Server-based thermostat control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many households lack access to local Wi-Fi networks, preventing modern thermostats from communicating with mobile devices and optimizing energy usage based on time-of-use pricing and weather forecasts, which limits remote control capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a server and mobile device that communicate over a wide-area network to determine predicted outdoor temperatures and modify temperature profiles to reduce energy costs, allowing for remote control of thermostats without a local network connection using low-power communication technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or near-field communications (NFC).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If modern thermostats use Wi-Fi for remote communication, then remote control capability is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the thermostat and the wide-area network. The mobile device contains both Wi-Fi and low-power communication circuitry, allowing it to act as a mediator that receives temperature profiles from the server via Wi-Fi and transmits them to the thermostat via low-power communication, thereby enabling remote control without requiring the thermostat itself to have complex network infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network communication function into two parts: the mobile device handles wide-area network communication (Wi-Fi), while the thermostat handles only local low-power communication. This segmentation allows the thermostat to remain simple while still achieving remote control capability through the mobile device's network capabilities
2Ease of operation
If thermostat connects to local Wi-Fi network, then communication with mobile device is improved, but adaptability to areas without infrastructure worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the Wi-Fi-based server and the thermostat in areas without local Wi-Fi infrastructure. It receives modified temperature profiles from the server via wide-area network and delivers them to the thermostat using low-power communication technologies that do not require infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies the temperature control functionality to the mobile device, which then acts as a portable controller. The mobile device stores and transmits temperature profiles, effectively copying the thermostat's control logic to a device that has universal communication capabilities across different infrastructure environments
3Use of energy by moving object
If thermostat uses low-power communication only, then energy consumption is reduced, but remote control capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication tasks: the mobile device (which has higher power availability) handles energy-intensive Wi-Fi communication with the server, while the thermostat (which is power-constrained) uses only low-power communication for receiving temperature profiles. This segmentation allows the thermostat to maintain low energy consumption while the system as a whole achieves remote control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service by automatically receiving temperature profiles from the server and making them available to the thermostat. This eliminates the need for the thermostat to actively initiate network communications, allowing it to remain in a low-power state while still benefiting from remote temperature profile updates
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.