Patent ID: 7571865

Claim:
A temperature control system, comprising: a control unit for transmitting and receiving a first and second programming data; a first thermostat coupled to a first HVAC unit, said first thermostat having a component for transmitting and receiving said first programming data to or from said control unit via a localized network; wherein said first thermostat is not dependent upon said control unit for continued operation of said first HVAC unit; a second thermostat coupled to a second HVAC unit, said second thermostat having a second component for transmitting and receiving said second programming data to and from said control unit via a localized network; wherein said second thermostat is not dependent upon said control unit for continued operation of said second HVAC unit; and wherein said first thermostat is operably coupled to said second thermostat, such that said second HVAC unit may be controlled by said first thermostat based on said first programming data transmitted from said first thermostat, if said second thermostat were to malfunction, or to conserve energy of the temperature control system.