Thermostat Remote Control via Mobile Device Without Local Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many households lack access to local-area networks, preventing modern thermostats from communicating with mobile devices and optimizing energy usage based on time-of-use pricing and weather forecasts.
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 direct wireless communication with thermostats for profile updates without a local network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a thermostat uses Wi-Fi for wireless communication with mobile devices, then communication convenience and energy optimization capability are improved, but the requirement for local-area network infrastructure increases, making it inaccessible to many households
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 circuitry for network communication and low-power wireless circuitry for direct thermostat communication. This intermediary architecture allows the thermostat to function without requiring local-area network infrastructure at the installation location, as all network communications are routed through the mobile device via wide-area network connections.
2Productivity
If a thermostat is connected to a local-area network, then real-time remote control and monitoring are enabled, but power consumption increases and installation complexity increases for households without existing network infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device serves as a mediator that handles all complex network communications, server interactions, and data processing. The thermostat itself remains simple, containing only low-power wireless circuitry for direct communication with the mobile device. This divides the system complexity such that the thermostat installation remains simple while still enabling full remote control capability through the mobile device's wide-area network connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two distinct components: a simple thermostat with minimal functionality and a mobile device with full network and processing capabilities. This segmentation allows the thermostat to be installed anywhere with basic wireless communication, while the mobile device handles all complex operations including server communication, temperature profile management, and energy optimization calculations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a thermostat communicates directly with a wide-area network, then network accessibility is improved, but power consumption increases compared to local network communication
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic communication cycles where the mobile device periodically checks for temperature profile updates from the server and periodically syncs with the thermostat. The thermostat communicates with the mobile device only when needed (periodically or on events), rather than maintaining continuous network connectivity. This periodic action pattern reduces the thermostat's power consumption while still providing wide-area network accessibility through the mobile device.
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.