Wireless remote indoor sensor for home automation

A method of managing indoor climates, the method comprising:

• measuring a temperature in a first zone in a room with a first remote sensor, a second remote sensor and a temperature sensor positioned in a first variable damper, wherein the first variable damper controls a flow of air through a first air duct outlet, wherein the temperature sensor of the first variable damper measures temperature of the flow of air through the first air duct outlet to the first zone, wherein the first remote sensor is disposed within a first electrical outlet box and coupled to a first power junction operable to provide power to the first remote sensor, wherein the second remote sensor is disposed within a second electrical outlet box and coupled to a second power junction operable to provide power to the second remote sensor;
• measuring a temperature in a second zone with a third remote sensor, a fourth remote sensor and a temperature sensor positioned in a second variable damper, wherein the second variable damper controls a flow of air through a second air duct outlet, wherein the temperature sensor of the second variable damper measures temperature of the flow of air through the second air duct outlet to the second zone;
• retrieving desired climate settings, wherein the desired climate settings include a desired temperature for at least a first user and a second user;
• determining the desired climate settings to apply to the first zone and the second zone using an arbitration logic, wherein the arbitration logic comprises a set of rules for application when there is detection of at least the first user and the second user, and wherein the arbitration logic determines an average temperature for each of the first zone and the second zone based on the desired climate settings of at least the first user and the second user;
• comparing the temperature measurements from the first zone with the average temperature of the first zone;
• comparing the temperature measurements from the second zone with the average temperature of the second zone;
• instructing the first variable damper associated with the first zone to alter the flow of air into the first zone if the temperature measurements in the first zone differ from the average temperature of the first zone;
• and
• instructing the second variable damper associated with the second zone to alter the flow of air into the second zone if the temperature measurements in the second zone differ from the average temperature of the second zone.

A controller for managing an indoor climate system, the controller comprising:

• a memory configured to store:
• current climate settings, wherein the current climate settings include a desired temperature for a first zone for at least a first user and a second user, a desired temperature for a second zone for at least the first user and the second user, and a HVAC mode;
• an arbitration logic comprising a set of rules for application when there is detection of at least the first user and the second user in the first zone or the second zone, wherein the controller is operable to apply the arbitration logic to determine an average temperature for each of the first zone and the second zone based on the current climate settings of at least the first user and the second user;
• and
• a screen configured to display the current climate settings, and further configured to receive inputs from a user for changing the current climate settings;
• a processor configured to:
• receive from a first remote sensor, located in a first zone in a room, temperature measurements in the first zone, wherein the first remote sensor is disposed within a first electrical outlet box and coupled to a first power junction operable to provide power to the first remote sensor;
• receive from a second remote sensor, located in the first zone in the room, temperature measurements in the first zone, wherein the second remote sensor is disposed within a second electrical outlet box and coupled to a second power junction operable to provide power to the second remote sensor;
• receive from a temperature sensor positioned in a first variable damper, temperature measurements for a flow of air through a first air duct outlet to the first zone in the room, wherein the first variable damper controls the flow of air through the first air duct outlet;
• receive from a third remote sensor, located in a second zone in the room, temperature measurements in the second zone;
• receive from a fourth remote sensor, located in the second zone in the room, temperature measurements in the second zone;
• receive from a temperature sensor positioned in a second variable damper temperature measurements for a flow of air through a second air duct outlet to the second zone in the room, wherein the second variable damper controls the flow of air through the second air duct outlet;
• retrieve, from the memory, the current climate settings;
• determine the current climate settings to apply to the first zone and the second zone;
• compare each of the temperature measurements received from the first remote sensor, the second remote sensor, and the temperature sensor positioned in the first variable damper from the first zone with the average temperature of the first zone;
• compare each of the temperature measurements received from the third remote sensor, the fourth remote sensor, and the temperature sensor positioned in the second variable damper from the second zone with the average temperature of the second zone;
• instruct the first variable damper to alter the flow of air into the first zone if the temperature measurements from one of the first remote sensor, the second remote sensor, or the temperature sensor of the first variable damper differs from the average of the first zone;
• instruct the second variable damper to alter the flow of air into the second zone if the temperature measurements from one of the third remote sensor, the fourth remote sensor, or the temperature sensor of the second variable damper differs from the average temperature of the second zone.