Patent ID: 8167216

Claim:
A portable wireless remote control unit for use in conjunction with a thermostat of an HVAC system, wherein the thermostat of the HVAC system is configured to communicate with and control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system, the portable wireless remote control unit comprising: a wireless interface; a user interface including a display; a temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature proximate the portable wireless remote control unit; a controller in communication with the wireless interface and the user interface, the controller configured to communicate with the thermostat of the HVAC system via the wireless interface, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensor to the thermostat of the HVAC system via the wireless interface of the portable wireless remote control unit; the controller further configured to execute a user setup routine for entering user setup information via the user interface of the portable wireless remote control unit, the user setup routine causing the controller to display a sequence of two or more user setup screens on the display of the portable wireless remote control unit, wherein each of the two or more user setup screens includes: a message center that indicates a parameter or function to be set via the corresponding user setup screen; one or more parameter adjustment/selection buttons for adjusting or selecting the parameter or function indicated in the message center; and a next button to advance the user setup routine to a next screen in the sequence of user setup screens.