Graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorDipak J. Shah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A graphical user interface system for a thermal comfort controller. The user interface system has a central processing unit coupled to a memory and a touch sensitive display unit. The memory stores a temperature schedule data structure and perhaps a temperature history data structure. The temperature schedule data structure is made up of at least one set-point. The temperature history data structure is made up of at least one Actual-Temperature-Point. The display presents the set-points and/or the Actual-Temperature-Points. One representation of the display is a graphical step-function. The user uses a finger or stylus to program the set-points by pointing and dragging a portion of the step-function.
Claims20
A computer for use in controlling a remotely located thermostat using a remotely located mobile handheld computing unit, the computer comprising:
- an interface for operatively communicating with a remotely located mobile handheld computing unit and for also operatively communicating with a remotely located thermostat;
- a controller operatively coupled to the interface, the controller configured to:
- send a temperature setting of the remotely located thermostat to the remotely located mobile handheld computing unit via the interface;
- receive a changed temperature settings from the mobile handheld computing unit via the interface;
- and
- send one or more instructions to the remotely located thermostat to implement the changed temperature setting.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed by a mobile handheld computing unit that includes a cellular communication feature and a user interface with a display, causes the mobile handheld computing unit to perform the following:
- establish a communication link between the mobile handheld computing unit and a remotely located computer, at least part of the communication link established using the cellular communication feature of the mobile handheld computing unit;
- receive a temperature setting of a remotely located thermostat from the remotely located computer via the established communication link;
- display the temperature setting on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit;
- accept an input via the user interface of the mobile handheld computing unit to change the temperature setting that is displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, resulting in a changed temperature setting;
- and
- communicate the changed temperature setting from the mobile handheld computing unit to the remotely located computer across the established communication link for subsequent use by the remotely located thermostat.
A method for operating a mobile handheld computing unit that includes a cellular communication feature and a user interface with a display, the method comprising:
- establishing a communication link between the mobile handheld computing unit and a remotely located computer, at least part of the communication link established using the cellular communication feature of the mobile handheld computing unit;
- receiving a temperature setting of a remotely located thermostat from the remotely located computer via the established communication link;
- displaying the temperature setting on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit;
- accepting an input via the user interface of the mobile handheld computing unit to change the temperature setting that is displayed on the display of the mobile handheld computing unit, resulting in a changed temperature setting;
- and
- communicating the changed temperature setting from the mobile handheld computing unit to the remotely located computer across the established communication link for subsequent use by the remotely located thermostat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.