Low power network connectivity of a building control device

Abstract

A device incorporating electronics including a transmitter to transmit commands to a remote HVAC unit, a communication module for connecting the device to a low power network, and a controller to communicate with the HVAC unit and communicate with a remote device over the low power network. The device further incorporates a power source to power the electronics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 electronics incorporating:
 a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit one or more commands to a remote HVAC unit; 
 a communication module for connecting the device to a low power network; 
 a controller configured to:
 communicate with the HVAC unit via the transmitter; and 
 communicate with a remote device over the low power network via the communication module; and 
 
   a power source operatively coupled to the electronics and configured to power the electronics.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further configured to communicate via the transmitter with one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , the electronics further comprising one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing with the electronics and power source disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , the electronics further comprise a user interface including a display, wherein the controller is configured to display on the display current environmental conditions and desired environmental conditions specified by a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the remote device can send instructions over the low power network to the device to control the HVAC unit. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the low power network is a low power wide area network (LPWAN). 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the LPWAN is a NarrowB and Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Network. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the LPWAN is a LoRa Network. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a thermostat. 
     
     
         11 . A thermostat comprising:
 a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit one or more commands to a remote HVAC unit;   a communication module for connecting the device to a low power network;   a controller operatively connected to the transmitter and the communication module and configured to:
 communicate with the HVAC unit via the transmitter; and 
 communicate with a remote device over the low power network via the communication module; and 
   a power source operatively coupled to the transmitter, the communication module, and the controller and configured to power the transmitter, the communication module, and the controller.   
     
     
         12 . The thermostat of  claim 11 , further comprising a housing with the transmitter, the communication module, the controller, and the power source disposed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The thermostat of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions; and   a user interface including a display, wherein the controller is configured to display on the display the environmental conditions and desired environmental conditions specified by a user via the user interface.   
     
     
         14 . The thermostat of  claim 12 , further configured to communicate via the transmitter with one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions and the thermostat further comprises a user interface including a display, wherein the controller is configured to display on the display the environmental conditions and desired environmental conditions specified by a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . The thermostat of  claim 11 , wherein the low power network is a NarrowB and Internet of Things (IoT) Network. 
     
     
         16 . The thermostat of  claim 11 , wherein the low power network is a LoRa Network. 
     
     
         17 . A thermostat comprising:
 a housing;   electronics disposed within the housing, including:
 a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit one or more commands to a remote HVAC unit; 
 a communication module for connecting the device to a low power wide area network (LPWAN); 
 a controller configured to:
 communicate with the HVAC unit via the transmitter; and 
 communicate with a remote device over the LPWAN via the communication module; 
 
 a user interface including a display, wherein the controller is configured to display on the display environmental conditions and desired environmental conditions specified by a user via the user interface; and 
   a power source disposed within the housing, operatively coupled to the electronics, and configured to power the electronics.   
     
     
         18 . The thermostat of  claim 17 , the electronics further comprising one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The thermostat of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate via the transmitter with one or more sensors for sensing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         20 . The thermostat of  claim 17 , wherein the LPWAN is a NarrowB and Internet of Things (IoT) Network.