Thermostat capable of displaying received information
View Patent ↗A thermostat for controlling a climate control system is provided that comprises a network interface for establishing an Internet connection with a website of a remote service provider, and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system. The microprocessor is in communication with the network interface for establishing an Internet connection and receiving user-specified information from a remote service provider that maintains a user-profile of information requested by the user. The thermostat further comprises a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying user-specified information received via the network controller from the remote service provider.
1. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system, comprising:
a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider;
a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the microprocessor being in communication with the network interface for establishing an internet connection and receiving a data package that includes a stored temperature value from the remote service provider that the user subscribes to, wherein the microprocessor temporarily changes the temperature set point to the requested stored temperature value for a predetermined time period; and
a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying the temperature value received from the remote service provider, wherein the subscriber to the service provider may remotely access the service provider's website using a computer and enter a requested temperature value to be provided to the user's thermostat when the thermostat establishes a connection with the service provider, for temporarily changing the set point temperature of the user's thermostat, wherein a utility provider may remotely submit a requested setback to the service provider, where the user's requested temperature value is then provided to the subscriber's thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the service provider to temporarily changing the thermostat's set point temperature for reducing energy consumption during peak demand periods, and wherein the user of the thermostat may respond to the change in set point to the received temperature value displayed on the display device by adjusting the temperature set point to override the set point temperature value received from the remote service provider.
2. The thermostat of claim 1 wherein the thermostat displays the utility's requested set back temperature on the display device.
3. The thermostat of claim 2 wherein the user may manually override the utility's set back temperature by pressing user-inputs for adjusting the temperature set point to a user desired temperature.
4. A thermostat for controlling a climate control system, comprising:
a network interface for establishing an internet connection with a website of a remote service provider;
a microprocessor for controlling the operation of a climate control system, the microprocessor being in communication with the network interface for establishing an internet connection, and for receiving a data package that includes specific information from a remote service provider that maintains a user-profile of subscriber-specified information and a stored temperature value, where the data package includes the store temperature value, and wherein the microprocessor temporarily changes the temperature set point to the stored temperature value for a predetermined time period;
a display device responsive to the microprocessor for displaying the user-specified information and stored temperature value requested and received from the remote service provider, wherein a utility provider may remotely submit a requested setback to the stored temperature value to the service provider, to be provided to the subscriber's thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the service provider to temporarily change the thermostat's set point temperature for reducing energy consumption during peak demand periods, and wherein the user of the thermostat may respond to the change in set point to the received temperature value displayed on the display device by adjusting the temperature set point to override the set point temperature value received from the remote service provider.
5. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the network interface is adapted to establish an internet connection through a dial up modem and phone line.
6. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the network interface is adapted to establish a wireless internet connection through a WiFi 802.11b wireless router.
7. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the user specific information comprises at least weather forecast information of a high temperature and a low temperature.
8. The thermostat of claim 4 where upon the thermostat establishing connection with the remote service provider, the remoter service provider responds to the thermostat's identification by providing a data message containing user-specified information.
9. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the user-profile comprises a request by the user for specific information, which the remote service provider prepares and provides to the thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the remote service provider.
10. The thermostat of claim 4 wherein the subscriber to the service provider may remotely access the service provider's website using a computer and enter a requested temperature value to be provided to the user's thermostat when the thermostat establishes connection with the service provider, for temporarily changing the set point temperature of the user's thermostat.