Method and apparatus for intelligent temperature control
Various ways to control the ambient temperature of a room in a structure are described. In one embodiment, a method for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure is described, comprising receiving a future outdoor temperature forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located, and altering a temperature profile for controlling the ambient room temperature based on the future outdoor temperature forecast.
1 . A method for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure, comprising:
storing a user-defined setpoint in a memory, the user-defined setpoint comprising a desired temperature a desired time when the desired temperature should be achieved, and a default ramp start time;
receiving a future outdoor forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located;
altering the default ramp start time based on the future outdoor forecast; and
causing an HVAC system to begin heating or cooling the structure at the altered default ramp start time.
2 . A device for intelligently controlling an ambient room temperature in a structure, comprising:
a network interface;
a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a user-defined setpoint,
the user-defined setpoint comprising a desired temperature, a desired time when the desired temperature should be achieved, and a default ramp start time; and
a processor coupled to the network interface and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that causes the processor to:
receive, via the network interface, a future outdoor forecast related to a geographic area where the structure is located;
alter the default ramp start time based on the future outdoor forecast; and
cause an HVAC system to begin heating or cooling the structure at the altered default ramp start time.
3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , comprising comparing an actual temperature measured at the setpoint time to the desired temperature and using a value obtained as a result of the comparison when subsequently altering the default ramp start time based on a subsequently received, future outdoor forecast.
4 . The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the value comprises a predetermined amount of time for each predetermined amount of temperature difference.
5 . The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to compare an actual temperature measured at the setpoint time to the desired temperature and use a value obtained as a result of the comparison when subsequently altering the default ramp start time based on a subsequently received, future outdoor forecast.
6 . The device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the value comprises a predetermined amount of time for each predetermined amount of temperature difference.