Distribution of call-home events over time to ameliorate high communications and computation peaks in intelligent control system

Abstract

The current application is directed to an intelligent control system that includes intelligent thermostats and remote servers that spread call-home events over time to avoid large peak computational and communications loads on intelligent-control-system servers. The spreading of call-home vents over time is effected by use of call-home splay values pseudorandomly generated for intelligent thermostats.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An intelligent thermostat within an intelligent control system, the intelligent thermostat comprising:
 one or more processors;   one or more memory devices;   a first time stored in the one or more memory devices, the first time also being stored in a plurality of other intelligent thermostats;   a time-offset stored in the one or more memory devices, wherein the time-offset is unique in relation to time-offsets stored in the plurality of other intelligent thermostats; and   instructions stored within the one or more memory devices that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the intelligent thermostat to:
 detect the beginning of a call-home interval beginning at the first time, the call-home interval being the same for each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats; 
 wait, after the beginning of the call-home interval, for a delay defined by the time-offset; and 
 establish a communications connection to a remote server of the intelligent control system after the delay, such that each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats establishes communications connections with the remote server at different times within the call-home interval. 
   
     
     
         20 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the time-offset is randomly or pseudorandomly generated by a remote intelligent-control-system computer and downloaded to the intelligent thermostat. 
     
     
         21 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the time-offset is randomly or pseudorandomly generated by the intelligent thermostat. 
     
     
         22 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the time-offset is randomly or pseudorandomly generated and stored in the one or more memory devices during one of a manufacturing and a post-manufacturing process. 
     
     
         23 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , further including a first data value, stored in the one or more memory devices, that indicates a communications address through which the communications connection is established. 
     
     
         24 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the first time indicating the beginning of the call-home interval occurs at least once during each 24-hour interval. 
     
     
         25 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the intelligent thermostat to, following establishment of the communications connection, receive one or more of configuration-information updates and new versions of control programs that run within the intelligent thermostat from the remote server. 
     
     
         26 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the intelligent thermostat to, following establishment of the communications connection, upload to the remote server one or more of accumulated sensor data, event logs, and environment-characterization information. 
     
     
         27 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the intelligent thermostat and the plurality of other intelligent thermostats are a subset of intelligent thermostats that all communicate with the remote server. 
     
     
         28 . The intelligent thermostat of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the intelligent thermostat to:
 detect a failure to establish the communications connection to the remote server;   wait for a second delay defined by a maximum delay time stored in the one or more memories; and   attempt again to establish the communications connection to the remote server if, after the second delay, the call-home interval is not over.   
     
     
         29 . A method for data exchange between an intelligent thermostat and remote server within an intelligent control system, the method comprising:
 storing a first time in one or more memory devices of the intelligent thermostat, the first time also being stored in a plurality of other intelligent thermostats;   storing a time-offset stored in the one or more memory devices of the intelligent thermostat, wherein the time-offset is unique in relation to time-offsets stored in the plurality of other intelligent thermostats;   detecting, by one or more processors of the intelligent thermostat, the beginning of a call-home interval beginning at the first time, the call-home interval being the same for each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats;   waiting, by the one or more processors of the intelligent thermostat, and after the beginning of the call-home interval, for a delay defined by the time-offset; and   establishing, by the intelligent thermostat, a communications connection to a remote server of the intelligent control system after the delay, such that each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats establishes communications connections with the remote server at different times within the call-home interval.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the intelligent thermostat, a randomly or pseudorandomly generated value to be stored as the time-offset, wherein the randomly or pseudorandom generated value is generated by a computer of the intelligent control system.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 randomly or pseudorandomly generating, by the intelligent thermostat, a value to be stored as the time offset, wherein each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats randomly or pseudorandom generates their own values to be stored as time offsets   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the intelligent thermostat, a randomly or pseudorandomly generated value to be stored as the time offset, wherein the randomly or pseudorandomly generated value is generated by a manufacturer of the intelligent thermostat and each of the plurality of other intelligent thermostats, wherein the time offset is stored during one of a manufacturing and post-manufacturing process.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising storing, in the one or more memory devices, a first data value that indicates a communications address through which the communications connection is established. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first time indicating the beginning of the call-home interval occurs at least once during each 24-hour interval. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 following establishment of the communications connection, receiving one or more of configuration-information updates and new versions of control programs that run within the intelligent thermostat from the remote server.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 following establishment of the communications connection, uploading to the remote server one or more of accumulated sensor data, event logs, and environment-characterization information.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the intelligent thermostat and the plurality of other intelligent thermostats are a subset of intelligent thermostats that all communicate with the remote server. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 detecting a failure to establish the communications connection to the remote server;   waiting for a second delay defined by a maximum delay time stored in the one or more memories; and   attempting again to establish the communications connection to the remote server if, after the second delay, the call-home interval is not over.