Abstract:
Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.
Abstract:
A method performed at a computer system includes: receiving current location data for a user; receiving door lock activation data for a door of a dwelling of the user; receiving current occupancy data for the dwelling; determining a configuration of a controller for the dwelling, based at least in part on the received current location data for the user, the received door lock activation data for the door, and the received current occupancy data for the dwelling; if the door was locked from inside the dwelling and the user is present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set a configuration of the controller to a first configuration; and, if the door was locked from outside the dwelling and the user is not present in the dwelling, setting or sending instructions to set the configuration of the controller to a second configuration, distinct from the first configuration.
Abstract:
Embodiments provided herein relate to: suggesting, automatically implementing, or both suggesting and automatically implementing, one or more household policies to be implemented within a household environment. The household policies include one or more input criteria that is derivable from at least one smart device within the household environment, the one or more input criteria relating to a characteristic of the household environment, a characteristic of one or more occupants of the household, or both. The household policies also include one or more outputs to be provided based upon the one or more input criteria.
Abstract:
Hazard detector for providing a pre-alarm of a developing hazardous condition includes a detection module that detects a hazard level of smoke or carbon monoxide, a storage module that stores a pre-alarm threshold and an emergency threshold, a light source that generates light in a first color, a second color, and a third color, a speaker that generates an audible sound, a horn that generates an audible alarm that a higher volume than the speaker, and a processing module. The processing module receives the detected hazard level and compares it with the pre-alarm threshold and the emergency threshold. The processing module determines that the hazard level is greater than the pre-alarm threshold and less than the emergency threshold and generates an audible pre-alarm speech via the speaker that warns of the developing hazardous condition. The processing module also activates the light source in the second color.
Abstract:
A thermostat user interface for a network-connected thermostat is described. The thermostat includes a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a sidewall extending between first and second ends, the second end being user-facing when the thermostat is wall-mounted; a circular rotatable ring being user rotatable for adjusting a setting of the thermostat; and a circular cover including a clear circular center portion surrounded by a painted outer portion. The clear circular center portion permits a corresponding circular portion of a non-circular dot-matrix color display element to be visible through the circular cover and the painted outer portion masks a remaining portion of the non-circular dot-matrix color display element so as to create a circular graphical user interface.
Abstract:
include using an application on a mobile device to establish first wireless communications with a first hazard detector that was previously paired with the user account. The method may also include transmitting, to the first hazard detector and using the first wireless protocol, a transmission that instructs the first hazard detector to establish second wireless communications with a second hazard detector, where the second wireless communications use a second wireless protocol. The method may additionally include transmitting network credentials to the first hazard detector using the first wireless protocol, where the credentials are then sent from the first hazard detector to the second hazard detector using the second wireless protocol, such that the second hazard detector can pair with the user account using the first wireless protocol.
Abstract:
HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
Abstract:
A wall-mountable programmable electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a circular wall-mountable backplate with a central opening to allow for the passage of HVAC wires for electrical connection to the thermostat. The head unit body is also circular and is removeably mountable to the back plate. A plurality of wedge-shaped wiring terminals are mounted on the backplate for making a tool-free connection to HVAC wires. Each wiring terminal has button that a user can depress while a wire is inserted in a wire hole. The terminals are arranged along one or more circular arcs about the central opening of the backplate such that the wire holes face the central opening and the buttons are located close to the outer periphery of the backplate.
Abstract:
A method for establishing a pairing between a smart-home device and an online account may include instantiating an application on a computing device and receiving a first code from a central server. The application may receive a second code from printed material associated with the smart-home device. The smart-home device may broadcast a first communication protocol, and the application may join the first mutation protocol. The application can be authenticated by the smart-home device using the second code, and the application can receive an identity of a second communication protocol from a user. The application can then transmit the identity of the second communication protocol to the smart-home device. The smart-home device can use the second mutation protocol to access the Internet and transmit the first code to the central server, where the central server can use the first code in completing the pairing process.
Abstract:
A wall-mountable programmable electronic thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described. The thermostat includes a circular wall-mountable backplate with a central opening to allow for the passage of HVAC wires for electrical connection to the thermostat. The head unit body is also circular and is removeably mountable to the back plate. A plurality of wedge-shaped wiring terminals are mounted on the backplate for making a tool-free connection to HVAC wires. Each wiring terminal has button that a user can depress while a wire is inserted in a wire hole. The terminals are arranged along one or more circular arcs about the central opening of the backplate such that the wire holes face the central opening and the buttons are located close to the outer periphery of the backplate.