There is provided a control method for an information terminal device having a display and controlling an air conditioner over a network. The control method makes the information terminal device perform processing including: displaying a temperature setting screen where an air conditioner temperature is settable for each of a plurality of time periods; calculating a first time period preset temperature using a first preset temperature at a boundary time and a second preset temperature at a go-to-bed time; calculating a second time period preset temperature using the first preset temperature and a third preset temperature at a wake-up time; displaying the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature; and outputting to the network a control command corresponding to the first preset temperature and second preset temperature when the first time period preset temperature and second time period preset temperature have been fixed.

An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, an input data connection, a feedback data connection, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to use a master-slave detection signal communicated via the feedback data connection to select an operating mode for the actuator from a set of multiple potential operating modes including a master operating mode and a slave operating mode. The processing circuit is configured to operate the mechanical transducer in response to a control signal received via the input data connection according to the selected operating mode.

A controller equipped with a user interface having a separate schedule review mode, including methods of accessing and/or programming such devices, are disclosed. The controller may include a user interface that can be utilized to initiate a scheduling routine having a separate schedule review mode for displaying one or more schedule parameters of the controller without initiating the editing mode. An illustrative method of accessing a schedule on a controller coupled to a user interface may include the steps of initializing a scheduling routine within the controller, initiating a schedule review mode within the controller, displaying one or more schedule parameters for at least one period on the user interface, and exiting the scheduling routine. One or more of the schedule parameters can be modified, if desired, by initiating a separate editing mode within the controller.

The disclosure relates to the command of a thermal device and more specifically a control box for such a device, comprising a communication interface with an energy and driving manager for receiving centralized operating settings from the manager defining, for this device, a centralized operating mode in which the device applies the aforementioned settings. The box furthermore comprises an interface for entry of local operating preferences, where the communication interface is arranged for communicating the operating preferences to the manager in order to change the centralized operating settings associated with the device based on the operating preferences.

An HVAC system includes an HVAC unit having a cooling mode and a heating mode for conditioning the air in an inside space, and a programmable thermostat located remotely from the HVAC unit. The HVAC unit may have an onboard controller configured to control when the HVAC unit is in the cooling mode or heating mode, and whether the HVAC unit is activated or not. In some cases, the onboard controller of the HVAC unit may use a common temperature setpoint when controlling in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The programmable thermostat may have a programmable schedule with a plurality of time periods, where each time period has a heating setpoint and a cooling setpoint separated by a dead band. The onboard controller of the HVAC unit may be configured to accept input signals from the remotely located thermostat. The remotely located thermostat may send one or more input signals to the onboard controller of the HVAC unit in accordance with the programmable schedule, where the one or more input signals cause the onboard controller of the HVAC unit to set the HVAC unit to a particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode, and to activate the HVAC unit so as to condition the air in the inside space in the particular one of the cooling mode and the heating mode.

An operation terminal includes a display unit with a display screen to display an airflow input screen image indicating a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of indoor units installed in a room and a layout of the room, an input unit to receive input of a trace indicating an airflow on the display screen displaying the airflow input screen image, and a terminal-side communication unit to transmit a command for setting an air direction and air volume corresponding to the inputted trace on at least one of the plurality of indoor units.

An operation terminal includes a display unit with a display screen to display an airflow input screen image indicating a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of indoor units installed in a room and a layout of the room, an input unit to receive input of a trace indicating an airflow on the display screen displaying the airflow input screen image, and a terminal-side communication unit to transmit a command for setting an air direction and air volume corresponding to the inputted trace on at least one of the plurality of indoor units.

An HVAC controller, such as a thermostat, may be configured to allow a user to set and/or select schedule time period in which one or more indoor quality units (e.g. humidification, dehumidification, ventilation, etc.) will or will not operate, and/or will operated but using different settings. In some cases, the schedule time periods available for selection may correspond to the time periods of a programmable temperature schedule of the HVAC controller, but this is not required. In some instances, the HVAC controller may allow a user to select which indoor air quality units will or will not operate, and/or what settings the indoor air quality units will operate, during a user's vacation.

Time information indicating a necessary amount of time for a room temperature to reach a set temperature, and charges information indicating electricity charges corresponding to an amount of electric power consumed that is necessary for the room temperature to reach the set temperature, are displayed correlated with each of a plurality of running buttons corresponding to each of a plurality of operating modes.

A switch for switching a function setting of an air conditioner and a memory that stores therein a setting value of the function setting are provided. The setting value stored in the memory is rewritable according to an instruction from a remote controller. The function setting of the air conditioner is defined by the setting value stored in the memory. Regarding functions set in the air conditioner, priority as to whether to give priority to setting with the switch or to validate setting with the remote controller is switched for each function according to setting from the remote controller.