A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.

The present application relates to an environment control system. The environment control system is capable of detecting variations of natural environment and artificial environment, and control the use of electronic devices automatically or semi-automatically. Based on collected information stored in a built-in storage module, the environment control system may calculate and learn the user's habit of use with respect to the electronic devices using network connection.

A device includes a memory configured to store a preexisting schedule and one or more processors configured to perform operations including controlling a temperature within an enclosure according to a first setpoint, wherein the first setpoint is from the preexisting schedule and represents a temperature for when the enclosure is occupied. The operations also include accessing occupancy data indicating occupancy within the enclosure and automatically changing the first setpoint to a second setpoint upon expiration of a predetermined time interval during which no occupancy has been detected. The second setpoint requires less energy to maintain than the first setpoint, and the predetermined time interval is modified based at least in part on received manual settings that indicate occupancy following the changing to the second setpoint.

A temperature controlling apparatus includes a display configured to present an operating condition of the apparatus, and a communication module configured to communicate with at least one mobile device associated with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor in communication with a proximity detection module configured to determine a location of the at least one mobile device relative to the apparatus based on data received and initiate implementation of a home mode or an away mode of the apparatus in response to the determined location of the mobile device. The processor configured to initiate implementation of the away mode of the apparatus in response to a manual input received from a graphical user interface of the at least one mobile device.

An HVAC controller that can detect if a user's mobile wireless device is currently connected to and recognized by a building's wireless local area network is disclosed. Depending on whether or not the user's mobile wireless device is currently connected to and recognized by the building's wireless local area network, the HVAC controller basis its control on unoccupied or occupied settings.

A temperature controlling apparatus includes a display configured to present an operating condition of the apparatus, and a communication module configured to communicate with at least one mobile device associated with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor in communication with a proximity detection module configured to determine a location of the at least one mobile device relative to the apparatus based on data received and initiate implementation of a home mode or an away mode of the apparatus in response to the determined location of the mobile device. The processor configured to initiate implementation of the away mode of the apparatus in response to a manual input received from a graphical user interface of the at least one mobile device.

Locational environmental control provides quicker and more efficient comfort. A location associated with a mobile device determines a ceiling fan and/or an air terminal that best serves the location. The ceiling fan may be activated to provide inexpensive climate control to the location associated with the mobile device. Conditioned air (heated or cooled) may be output from the air terminal to provide additional relief.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a set of optimized control parameters (.sub.k) of a closed-loop controller (3) or an open-loop controller for an HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) system (2). In a first method step, an outside temperature (T.sub.A), an actual room temperature (T.sub.R) of a room (9), a supply temperature (T.sub.VL), a predefined target room temperature (T.sub.R,W), and a predefined target supply temperature (T.sub.VL,W) are detected. From the detected measured values (T.sub.A, T.sub.R, T.sub.R,W, T.sub.VL, T.sub.VL,W) and a time (t.sub.k) of detection data packet (D.sub.k) is generated, which is transmitted via an internet connection to a server (8) where the data packet (D.sub.k) is stored in a storage medium (6, 7) connected to the server (8). In the next method step, a set of optimized control parameters (.sub.k) is calculated on the basis of the measured values (T.sub.A, T.sub.R, T.sub.R,W, T.sub.VL, T.sub.VL,W) of the transmitted and stored data packet (D.sub.k) and on the basis of measured values (T.sub.A, T.sub.R, T.sub.R,W, T.sub.VL, T.sub.VL,W) of a plurality of further data packets (D.sub.0 . . . k) generated at an earlier time (t.sub.. . . k) of a specified period (t) and/or at least one of a plurality of previously determined sets of optimized control parameters (.sub.k-1) by executing a calculation algorithm on the server (8). In the following method step, the calculated set of optimized control parameters (.sub.k) is stored in the storage medium (6, 7) connected to the server (8) and is transmitted via the internet connection to the closed-loop controller (3) or the open-loop controller of the HVACR system (2) or to a user (B) of the HVACR system (2).

A thermostat for a building space includes a communications interface, an electronic display, and a processing circuit. The communications interface is configured to receive service provider information via a network connection. The electronic display includes a user interface configured to display the service provider information. The processing circuit is configured to determine when to display the service provider information on the electronic display by monitoring thermostat events.

A control apparatus and control method which enable equipment to be controlled adaptively to a user who gives a response in a scene where a request is made from outside. A control apparatus including a judging unit that determines control content of equipment in accordance with a request from outside, an inquiry unit that presents information in accordance with the request from the outside to a first user and make an inquiry to the first user as to approval regarding the control content judged by the judging unit, and an equipment control unit that controls the equipment in accordance with a response to the inquiry and information relating to the first user.