Redundant and Selectable Gateway and Control Elements for Remote Connected Thermostats

Abstract

A networking thermostat is described that includes a main processor and a communications processor. The main processor includes a network manager function, a master messaging function and a slave messaging function while the communications processor includes a wireless radio enabling the thermostat to communicate with other networking thermostats. The networking thermostat is able to operate in a master mode or a slave mode, where the master mode allows the networking thermostat to act as a main gateway between other networking thermostats and a remote server. When in the master mode the networking thermostat can default to a slave if communication with the remote server is lost, thereby allowing one of the other networking thermostats to become a master.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for monitoring and controlling an HVAC system, comprising:
 a master networking thermostat comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, wherein the main processor controls a user interface and remote access communications, and the communications processor communicates with the main processor and interfaces with other networking thermostats and HVAC sensors, and the HVAC controller which controls the HVAC system hardware, further wherein the master networking thermostat controller acts as a main gateway to a remote server;   a standby master networking thermostat comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, the standby master networking thermostat in communication with the master networking thermostat to pass data related to the HVAC system, the standby master networking controller further maintaining a connection with the remote server, wherein the standby master networking controller can assume the function of the main gateway to the remote server should the remote server lose connection with the master networking thermostat;   a plurality of slave networking thermostats, each comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, wherein each of the slave networking thermostats are in communication with the master networking thermostat to pass data related to the HVAC system;   at least one energy monitoring device monitoring energy usage in the HVAC system; and   at least one load control unit operable to balance operation of HVAC system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second standby master networking thermostat in communication with the master networking thermostat and the remote server, wherein the second standby master networking controller can assume the function of the main gateway to the remote server should the remote server lose connection with the master networking thermostat and standby master networking thermostat. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein any of the master networking thermostat, standby master networking thermostat, or slave networking thermostats can function as a master networking thermostat or standby master networking thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the master networking thermostat stores the network addresses of all slaves networking thermostats. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the master networking thermostat is operable to revert to function as the main gateway to the remote server when communication with the remote server is reestablished. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the communications processor includes a slave message data storage to store messages to allow a quick response time in response to incoming communications from the master. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the master networking thermostat collects data from the slave networking thermostats and passes the data to the remote server. 
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring and controlling an HVAC system, comprising:
 establishing a connection at a remote server with a master networking thermostat, the master networking thermostat comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, wherein the main processor controls a user interface and remote access communications, and the communications processor communicates with the main processor and interfaces with other networking thermostats and HVAC sensors, and the HVAC controller which controls the HVAC system hardware, further wherein the master networking thermostat controller acts as a main gateway to the remote server;   establishing a heartbeat connection with a standby master networking thermostat, the standby networking thermostat comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, the standby master networking thermostat in communication with the master networking thermostat to pass data related to the HVAC system, wherein the standby master networking controller can assume the function of the main gateway to the remote server should the remote server lose connection with the master networking thermostat;   receiving data from a plurality of slave networking thermostats, each comprising a main processor, a communications processor, and an HVAC controller, wherein each of the slave networking thermostats are in communication with the master networking thermostat to pass data related to the HVAC system;   receiving data from at least one energy monitoring device monitoring energy usage in the HVAC system; and   receiving data from at least one load control unit operable to balance operation of HVAC system.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising establishing a heartbeat connection with a second standby master networking thermostat in communication with the master networking thermostat and the remote server, wherein the second standby master networking controller can assume the function of the main gateway to the remote server should the remote server lose connection with the master networking thermostat and standby master networking thermostat. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein any of the master networking thermostat, standby master networking thermostat, or slave networking thermostats can function as a master networking thermostat or standby master networking thermostat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the master networking thermostat stores the network addresses of all slaves networking thermostats. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the master networking thermostat is operable to revert to function as the main gateway to the remote server when communication with the remote server is reestablished. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the communications processor includes a slave message data storage to store messages to allow a quick response time in response to incoming communications from the master. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the master networking thermostat collects data from the slave networking thermostats and passes the data to the remote server. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a master networking thermostat, the master networking thermostat monitoring an HVAC system and in communication with a standby master networking thermostat and at least one slave networking thermostat, the method comprising:
 attempting to connect to a remote server;   configuring as a master controller if a connection to the remote server is established;   establishing a network connection with the standby master networking thermostat and the at least one slave networking thermostat;   receiving data related to the HVAC system from the standby master networking thermostat and the at least one slave networking thermostat;   communicating the received data to the remote server; and   reconfiguring as a slave controller when the connection to the remote server is lost.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising reverting back to the master controller when communication with the remote server is reestablished. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising storing the network addresses of all slaves networking thermostats. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising storing the data related to the HVAC system in a cache to allow efficient communication with the remote server.