System and method for using a mobile electronic device to optimize an energy management system

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermostat system comprising:
 a housing;   electrical contacts configured to connect the thermostat with wires that allow for at least two electrical connections from a building's HVAC system to the contacts;   a display configured to present information to a user;   a wireless radio compatible with a wireless radio frequency protocol and configured to communicate bi-directionally with a location-aware mobile-device;   a temperature sensor;   one or more processors configured with electronic circuitry to:
 receive HVAC data parameters, including a first data parameter from the temperature sensor comprising an interior temperature inside the building; and 
 a second data parameter from a humidity sensor comprising an interior humidity inside building; 
 determine a first temperature setpoint data parameter for the building, wherein the first setpoint data parameter includes a first temperature value and a first time value; 
 determine a second temperature setpoint data parameter for the building, wherein the second setpoint data parameter includes a second temperature value and a second time value; 
 receive radio frequency signals from the location-aware mobile device; 
 receive geo-positioning data from the location-aware mobile device and automatically adjust a temperature value based on the geo-positioning data, including initiating at least one cooling or heating cycle for the HVAC system when the geo-positioning data is determined to indicate that the building is unoccupied by the user; 
   electronic circuitry configured to allow the user to adjust a desired temperature for the HVAC system;   electronic circuitry configured to analyze a plurality of data parameters specific to the user, including at least one data parameter relating to usage of the HVAC system at various times; and   electronic circuitry configured to generate and communicate usage metrics pertaining to the HVAC system over time; and   a compressor delay circuit configured to delay the start or stop of a compressor for the HVAC system and protect the compressor from rapid cycling.   
     
     
         2 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from a network connected to the thermostat, wherein the third data parameter comprises an outside temperature from a source external to the building. 
     
     
         3 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from one or more motion sensors located within the interior of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to determine whether the building is occupied or unoccupied. 
     
     
         5 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from a first sensor, wherein the third data parameter from the first sensor includes a measurement of at least one characteristic of a building within which the thermostat is located. 
     
     
         6 . The thermostat system of  claim 2 , wherein the third data parameter from the network connected to the thermostat further comprises a measurement of the outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         7 . The thermostat system of  claim 4 , wherein the determination of whether the building is occupied or unoccupied by the one or more processors is based at least in part on a fourth data parameter received from a motion sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to predict, based at least on the first data parameter, the second data parameter, and the first temperature setpoint data parameter, the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order for the building to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         9 . The thermostat system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors' prediction of the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value is further based on determining a rate of change value necessary for the building to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         10 . The thermostat system of  claim 12 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the prediction of time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         11 . The thermostat system of  claim 13 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the rate of change value. 
     
     
         12 . The thermostat system of  claim 12 , further comprising a memory configured to store historical values of the first data parameter and second data parameter; wherein the one or more processors' prediction of the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value is further based on historical values of the first data parameter and second data parameter. 
     
     
         13 . The thermostat system of  claim 15  wherein the one or more processors determines one or more intermediate temperature setpoints that have a temperature value between a current temperature of the building and the first temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         14 . The thermostat system of  claim 16 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the prediction of time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         15 . The thermostat system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter generated based at least in part on a previous operation of the HVAC system, wherein the third data parameter includes at least one performance characteristic of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         16 . A thermostat system comprising:
 a housing;   electrical contacts configured to connect the thermostat with wires that allow for at least two electrical connections from a building's HVAC system to the contacts;   a display configured to present information to a user;   a wireless radio compatible with a wireless radio frequency protocol and configured to communicate bi-directionally with a location-aware mobile-device;   a temperature sensor;   one or more processors configured with electronic circuitry to:
 receive HVAC data parameters, including a first data parameter from the temperature sensor comprising an interior temperature inside the building; and 
 a second data parameter from one or more motions sensors located within the interior of the building; 
 determine a first temperature setpoint data parameter for the building, wherein the first setpoint data parameter includes a first temperature value and a first time value; 
 determine a second temperature setpoint data parameter for the building, wherein the second setpoint data parameter includes a second temperature value and a second time value; 
 receive radio frequency signals from the location-aware mobile device; 
 receive geo-positioning data from the location-aware mobile device and automatically adjust a temperature value based on the geo-positioning data, including initiating at least one cooling or heating cycle for the HVAC system when the geo-positioning data is determined to indicate that the building is unoccupied by the user; 
   electronic circuitry configured to allow the user to adjust a desired temperature for the HVAC system;   electronic circuitry configured to analyze a plurality of data parameters specific to the user, including at least one data parameter relating to usage of the HVAC system at various times; and   electronic circuitry configured to generate and communicate usage metrics pertaining to the HVAC system over time; and   a compressor delay circuit configured to delay the start or stop of a compressor for the HVAC system and protect the compressor from rapid cycling.   
     
     
         17 . The thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from a network connected to the thermostat, wherein the third data parameter comprises an outside temperature collected from a source external to the building. 
     
     
         18 . The thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from a humidity sensor detecting a humidity of the interior of the building. 
     
     
         19 . The thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to determine whether the building is occupied or unoccupied. 
     
     
         20 . The thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter from a first sensor, wherein the third data parameter from the first sensor includes a measurement of at least one characteristic of a building within which the thermostat is located. 
     
     
         21 . The thermostat system of  claim 21 , wherein the third data parameter from the network connected to the thermostat further comprises a measurement of the outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         22 . The thermostat system of  claim 22 , wherein the determination of whether the building is occupied or unoccupied by the one or more processors is based at least in part on the second data parameter received from a motion sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The thermostat system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to predict, based at least on the first data parameter, the second data parameter, and the first temperature setpoint data parameter, the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order for the building to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         24 . The thermostat system of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more processors' prediction of the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value is further based on determining a rate of change value necessary for the building to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         25 . The thermostat system of  claim 30 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the prediction of time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         26 . The thermostat system of claim  31 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the rate of change value. 
     
     
         27 . The thermostat system of  claim 30 , further comprising a memory configured to store historical values of the first data parameter and second data parameter; wherein the one or more processors' prediction of the time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value is further based on historical values of the first data parameter and second data parameter. 
     
     
         28 . The thermostat system of claim  33  wherein the one or more processors determines one or more intermediate temperature setpoints that have a temperature value between a current temperature of the building and the first temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         29 . The thermostat system of claim  34 , wherein the automatic adjustment of the temperature setpoint is based at least in part on the prediction of time necessary for the HVAC system to operate in order to reach the first temperature value by the first time value. 
     
     
         30 . The thermostat system of claim  35 , wherein the one or more processors is further configured to receive a third data parameter generated based at least in part on a previous operation of the HVAC system, wherein the third data parameter includes at least one performance characteristic of the HVAC system.