Distributed smart thermostat

Abstract

In embodiments of the disclosure, a distributed thermostat includes a controller unit that houses a controller operable to control operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The controller is further operable to receive environmental information from a sensor network that is distributed from the controller unit; receive user inputs from a user interface application that is distributed from the controller unit; and control the operation of the HVAC system based at least in part on the environmental information and the user inputs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distributed thermostat comprising:
 a controller unit that houses a controller that is operable to control operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   wherein the controller is further operable to receive environmental information from a sensor network that is distributed from the controller unit;   wherein the controller is further operable to receive user inputs from a user interface application that is distributed from the controller unit; and   wherein the controller is further operable to control the operation of the HVAC system based at least in part on the environmental information and the user inputs.   
     
     
         2 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of the HVAC system comprises maintaining a set point temperature in a conditioned space of a site. 
     
     
         3 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor network comprises a first sensor positioned in or on the HVAC system. 
     
     
         4 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor network comprises a second sensor positioned within the conditioned space of the site. 
     
     
         5 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is operable to perform a calibration operation comprising:
 receiving a first temperature information from the first sensor;   receiving a second temperature information from the second sensor; and   based at least in part on the first temperature information and the second temperature information, determining an offset between the first temperature information and the second temperature information.   
     
     
         6 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the controller comprises a machine learning algorithm having a machine learning model of the site and the HVAC system; and   the machine learning model is trained to perform a task comprising the calibration operation.   
     
     
         7 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further operable to maintain the set point temperature in the conditioned space of the site based at least in part on the offset. 
     
     
         8 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 5 , wherein the first sensor positioned in or on the HVAC system comprises the first sensor positioned within an air duct of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         9 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to communicate with the user interface application through multiple communication paths comprising:
 a direct communication path between the controller and the user interface application; and   an indirect communication path through the controller, one or more intermediary elements, and the user interface application.   
     
     
         10 . The distributed thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the controller unit also houses an alternative user interface application and a display that are operable to also receive and transmit the user inputs without going through the user interface application. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a distributed thermostat, the method comprising:
 using a controller to control operation of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system;   wherein the controller is housed by a controller unit;   wherein the controller is operable to receive environmental information from a sensor network that is distributed from the controller unit;   wherein the controller is further operable to receive user inputs from a user interface application that is distributed from the controller unit; and   using the controller to control the operation of the HVAC system based at least in part on the environmental information and the user inputs.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the operation of the HVAC system comprises maintaining a set point temperature in a conditioned space of a site. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor network comprises a first sensor positioned in or on the HVAC system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor network comprises a second sensor positioned within the conditioned space of the site. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the controller performs a calibration operation comprising:
 receiving a first temperature information from the first sensor;   receiving a second temperature information from the second sensor; and   based at least in part on the first temperature information and the second temperature information, determining an offset between the first temperature information and the second temperature information.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the controller comprises a machine learning algorithm having a machine learning model of the site and the HVAC system; and   the machine learning model is trained to perform a task comprising the calibration operation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controller maintaining the set point temperature in the conditioned space of the site is based at least in part on the offset. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor positioned in or on the HVAC system comprises the first sensor positioned within an air duct of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller communicates with the user interface application through multiple communication paths comprising:
 a direct communication path between the controller and the user interface application; and   an indirect communication path through the controller, one or more intermediary elements, and the user interface application.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller unit also houses an alternative user interface application and a display that are operable to also receive and transmit the user inputs without going through the user interface application.