Power-preserving communications architecture with long-polling persistent cloud channel for wireless network-connected thermostat

摘要

Provided according to one or more embodiments herein are methods, systems and related architectures for facilitating network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the rechargeable battery (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the rechargeable battery to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

主权项

1. A thermostat, comprising:
a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) connectors; a rechargeable battery; a battery charging circuit configured to charge the rechargeable battery at least in part by harvesting power from an HVAC system through the plurality of HVAC connectors without requiring a common wire; a processor powered at least in part by the rechargeable battery, wherein:
the processor is configured to operate in a low-power state; andthe processor is configured to operate in a high-power state; a wireless communication module operatively coupled to the processor and configured to:
establish and maintain wireless communications with a router, including receiving transmissions from the router;process the transmissions from the router by discriminating between a first type of transmission and a second type of transmission, wherein:
the first type of transmission comprises keep-alive messages associated with a communication channel between a remote thermostat-controller server and the thermostat, andthe second type of transmission comprises information associated with controlling the HVAC system;in response to identifying a transmission of the second type during a time period in which the processor is operating in the low-power state, cause the processor to transition from the low-power state to the high-power state; whereby the processor can operate in the low-power state for an extended period of time while a Natural Address Translation (NAT) table entry in the router that is associated with said communication channel between the processor and the remote thermostat-controller server remains maintained during said extended period of time.