Redundant and selectable gateway and control elements for remote connected thermostats

摘要

A networking thermostat is described that includes a main processor and a communications processor. The main processor includes a network manager function, a master messaging function and a slave messaging function while the communications processor includes a wireless radio enabling the thermostat to communicate with other networking thermostats. The networking thermostat is able to operate in a master mode or a slave mode, where the master mode allows the networking thermostat to act as a main gateway between other networking thermostats and a remote server. When in the master mode the networking thermostat can default to a slave if communication with the remote server is lost, thereby allowing one of the other networking thermostats to become a master.

主权项

1. A networking thermostat comprising:
a main processor, the main processor including a network manager function, a master messaging function and a slave messaging function; and a communications processor operable to communicate with the main processor, the communications process including a wireless radio enabling the thermostat to communicate with other networking thermostats; wherein the networking thermostat can operate in a master mode or a slave mode, the master mode allowing the networking thermostat to act as a main gateway between other networking thermostats and a remote server, and wherein when in the master mode the networking thermostat can default to a slave if communication with the remote server is lost, thereby allowing one of the other networking thermostats to become a master; and further wherein the networking thermostat can also operate in a standby master mode, the standby master mode requiring the networking thermostat to maintain a connection to the remote server such that the networking thermostat confirms its availability to the remote server and receives commands from the remote server.