Method of associating an HVAC controller with an external web service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems lack the ability to be remotely controlled and monitored effectively, limiting user convenience and efficiency in managing environmental conditions within buildings.
Innovation Solution
An HVAC controller that forms a wireless network with a separate device, allowing access to an external web service for remote control and monitoring, using access and registration parameters to connect to a wide area network, enabling user account association and facilitating remote access and control through mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an HVAC system uses traditional local control only, then system simplicity is maintained, but user convenience and remote accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web service as an intermediary between the HVAC controller and the user's remote device. The controller communicates with the web service over a network, which then provides the user interface and control logic to the user's device. This mediator approach allows remote control capability without requiring complex direct integration between the controller and various user devices, thus improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the HVAC controller connects to a wireless network using stored credentials, then remote access is enabled, but security risks from credential exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensitive wireless network credentials (SSID and passcode) from the HVAC controller itself and stores them instead in the web service. The controller only needs to communicate with the web service over the network, not directly authenticate with the wireless network using stored credentials. This extraction of sensitive data from the controller reduces security vulnerabilities while maintaining remote access capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the system requires manual network configuration, then security is maintained, but ease of setup and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service setup process where the controller automatically obtains network credentials from the web service without requiring manual configuration by the installer or user. The controller can autonomously connect to the wireless network using credentials retrieved from the web service, and automatically register itself with the web service using its identification code. This self-service approach improves ease of setup while maintaining configuration accuracy through automated processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless thermostat may be associated with a user account of an external web service that may facilitate remote access and/or control of the wireless thermostat. A remote device may be used to access a user's account hosted by the external web service. The wireless thermostat may be identified to the external web service and associated with the user's account by one or more unique identifiers previously delivered to the remote device from the wireless thermostat.