Remote management of communicating thermostat to achieve just in time conditioning

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems can receive from a database a target time at which a structure is desired to reach a target temperature. In addition, the system acquires the temperature inside the structure and the temperature outside the structure at a time prior to the target time. The systems use a thermal characteristic of the structure and a performance characteristic of the climate control system, to determine the appropriate time prior to the target time at which the climate control system should turn on based at least in part on the structure, the climate control system, the inside temperature and the outside temperature. The systems then set a setpoint on a thermostatic controller to control the climate control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing the cycling time of a climate control system, said method comprising:
 accessing stored data comprising a plurality of internal temperature readings taken within a structure and a plurality of measurements relating to temperatures outside said structure;   using the stored data to determine one or more thermal performance values of said structure, wherein said one or more thermal performance values indicate a rate of change of temperature in said structure in response to changes in outside temperatures;   storing said one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   retrieving a target time at which said structure is desired to reach a target temperature;   acquiring a measurement relating to a temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;   retrieving at least a said one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   determining a first time prior to said target time at which said climate control system should turn on to reach the target temperature by the target time based at least in part on said one or more thermal performance values of said structure, and said outside temperature; and   calculating a plurality of intermediate setpoints that occur between the first time and the target time, wherein the plurality of intermediate setpoints control said climate control system such that the temperature inside the structure reaches approximately the target temperature at approximately the target time.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein said climate control system further comprises a thermostatic controller. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said climate control system. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5  in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said climate control system. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5  in which said remote processor sets programming for said climate control system. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  in which said th climate control system is programmable. 
     
     
         9 . A method for minimizing the cycling time of a space heating system, said method comprising:
 accessing stored data comprising a plurality of temperatures within a structure and a plurality of outside temperatures outside said structure;   using the stored data to determine one or more thermal performance values of said structure, wherein said one or more thermal performance values indicate a rate of change of temperature in said structure in response to changes in outside temperatures;   storing the one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   retrieving a target time at which a temperature in said structure is desired to reach a target temperature;   acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;   retrieving at least said one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint that occur between the first time and the target time, wherein the first and second setpoints direct a climate control system to change the actual temperature inside the structure to the target temperature in a series of intermediate steps based at least in part on said one or more thermal performance values of said structure, and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is lower than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is lower than said second setpoint;   calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said one or more thermal performance values of said structure, and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and   setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time to control said climate control system.   
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9  where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 9  in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said climate control system. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11  in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said climate control system. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 11  in which said remote processor sets programming for said climate control system. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 9  in which said climate control system is programmable. 
     
     
         15 . A method for minimizing the cycling time of an air conditioning system, said method comprising:
 accessing stored data comprising a plurality of temperatures readings taken within a structure and a plurality of measurements relating to temperatures outside said structure;   using the stored data to determine one or more thermal performance values of said structure, wherein said one or more thermal performance values indicate a rate of change of temperature in said structure in response to changes in outside temperatures;   storing one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   retrieving a target time at which a temperature in said structure is desired to reach a target temperature;   acquiring the temperature outside said structure at a time prior to said target time;   retrieving at least said one or more thermal performance values of said structure;   calculating at least a first setpoint and a second setpoint that occur between the first time and the target time, wherein the first and second setpoints direct a climate control system to change the actual temperature inside the structure to the target temperature in a series of intermediate steps based at least in part on said one or more thermal performance values of said structure, and said outside temperature, where said second setpoint is higher than said target temperature, and said first setpoint is higher than said second setpoint;   calculating at least a first setpoint target time and a second setpoint target time based at least in part on said one or more thermal performance values of said structure, where said second setpoint target time is prior to said target time, and said first setpoint target time is prior to said second setpoint target time; and   setting at least said first setpoint at said first setpoint target time and said second setpoint at said second setpoint target time to control said climate control system.   
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15  where said climate control system is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a single family residence. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 15  in which at least one remote processor is in communication with said climate control system. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17  in which said remote processor is not located in the same structure as said climate control system. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 17  in which said remote processor sets programming for said climate control system. 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 15  in which said climate control system is programmable.