Method and device for direct communication with thermostat that is not in communication with lan

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A server for controlling a thermostat via an intermediary mobile device, comprising:
 a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a temperature profile associated with the thermostat;   a network interface for communicating with the mobile device over a wide-area network, the mobile device associated with the thermostat; and   a processor coupled to the memory and the network interface, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the server to:
 receive, by the processor via the network interface, the temperature profile; 
 after receiving the temperature profile, generate, by the processor, a modified temperature profile; and 
 provide the modified temperature profile to the mobile device associated with the thermostat for the mobile device to provide the modified temperature profile to the thermostat. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the server to generate the modified temperature profile comprises instructions that causes the server to:
 receive, by the processor via the network interface, an indication of a future event; and   generate, by the processor, the modified temperature profile based on the temperature profile and the indication of the future event.   
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 2 , wherein the future event comprises a rise in a forecasted outdoor temperature in a geographic location where the thermostat is located, wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the server to generate the modified temperature profile comprises instructions that causes the server to:
 receive, by the processor via the network interface, the forecasted outdoor temperature;   determine, by the processor, that the forecasted outdoor temperature will exceed a predetermined threshold at a particular date and time; and   in response to determining that the forecasted outdoor temperature will exceed the predetermined threshold at the particular date and time, generate, by the processor, the modified temperature profile prior to the particular date and time.   
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the processor-executable instructions comprise further instructions that causes the server to:
 receive, by the processor via the network interface, the geographic location of the thermostat; and   determine, by the processor, a particular forecasted outdoor temperature based on the geographic location of the thermostat.   
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature profile comprises a temperature ramp start time, and the instructions that cause the server to generate the modified temperature profile comprises instructions that causes the server to:
 modify, by the processor, the temperature ramp start time, causing a heating or cooling cycle to begin sooner, or later, than indicated by the temperature ramp start time.   
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature profile comprises a temperature set point, and the instructions that cause the server to generate the modified temperature profile comprises instructions that causes the server to:
 modify, by the processor, the temperature set point, causing a heating or cooling cycle to end sooner, or later, than indicated by the temperature set point.   
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 4 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the server to provide the modified temperature profile to the mobile device associated with the thermostat comprises instructions that cause the server to:
 provide the modified temperature profile to the mobile device after a scheduled temperature set point time has passed, and before the scheduled temperature set point time arrives on a day that the predicted outdoor temperature will exceed the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that cause the server to generate the modified temperature profile comprises instructions that causes the server to:
 receive, by the processor via the network interface, time-of-use pricing information;   determine, by the processor, a first cost to heat or cool a structure where the thermostat is located during a first time period using the temperature profile and the time-of-use pricing information;   determine, by the processor, a second cost to heat or cool the structure during the first time period using the modified temperature profile and the time-of-use pricing information; and   provide, by the processor via the network interface, the modified temperature profile to the mobile device when the second cost is less than the first cost.   
     
     
         9 . A method, performed by a server in communication with a mobile device over a wide-area network, for controlling a thermostat associated with the mobile device, comprising:
 receiving a temperature profile associated with the thermostat from the mobile device;   after receiving the temperature profile, generating a modified temperature profile; and   providing the modified temperature profile to the mobile device associated with the thermostat for the mobile device to provide the modified temperature profile to the thermostat.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein generating the modified temperature profile comprises:
 receiving an indication of a future event; and   generating the modified temperature profile based on the temperature profile and the indication of the future event.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the future event comprises a rise in a forecasted outdoor temperature in a geographic location where the thermostat is located, wherein generating the modified temperature profile comprises:
 receiving the forecasted outdoor temperature;   determining that the forecasted outdoor temperature will exceed a predetermined threshold at a particular date and time; and   in response to determining that the forecasted outdoor temperature will exceed the predetermined threshold at the particular date and time, generating the modified temperature profile prior to the particular date and time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving the geographic location of the thermostat; and   determining a particular forecasted outdoor temperature based on the geographic location of the thermostat.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature profile comprises a temperature ramp start time, and generating the modified temperature profile comprises:
 modifying the temperature ramp start time, causing a heating or cooling cycle to begin sooner, or later, than indicated by the temperature ramp start time.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature profile comprises a temperature set point, and generating the modified temperature profile comprises:
 modifying the temperature set point, causing a heating or cooling cycle to end sooner, or later, than indicated by the temperature set point.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing the modified temperature profile to the mobile device associated with the thermostat comprises:
 providing the modified temperature profile to the mobile device after a scheduled temperature set point time has passed, and before the scheduled temperature set point time arrives on a day that the predicted outdoor temperature will exceed the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein generating the modified temperature profile comprises:
 receiving time-of-use pricing information;   determining a first cost to heat or cool a structure where the thermostat is located during a first time period using the temperature profile and the time-of-use pricing information;   determining a second cost to heat or cool the structure during the first time period using the modified temperature profile and the time-of-use pricing information; and   providing the modified temperature profile to the mobile device when the second cost is less than the first cost.