Updating control software on a network-connected HVAC controller

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving a criticality indicator at a thermostat, wherein the criticality indicator indicates whether a software update to computer software stored in a storage element of the thermostat is critical or not, and wherein the thermostat is coupled to an HVAC system;
• receiving the software update at the thermostat;
• determining whether an initial installation of the thermostat is currently taking place;
• determining whether the software update to the computer software stored in the storage element of the thermostat is critical;
• installing the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is critical, wherein the software update is installed before the initial installation of the thermostat is completed;
• and
• delaying installation of the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is not critical, wherein the installation of the software update is delayed until after the initial installation of the thermostat is completed.

A tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a criticality indicator at a thermostat, wherein the criticality indicator indicates whether a software update to computer software stored in a storage element of the thermostat is critical or not, and wherein the thermostat is coupled to an HVAC system;
• receiving the software update at the thermostat;
• determining whether an initial installation of the thermostat is currently taking place;
• determining whether the software update to the computer software stored in the storage element of the thermostat is critical;
• installing the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is critical, wherein the software update is installed before the initial installation of the thermostat is completed;
• and
• delaying installation of the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is not critical, wherein the installation of the software update is delayed until after the initial installation of the thermostat is completed.

A computer-implemented system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:
• receiving a criticality indicator at a thermostat indicating whether a software update to computer software stored in a storage element is critical or not;
• receiving the software update from a remote server via a communications component;
• determining whether an initial installation of the thermostat is currently taking place;
• determining whether the software update to the computer software stored in the storage element is critical;
• installing the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is critical, wherein the software update is installed before the initial installation of the thermostat is completed;
• and
• delaying installation of the software update when the criticality indicator indicates that the software update is not critical, wherein the installation of the software update is delayed until after the initial installation of the thermostat is completed.