IP Library Granted Patent US 11,910,031
Granted Patent B2
US 11,910,031 · App. 17/810,800 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Thermostat and system and method for use of same

Inventors: William C. Fang (Plano, TX); Raymond S. Horton (McKinney, TX); Thomas R. Miller (Plano, TX); Vanessa Ogle (Fairview, TX)
Assignee: Enseo, LLC
H04N21/2143G07C1/00H04N21/23605H04N21/25841H04N21/414H04N21/4108H04N21/42221H04N21/4343H04N21/43637H04N21/4516H04N21/4524H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,910,031
App. No.
17/810,800
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A thermostat and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor and memory. To improve convenience, the thermostat may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the thermostat may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network.

Claims (60)

1. A system for remote control, the system comprising:

a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, and storage therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, and the storage, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture; and

the non-transitory memory accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

establish a pairing between a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the thermostat,

receive and process user input instructions relative to an amenity from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

generate a status inquiry,

send the status inquiry to the amenity,

receive a response to the status inquiry at the thermostat, and

forward the response to the status inquiry to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device; and

the non-transitory memory including second processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

receive and process a beacon signal including a personal location device identification,

generate a broadcast signal including the personal location device identification, a thermostat identification, and a signal characteristics indicator, and

send the broadcast signal to a server.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a single button personal location device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the amenity is selected from the group consisting of television, lighting control, speakers, window shade control, and door security.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is based on the beacon signal being received at the thermostat.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is selected from the group consisting of signal strength measurements, phase angle measurements, and flight time measurements.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first processor-executable instructions associated with the non-transitory memory further includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

send user interface instructions relative to the amenity to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory includes third processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

establish the pairing between the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the thermostat,

send the user interface instructions relative to the amenity to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process the user input instructions relative to the amenity from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

import content from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

reformat the imported content, and

forward the reformatted imported content to the amenity.

10. A system for remote control, the system comprising:

a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, and storage therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, and the storage, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture; and

the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

receive and process a beacon signal including a personal location device identification,

generate a broadcast signal including the personal location device identification, a thermostat identification, and a signal characteristics indicator.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the personal location device identification is generated by a personal location device, the personal location device further comprising a single button personal location device.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is based on the beacon signal being received at the thermostat.

14. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the signal characteristics indicator is selected from the group consisting of signal strength measurements, phase angle measurements, and flight time measurements.

15. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the non-transitory memory includes second processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

establish a pairing between a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the thermostat,

send user interface instructions relative to an amenity to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process user input instructions relative to the amenity from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

generate a status inquiry, and

send the status inquiry to the amenity,

receive a response to the status inquiry at the thermostat, and

forward the response to the status inquiry to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the amenity is selected from the group consisting of television, lighting control, speakers, window shade control, and door security.

18. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the non-transitory memory includes third processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

establish a pairing between a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the thermostat, the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of personal computers, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones, and smart watches,

send user interface instructions relative to an amenity to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

receive and process user input instructions relative to the amenity from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device,

generate a command signal, and

send the command signal to the amenity.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 , wherein the amenity is selected from the group consisting of television, lighting control, speakers, window shade control, and door security.

20. A system for remote control, the system comprising:

a programming interface configured to communicate with a thermostat, the thermostat including a housing securing a temperature input, a temperature output, a processor, non-transitory memory, and storage therein, the thermostat including a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the temperature input, the temperature output, the processor, the non-transitory memory, and the storage, the thermostat including a wireless transceiver associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture; and

the non-transitory memory including first processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

establish a pairing between a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device and the thermostat,

receive and process a beacon signal including a personal location device identification,

generate a broadcast signal including the personal location device identification, a thermostat identification, and a signal characteristics indicator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2022
From: FANG, WILLIAM C.; HORTON, RAYMOND S.; MILLER, THOMAS R.; OGLE, VANESSA
To: ENSEO, LLC
Reel/Frame 060404/0778 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 17173957 · Feb 11, 2021
Continuation In Part 17103452 · Nov 24, 2020
Continuation 16570043 · Sep 13, 2019
Continuation In Part 16201783 · Nov 27, 2018
Continuation 15652622 · Jul 18, 2017
Continuation 15165851 · May 26, 2016
Continuation 14461479 · Aug 18, 2014
Provisional Application 63117630 · Nov 24, 2020
Provisional Application 62731822 · Sep 15, 2018
Provisional Application 61935862 · Feb 5, 2014
Related Publication 20220337885A1 · Oct 20, 2022