged templates and dialog boxes containing educational material that enable the user to create an effective schedule.  
         [0038]     In an exemplary embodiment the user is presented with a scheduling option provided by the scheduling module  253 . After selecting the scheduling option, the user establishes a thermostat operation schedule (Block  402 ). In establishing an operation schedule the user may be presented with any number of scheduling options that are known in the art.  
         [0039]     Upon creating a schedule, the user saves the schedule (e.g., in the file storage  216 ) and then transfers the schedule to the thermostat  130  (Block  404 ). In an exemplary embodiment, the transfer of the schedule to the thermostat  130  passes from the computing device  110  (e.g., via the media reader  217 ), through the portable media device  120  and then into the thermostat  130 . At this point, the thermostat  130  executes the schedule via the schedule interpreter  336  (Block  406 ). The steps presented in Blocks  402 - 406  represent the extent of several embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0040]     A benefit of many embodiments of the thermostat  130  over previously known thermostats is the ability to be configured to collect and store operating data in the portable media device  120 . Such operating data may include status messages, run times of various schedules, energy usage data and temperature data. In the exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 3 , the operating data, if it exists, is collected by the operating data collector  335 , and then transferred from the thermostat  130  to the portable media device  120  and then to the computing device  110  (Block  408 ).  
         [0041]     Once received by the computing device  110 , the reporting/analysis module  257  may begin analysis of the operating data (Block  410 ). In an exemplary embodiment the analysis may include a graphical display of historical usage and a projected energy bill based on historical use and/or projected future use combined with past and/or expected energy prices (Block  412 ). Benefits of the analysis include an increased user awareness that may lead to more optimum energy usage or advanced budgeting.  
         [0042]     Additional features of the present invention include security measures that lock the access to the thermostat (e.g., the security measures provided via the security administrator  434 ). These measures may prevent unauthorized or undesired access, especially to thermostat units placed in publicly accessed areas (e.g., businesses, hallways, large rooms).  
         [0043]     The program  250  may be configured to download information from the Internet or supplemental computer-readable media. The downloaded information may include updates to the program  250  or useful information that can be implemented by any of the modules  223 ,  225  and  227 .  
         [0044]     In conclusion, the present invention provides, among other things, a system and method for programming a thermostat. Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as expressed in the claims.