IP Library Granted Patent US 10,837,667
Granted Patent B2
US 10,837,667 · App. 16/048,008 · Granted Nov 17, 2020

Devices and methods for interacting with an HVAC controller

Inventors: Jay Nelson (Eden Prairie, MN); David Bures (Ceska, CZ); Petr Kasparik (Brno, CZ); Soumitri Kolavennu (Blaine, MN); Roman Konecny (Brno, CZ); Amit Kulkarni (Plymouth, MN); Daniel Becvar (Brno, CZ); Martin Adamek (Pelhrimov, CZ); Juraj Buno (Stara Tura, SK); Steven Hoglund (Minneapolis, MN); Libor Horky (Brno, CZ); Jan Malek (Brno, CZ); Adam Nemcek (Ostrava, CZ); Martin Skala (Olomouc, CZ); Tomas Losak (Breclav, CZ); Josef Novotny (Kuncina, CZ); Thomas Gessner (Plymouth, MN); Preston Gilmer (Delano, MN); Ix (Minneapolis, MN); Hari Thiruvengada (Plymouth, MN); Christopher Goh (Chanhassen, MN); Robert D. Juntunen (Minnetonka, MN); David Mulhouse (Minnetonka, MN); Cary Leen (Hammond, WI); Heidi Finch (Champlin, MN)
Assignee: Ademco Inc.
F24F11/30F24D19/1084G05D23/1902G10L15/22F24F11/52F24F11/56F24F11/58F24F2110/00F24F2130/40G06F3/167Y02B10/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,837,667
App. No.
16/048,008
Granted
Nov 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of controlling an HVAC system can include receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of the HVAC system to a requested set point value, converting the audio into a natural language audio stream, identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream, transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, and receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range.

Claims (24)

1. A method comprising:

receiving audio that includes a predefined trigger phrase followed by a voice command to change a set point temperature of an HVAC system to a requested set point value;

converting the audio into a natural language audio stream;

identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream;

transmitting a part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to a remote web service for identifying the voice command therein;

when the requested set point value is within a predetermined range, receiving a first building control device command generated by and from the remote web service at a building control device, wherein the first building control device command is understandable by the building control device and instructs the building control device to change the set point temperature to the requested set point value;

when the requested set point value is outside of the predetermined range, receiving a second building control command generated by and from the remote web service at the building control device, wherein the second building control device is understandable by the building control device and instructs the building control device to change the set point temperature to an in range set point value that is within die predetermined range; and

executing the first building control device command or the second building device control command at the building control device to control the HVAC system in accordance with the first building control device command or the second building control device command.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the part of the natural language audio stream that includes the voice command to the remote web service responsive to identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving feedback from a user when the predefined trigger phrase is incorrectly identified and in response, adjusting a trigger phrase sensitivity factor that is used in identifying the predefined trigger phrase.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the first building control device command or the second building control device command from the remote web service at the building control device via an internet gateway.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the first building control device command or the second building control device command from the remote web service at the building control device via a wide area network (WAN).

6. The method of claim 1 , thither comprising:

receiving the audio at the building control device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream at the building control device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the audio at a user device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying the predefined trigger phrase in the natural language audio stream at the user device.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: RESIDEO LLC
Reel/Frame 071546/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: ADEMCO INC.
Reel/Frame 050437/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2019
From: NELSON, JAY; BURES, DAVID; KASPARIK, PETR; KOLAVENNU, SOUMITRI; KONECNY, ROMAN; KULKARNI, AMIT; BECVAR, DANIEL; ADAMEK, MARTIN; BUNO, JURAJ; HOGLUND, STEVEN; HORKY, LIBOR; MALEK, JAN; NEMCEK, ADAM; SKALA, MARTIN; LOSAK, TOMAS; NOVOTNY, JOSEF; GESSNER, THOMAS; GILMER, PRESTON; (THIS IS HIS COMPLETE LEGAL NAME), IX; THIRUVENGADA, HARI; GOH, CHRISTOPHER; JUNTUNEN, ROBERT D.; MULHOUSE, DAVID; LEEN, CARY; FINCH, HEIDI
To: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 049232/0691 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2018
From: ADEMCO INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047337/0577 →
Cited By (8)
US 12,518,755 US 12,518,756 US 12,579,978 US 12,626,717 US 12,640,148 US 12,699,543 US 12,704,492 US 12,711,962