System, apparatus and method for automatically associating a thermostat with a location
AssigneeUniversal Electronics Inc.
InventorsJacob Shaffer, Michael Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, method and apparatus for automatically associating a thermostat to a location where the thermostat is installed. The thermostat mounts to a subbase installed on a wall, the subbase comprising an information storage device for storing location information where the subbase has been installed. When the thermostat is connected to the subbase and powered on, the thermostat transmits an identification of the thermostat and the location information to a central thermostat controller so that the central thermostat controller can identify a location where a particular thermostat is located for purposes of configuring the thermostat in accordance with the location.
Claims18
A system, comprising:
- a subbase, coupled to at least one of a plurality of different heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) components, comprising:
- an information storage device mounted to the subbase for storing location information where the subbase has been installed;
- and
- a first plurality of terminals;
- and
- a thermostat, comprising;
- a local wireless communication interface;
- a subbase communication interface for receiving information from the information storage device mounted to the subbase;
- a second plurality of terminals coupled with the first plurality of terminals;
- and
- a plurality of relays operable to provide electrical signals to the second plurality of terminals;
- wherein the thermostat is programmed to, upon securing the thermostat to the subbase and powering up the thermostat, retrieve the location information from the subbase via the subbase communication interface, provide the location information to a server via the local wireless communication interface, receive from the server via the local wireless communication interface a configuration information that corresponds to the location information, and use the configuration information to configure a manner of operating the plurality of relays to thereby cause electrical signals to be provided to the second plurality of terminals in a manner appropriate for controlling the at least one of a plurality of different HVAC components.
A method, performed by a thermostat, comprising:
- receiving from a subbase via a subbase communication interface of the thermostat a location information of where the subbase has been installed;
- providing the location information to a server via a local wireless communication interface of the thermostat;
- receiving from the server via the local wireless communication interface a configuration information that corresponds to the location information;
- and
- using the configuration information to configure a manner of operating a plurality of relays of the thermostat to thereby cause electrical signals to be provided to a first plurality of terminals of the thermostat coupled to a second plurality of terminals of the subbase in a manner appropriate for controlling at least one of a plurality of different HVAC components coupled to the subbase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.