Building automation remote control device with an in-application tour

A mobile device for programming an HVAC controller, the mobile device comprising:

• a user interface configured to display information and to permit a user to enter information;
• a network connection configured to communicate with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller;
• a memory for storing an application program;
• a controller in operative communication with the user interface, the network connection and the memory;
• the application program, when executed by the controller, displays a series of two or more screens that enable a user to remotely program one or more functions of the HVAC controller via the user interface and to output one or more programmed functions to the remote server via the network connection;
• and
• the application program further programmed to provide a task based tutorial that, when activated, superimposes prompts over each screen of the series of two or more screens that enable the user to remotely program one or more functions of the HVAC controller, each prompt displayed smaller than the screen upon which the prompt is superimposed such that the user can still view and access an active part of the underlying screen, the prompts prompting the user to take one or more programming actions with the prompt still displayed, while guiding the user through programming a first function of the HVAC controller, such that the first function of the HVAC controller becomes programmed, the prompts assisting the user by providing additional information regarding the one or more programming actions, wherein, to provide the task based tutorial, the application program is programmed to superimpose a first prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a first desired action to complete a first step related to a first selected thermostat function over a first screen of the two or more screens, and upon completion of the first step, superimpose a second prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a second desired action to complete a second step related to a second selected thermostat function over a second screen of the two or more screens, wherein one or more of the first screen and the second screen displays a current temperature received from the HVAC controller.

A server comprising:

• a first network connection for connecting to a mobile device located remote from the server;
• a memory storing an application program for a mobile device, the application program, when executed by a processor, is configured to display a series of two or more screens that enable a user of the mobile device to remotely program one or more functions of an HVAC controller and to output one or more programmed functions, the application program, when executed by the processor, is further configured to provide a task based tutorial that, when activated, superimposes prompts over each screen of the same series of two or more screens on the mobile device that prompt the user to take one or more programming actions while guiding the user through programming one or more functions of the HVAC controller, each prompt displayed smaller than the screen upon which the prompt is superimposed such that the user can still view and access an active part of the underlying screen, the prompts assisting the user by providing additional information regarding the one or more programming actions,
• wherein to superimpose prompts, the application program is configured to superimpose, over a first programming screen, a first prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a first desired action to complete a first step related to a first selected thermostat function, and upon completion of the first step, superimpose, over a second programming screen, a second prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a second desired action to complete a second step related to a second selected thermostat function, wherein one or more of the first programming screen and the second programming screen displays a current temperature received from the HVAC controller;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the first network connection and the memory, the controller being configured to upload the application program to the mobile device upon request.

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing program instructions for facilitating a user of a wireless mobile device in programming a wireless HVAC controller, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of the wireless mobile device causes the wireless mobile device to carry out the steps of:

• providing one or more screens on a touch screen display of the wireless mobile device to display information;
• accepting information from a user;
• communicating with a remote server that is itself in operative communication with the HVAC controller;
• accepting input from a user via a plurality of programming screens displayed by the HVAC controller to remotely program one or more functions of the HVAC controller including a first function;
• invoking a tour that guides a user through programming the first function of the one or more functions of the HVAC controller via the touch screen display of the mobile device, the tour when invoked displays information that assists the user in programming the first function, wherein the information is superimposed over each of the plurality of programming screens displayed by the HVAC controller to remotely program the first function when the tour is not invoked,
• wherein invoking the tour comprises superimposing a first prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a first desired action to complete a first step related to a first selected thermostat function over a first programming screen of the plurality of programming screens, and upon completion of the first step, superimposing a second prompt that prompts or instructs the user to take a second desired action to complete a second step related to a second selected thermostat function over a second programming screen of the plurality of programming screens, wherein one or more of the first programming screen and the second programming screen the first programming screen or the second programming screen displays a current temperature received from the HVAC controller;
• and
• outputting the one or more programmed functions of the HVAC controller to the remote server.