Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller

Abstract

A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.

1 . A method for programming a thermal comfort controller, wherein the thermal comfort controller includes a central processing unit coupled to a memory, where the memory stores a temperature schedule data structure having at least two set-points, wherein each of the at least two set-points associate a desired temperature to a desired time, the thermal comfort controller configured to control one or more HVAC components in accordance with the temperature schedule data structure, the method comprising:
 displaying at least one set-point on a display of a mobile handheld computing unit;   accepting an input from a user of the mobile handheld computing unit to change at least one of the set-points that is displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, resulting in at least one changed set-point;   establishing communication between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller;   communicating the at least one changed set-point from the mobile handheld computing unit to the thermal comfort controller;   updating the temperature schedule data structure stored in the memory of the thermal comfort controller to include the at least one changed set-point, resulting in an updated temperature schedule data structure; and   using the thermal comfort controller to control the one or more HVAC components in accordance with the updated temperature schedule data structure.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a wireless communication link, wherein the wireless communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a wired communication link, wherein the wired communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a cellular communication link, wherein the cellular communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises communicating at least one set-point of the temperature schedule data structure stored in the memory of the thermal comfort controller to the mobile handheld computing unit before displaying the at least one set-point on the display of a mobile handheld computing unit. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set-point is displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit as a step-function with a first axis for denoting time and a second axis for denoting temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein an input from the user includes dragging a first graphical line of the step-function from its current location on the step-function to a new location relative to the first axis. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein an input of the user includes dragging a second graphical line of the step-function from its current location on the step-function to a new location relative to the second axis. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display of the mobile handheld computing unit is a touch screen display, and an input of the user includes moving a finger or stylus along the display. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one set-point on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit includes listing a first time and a first temperature associated with a first set-point. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein displaying at least one set-point on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit includes listing a second time and a second temperature associated with a second set-point. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first set-point and the second set-point are displayed simultaneously on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first set-point and the second set-point are displayed in turn on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further including displaying a temperature control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, the temperature control allowing a user to interact with the temperature control to change the desired temperature of the at least one changed set-point. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including displaying a time control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, the time control allowing a user to interact with the time control to change the desired time of the at least one changed set-point. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the time control and the temperature control are simultaneously displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the temperature control includes a slider bar. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the temperature control includes a scroll bar. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the time control includes a slider bar. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the time control includes a scroll bar. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , further including displaying a time control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, the time control allowing a user to interact with the time control to change the desired time of the at least one changed set-point. 
   
   
       22 . A method for programming a thermal comfort controller, wherein the thermal comfort controller includes a central processing unit coupled to a memory, where the memory stores a temperature schedule data structure having at least two set-points, wherein each of the at least two set-points associate a desired temperature to a desired time, the thermal comfort controller configured to control one or more HVAC components in accordance with the temperature schedule data structure, the method comprising:
 displaying at least one set-point on a display of a mobile handheld computing unit;   displaying a clock control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit and simultaneously displaying a temperature control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit;   accepting a desired time for the at least one set-point by interfacing with the clock control displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit while also displaying the temperature control on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit;   accepting a desired temperature for the at least one set-point by interfacing with the temperature control displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit while also displaying the clock control;   establishing communication between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller;   updating the temperature schedule data structure stored in the memory of the thermal comfort controller to include the desired time and the desired temperature for the at least one set-point, resulting in an updated temperature schedule data structure; and   operating the thermal comfort controller to control the one or more HVAC components in accordance with the updated temperature schedule data structure.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile handheld computing unit is battery powered. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile handheld computing unit includes a PDA. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a wireless communication link, wherein the wireless communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a wired communication link, wherein the wired communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein establishing communication includes establishing a cellular communication link, wherein the cellular communication link provides communication along at least part of an established communication path between the mobile handheld computing unit and the thermal comfort controller. 
   
   
       28 . A mobile handheld computing unit having a user interface with a display, and a cellular communication feature, the mobile handheld computing unit comprising:
 a controller configured to:   display on the display at least one set-point for a remote thermal comfort controller;   accept an input from a user of the mobile handheld computing unit via the user interface to change at least one of the set-points that is displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, resulting in at least one changed set-point;   establish a communication link between the mobile handheld computing unit and a thermal comfort controller, at least part of the communication link established using the cellular communication feature of the mobile handheld computing unit; and   communicate the at least one changed set-point from the mobile handheld computing unit to the thermal comfort controller across the established communication link.   
   
   
       29 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display a time control on the display, the time control allowing a user to interact with the time control to change a desired time of at least one set-point.   
   
   
       30 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display a temperature control on the display, the temperature control allowing a user to interact with the temperature control to change a desired temperature of at least one set-point.   
   
   
       31 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 30 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 display a time control on the display, the time control allowing a user to interact with the time control to change a desired time of at least one set-point; and   the time control and the temperature control simultaneously displayed on the display.   
   
   
       32 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 31 , wherein the temperature control includes a slider bar. 
   
   
       33 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 31 , wherein the temperature control includes a scroll bar. 
   
   
       34 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 31 , wherein the time control includes a slider bar. 
   
   
       35 . The mobile handheld computing unit of  claim 31 , wherein the time control includes a scroll bar. 
   
   
       36 . A method for programming a scheduled set point of a programmable thermostat, the thermostat configured to sense a temperature at the location of the thermostat and to control an HVAC system in accordance with the scheduled set point, the scheduled set point having a time value and a corresponding temperature value, the method comprising:
 providing one or more touch regions at predefined known locations on a touch screen for use in setting a time value and a corresponding temperature value for the scheduled set point, both the time value and the temperature value for the scheduled set point being simultaneously displayed in a numerical format at predefined known locations on the touch screen;   monitoring the one or more touch regions for touching by a user;   changing the time value for the scheduled set point if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the time value have been touched;   changing the temperature value for the scheduled set point at the predefined known location on the touch screen for the temperature value while simultaneously displaying the time value if the monitoring step determines that the one or more touch regions associated with the temperature value have been touched; and   updating the scheduled set point of the programmable thermostat.