US 2012/0267089 A1Published application

Power-preserving communications architecture with long-polling persistent cloud channel for wireless network-connected thermostat

AssigneeNest Labs, Inc.

InventorsANDREA MUCIGNAT, Oliver Steele, Senthil Supramaniam, Osborne Hardison, Richard J. Schultz, Daniel A. Warren, Hugo Fiennes, Jonathan A. Dutra, David Bell, Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rodgers, Ian C. Smith, Grant M. Erickson, Edwin H. Satterthwaite, JR., Joseph E. Palmer

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Abstract

Provided according to one or more embodiments herein are methods, systems and related architectures for facilitating network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the rechargeable battery (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the rechargeable battery to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A thermostat, comprising:

a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) connectors;
a rechargeable battery;
a battery charging circuit configured to charge the rechargeable battery at least in part by harvesting power from an HVAC system through the plurality of HVAC connectors without requiring a common wire;
a processor powered at least in part by the rechargeable battery, wherein:
the processor is configured to operate in a low-power state;
and
the processor is configured to operate in a high-power state;
a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the processor and configured to:
establish and maintain wireless communications with a router, including receiving transmissions from the router;
process the transmissions from the router by discriminating between a first type of transmission and a second type of transmission, wherein:
the first type of transmission comprises keep-alive messages associated with a communication channel between a remote thermostat-controller server and the thermostat, and
the second type of transmission comprises information associated with controlling the HVAC system;
in response to identifying a transmission of the second type during a time period in which the processor is operating in the low-power state, causing the processor to transition from the low-power state to the high-power state;
whereby the processor can operate in the low-power state for an extended period of time while a Natural Address Translation (NAT) table entry in the router that is associated with said communication channel between the processor and the remote thermostat-controller server remains maintained during said extended period of time.

11 more elements

A method of controlling an environmental condition, the method comprising:

charging a power supply using a first power harvested from an external power source;
powering a circuit with energy from the power supply, wherein:
the circuit is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, and
the plurality of modes is comprised of:
a low-power mode;
wherein the circuit uses less power than the first power;
and
an operating mode, wherein the circuit uses more power than the first power;
establishing one or more communication channels with a server through a gateway;
communicating with the server using a protocol, wherein the protocol comprises:
a time interval that represents a time that the gateway is expected to maintain the one or more communication channels between transmissions;
a first type of transmission sent from the server at least in part to maintain one of the one or more communication channels at the gateway, and
a second type of transmission comprising data for controlling the environmental condition;
discriminating between transmissions of the first type and transmissions of the second type;
in response to identifying a transmission of the first type during a time period in which the circuit is operating in the low-power mode;
allowing the circuit to continue operating in the low-power mode;
and
in response to identifying a transmission of the second type during a time period in which the circuit is operating in the low-power mode, causing the circuit to transition from the low-power mode to the operating mode, and initiating a change in the environmental condition according to the transmission of the second type.

15 more elements

A system for controlling one or more property functions, the system comprising:

a power manager configured to provide up to a first power for use by the system, comprising:
a power-storage module;
and
a power input configured to harvest power from an external source and provide up to a second power, wherein the second power is less than the first power, wherein the power manager is capable of storing excess energy in said power-storage module during time intervals in which the system requires less than said second power, and wherein the power manager is capable of releasing stored power from the power storage module during times in which the system requires more than said second power;
a processing function configured to:
control the one or more property functions;
and
operate in a plurality of modes, wherein the plurality of modes is comprised of:
a first mode, wherein:
the processing function uses a third power;
and
the third power is less than the second power;
and
a second mode, wherein:
the processing function uses a fourth power;
the fourth power is higher than the second power;
and
the fourth power is not greater than the first power;
and
a network-communication module configured to:
establish one or more communication channels to a controller server through a gateway;
utilize a communication protocol with the controller server, wherein the communication protocol includes a time interval that represents a time that the gateway is expected to maintain the one or more communication channels between transmissions;
receive a first transmission from the controller server through the one or more communication channels while the processing function operates in the first mode;
determine that the first transmission was sent from the controller server to maintain one of the one or more communication channels, and that the first transmission does not require the processing function to operate in the second mode;
receive a second transmission from the controller server through the one or more communication channels, wherein the second transmission includes information for controlling the one or more property functions;
and
cause the processing function to operate in the second mode after receiving the second transmission.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/530,901Filed 22 Jun 2012
Priority: US PCT/US11/6143718 Nov 2011
Published: 25 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

G05D 23/193
Using a plurality of sensors: sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces
G05B 15/02
Systems controlled by a computer: electric
G05D 23/1905
Characterised by the use of a variable reference value: associated with tele control
G06F 1/3296
Power saving characterised by the action undertaken: by lowering the supply or operating voltage

Family

Application13/034,674Continuation in part · filed 24 Feb 2011
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Application13/466,815Continuation · filed 8 May 2012
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