Applications for controlling optically switchable devices

Abstract

Software applications are used for controlling the optical state of one or more optically switchable windows or other optical products installed in a structure such as building. The applications permit users to send and/or receive data and/or commands for controlling the switchable optical products. In some embodiments, the applications provide an interface with a window network controller, which directly or indirectly controls windows in a structure. Relevant processing involving the application may include user authentication, commissioning, adaptive control, and decisions on whether to permit an action or change requested by a user. In some embodiments, the application allows users to directly control the tint state of one or more tintable windows. In some embodiments, the application allows users to change a rule or property associated with controlling a switchable optical product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller comprising:
 at least one interface communicatively coupled with (i) a network of optically switchable devices disposed in one or more buildings and (ii) a plurality of sensors that provide information to the controller about one or both of an environmental parameter and power consumption in the one or more buildings;   a remote device interface configured to receive communications from at least one remote wireless device, by way of a user interface of an application operating on the remote wireless device, the communications including user instructions for changing an optical state of at least one of the plurality of optically switchable devices; and   logic configured to cause the controller to manage, by way of the at least one interface, the optical state of some or all of the plurality of optically switchable devices, wherein:   managing the optical state includes:
 (a) monitoring the user instructions; 
 (b) monitoring the information provided by the plurality of sensors; 
 (c) inferring a new rule for controlling optical states of the plurality of optically switchable devices based on a monitored history of the user instructions and the information provided by the plurality of sensors; and 
 (d) providing an alert through the user interface, which alert suggests that the new rule be adopted. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system comprising a control application configured to manage an optical state of some or all of a network of optically switchable windows in a building, the control application configured to be interfaced through an API, wherein the control application is configured for use in a computing device and the API resides in one or more of a controller of a network of switchable window controllers, a building management system and the cloud. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the API is configured to create a layer of abstraction between the control application and the network of optically switchable windows of the system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the network of window controllers comprises a master window controller, and a plurality of intermediate window controllers coupled to the master window controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the network of window controllers comprises a plurality of low level window controllers coupled to the intermediate window controllers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the low level window controllers are coupled to the optically switchable windows. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control application is configured to define and/or modify rules or properties for automatically controlling tinting of optically switchable windows. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , and wherein the rules include schedule-based rules and/or sensor-based rules. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rules are based at least in part on weather feed data. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system comprises sensors, and wherein the weather feed data is provided by at least one of the sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a building, and wherein the weather feed data is provided by a sensor external to the building. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the weather feed data is provided by a commercial or government entity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the rules are based at least in part on a history of user control of the control application. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the rules are based at least in part on one or more of:
 a comparison of a sensor output value against a threshold value;   a time of year and/or day; and   a location of the window.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 managing, with a control application, an optical state of some or all of a network of optically switchable devices in a building, wherein:
 the control application is configured to be interfaced through an API; 
 the control application is configured for use in a computing device; and 
 the API resides in one or more of a controller of a network of switchable window controllers, a building management system and the cloud. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the API is configured to create a layer of abstraction between the control application and a plurality of optically switchable windows of the system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the network of window controllers comprises a master window controller, and a plurality of intermediate window controllers coupled to the master window controller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control application is configured to define and/or modify rules or properties for automatically controlling tinting of optically switchable windows. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rules are based at least in part on a history of user control of the control application. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rules are based at least in part on one or more of:
 a comparison of a sensor output value against a threshold value;   a time of year and/or day; and   a location of the window.   
     
     
         21 . A method of controlling an electrochromic window of a building, the method comprising: receiving weather feed data over a communication network from a data source; determining a tint level for the electrochromic window based at least in part on the weather feed data; and sending a tint command to transition the electrochromic window to the tint level.