Flexible functionality partitioning within intelligent-thermostat-controlled hvac systems

Abstract

The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climate control system, comprising:
 a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit that provides heating and/or cooling for an enclosure, wherein the HVAC unit is positioned at a first location in the enclosure;   an intermediate box comprising:
 a first wireless communication module; 
 a plurality of HVAC wires coupled to the HVAC unit for controlling the HVAC unit; and 
 circuitry to convert commands received through the first wireless communication module to HVAC control signals on the plurality of HVAC wires; and 
   a thermostat positioned at a second location in the enclosure that is substantially apart from the first location, the thermostat comprising:
 one or more memories; 
 a second wireless communication module in communication with the first wireless communication module of the intermediate box; 
 an occupancy sensor; 
 a temperature sensor, and 
 one or more processors configured to:
 log thermal responses of the enclosure during HVAC cycles; 
 log occupancy data based on readings from the occupancy sensor; 
 send the thermal responses and the occupancy data to a cloud server, wherein the cloud server (i) generates a thermal model of the enclosure, and (ii) generates an optimized HVAC schedule based on the thermal model of the enclosure and the occupancy data; 
 receive the optimized HVAC schedule from the cloud server; and 
 operate the HVAC unit according to the optimized HVAC schedule by sending the commands to the intermediate box through the second wireless communication module for conversion to HVAC control signals on the plurality of HVAC wires. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermostat is powered at least in part by a battery. 
     
     
         3 . The climate control system of  claim 2 , wherein the thermostat is not connected to a line power source, and the thermostat is not connected to a C wire from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         4 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal responses and the occupancy data are sent periodically to the cloud server. 
     
     
         5 . The climate control system of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal responses and the occupancy data are sent once per day to the cloud server. 
     
     
         6 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the optimized schedule is downloaded at least once per season. 
     
     
         7 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors comprise one or more low-power processors that can be used because the optimized HVAC schedule is generated at the cloud server. 
     
     
         8 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermostat further comprises a long-distance wireless communications module that connects the thermostat through a local router to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), through which the thermostat communicates with the cloud server. 
     
     
         9 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermostat comprises a mechanical user interface comprising a ring configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, wherein said ring is further configured to be inwardly pressable by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The climate control system of  claim 9 , wherein the thermostat comprises an electronic display disposed within the ring. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a climate control system, the method comprising:
 using a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to provide heating and/or cooling for an enclosure, wherein the HVAC unit is positioned at a first location in the enclosure;   connecting an intermediate box to the HVAC unit, wherein the intermediate box comprises:
 a first wireless communication module; 
 a plurality of HVAC wires coupled to the HVAC unit for controlling the HVAC unit; and 
 circuitry to convert commands received through the first wireless communication module to HVAC control signals on the plurality of HVAC wires; and 
   operating a thermostat positioned at a second location in the enclosure that is substantially apart from the first location, wherein the thermostat comprises:
 one or more memories; 
 a second wireless communication module in communication with the first wireless communication module of the intermediate box; 
 an occupancy sensor; 
 a temperature sensor, and 
 one or more processors configured to:
 log thermal responses of the enclosure during HVAC cycles; 
 log occupancy data based on readings from the occupancy sensor; 
 send the thermal responses and the occupancy data to a cloud server, wherein the cloud server (i) generates a thermal model of the enclosure, and (ii) generates an optimized HVAC schedule based on the thermal model of the enclosure and the occupancy data; 
 receive the optimized HVAC schedule from the cloud server; and 
 operate the HVAC unit according to the optimized HVAC schedule by sending the commands to the intermediate box through the second wireless communication module for conversion to HVAC control signals on the plurality of HVAC wires. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermostat is powered at least in part by a battery. 
     
     
         13 . The climate control system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermostat is not connected to a line power source, and the thermostat is not connected to a C wire from the HVAC system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal responses and the occupancy data are sent periodically to the cloud server. 
     
     
         15 . The climate control system of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal responses and the occupancy data are sent once per day to the cloud server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the optimized schedule is downloaded at least once per season. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors comprise one or more low-power processors that can be used because the optimized HVAC schedule is generated at the cloud server. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermostat further comprises a long-distance wireless communications module that connects the thermostat through a local router to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), through which the thermostat communicates with the cloud server. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the thermostat comprises a mechanical user interface comprising a ring configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, wherein said ring is further configured to be inwardly pressable by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the thermostat comprises an electronic display disposed within the ring.