Abstract: This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security objectives, such as calculating a security score for a home. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security objectives, such as calculating a security score for a home.

Abstract: An occupancy sensing electronic thermostat is described that includes a thermostat body, an electronic display that is viewable by a user in front of the thermostat, a passive infrared sensor for measuring infrared energy and an infrared energy directing element formed integrally with a front surface of the thermostat body. The passive infrared sensor may be positioned behind the infrared energy directing element such that infrared energy is directed thereonto by the infrared energy directing element. The thermostat may also include a temperature sensor and a microprocessor programmed to detect occupancy based on measurements from the passive infrared sensor.

Abstract: A user-friendly, network-connected learning thermostat is described. The thermostat is made up of (1) a wall-mountable backplate that includes a low-power consuming microcontroller used for activities such as polling sensors and switching on and off the HVAC functions, and (2) separable head unit that includes a higher-power consuming microprocessor, color LCD backlit display, user input devices, and wireless communications modules. The thermostat also includes a rechargeable battery and power-stealing circuitry adapted to harvest power from HVAC triggering circuits. By maintaining the microprocessor in a “sleep” state often compared to the lower-power microcontroller, high-power consuming activities, such as learning computations, wireless network communications and interfacing with a user, can be temporarily performed by the microprocessor even though the activities use energy at a greater rate than is available from the power stealing circuitry.

Abstract: A system including a thermostat user interface for a network-connected thermostat is described. The system includes a thermostat including a frustum-shaped shell body having a circular cross-section and a circular rotatable ring, which is user rotatable for adjusting a setting of the thermostat. The system further includes a client application that is operable on a touch-screen device separate from the thermostat, that displays a graphical representation of a circular dial, that detects a user-input motion proximate the graphical representation, that determines a user-selected setpoint temperature value based on the user-input motion, that displays a numerical representation of the user-selected setpoint temperature value, and that wirelessly transmits to the thermostat data representative of the user-selected setpoint temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating a drill by receiving an indication to start a drill. The indication to start the drill is received via a first network interface having a first network interface type. The drill is propagated to other devices in a network via a second network interface having a second network interface type.

Abstract: A thermostat device may include a processing system configured to learn a heating schedule at a first location according to an automated schedule learning algorithm that processes inputs including user inputs and occupancy sensing inputs and derives schedule-affecting parameters therefrom that are processed to compute the heating schedule. The processing system may also be configured to determine whether the thermostat has been moved to a new location, and if it is determined that the thermostat has been moved to the new location, then determine one or more parameters associated with the new location and establish a new heating schedule for the new location, and where zero or more of the previously measured schedule-affecting parameters are re-used based on the one or more parameters associated with the new location.

Abstract: A thermostat stand for a thermostat device may include a base and a mounting fixture configured to receive a thermostat device. The thermostat stand may additionally include an opening configured to allow one or more wires to pass through the opening to connect to the thermostat device, the one or more wires originating from either a power supply or from the boiler control device. The thermostat stand may further include a reflective horizontal surface positioned such that motion detection of energy-emitting objects is enhanced by virtue of reflections of energy emissions off of the reflective horizontal surface into the occupancy sensor.

Abstract: A boiler control device may include a housing and a wireless communication module for receiving coded control signals from the thermostat device. The boiler control device may also include boiler control circuitry for selectively controlling activation of the boiler-based heating system according to the coded control signals from the thermostat device. An onboard antenna disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module, and an interface configured to receive an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary antenna may be disposed outside of the housing. Detection circuitry may detect times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface. Switching circuitry may interrupt communication between the onboard antenna and the wireless communication module during the times when the auxiliary antenna is communicatively coupled to the interface.

Abstract: A control system may include a thermostat device and boiler control device. The thermostat device may be configured to receive electrical power from second wiring terminals and provide control signals to boiler control device using a second radio when wires are not present in first wiring terminals. The thermostat device may also be configured to receive electrical power from the first wiring terminals and provide the coded control signals to the boiler control device through the first wiring terminals when wires are present in the first wiring terminals. The boiler control device may be configured to receive the control signals from the thermostat device using a third radio and selectively couple the third wiring terminals to fifth wiring terminals to selectively control activation of the boiler-based heating system when wires are not present in fourth wiring terminals.

Abstract: Methods and systems facilitate 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 energy-storage device 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 energy-storage device (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the energy-storage device to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation.

Abstract: A method for establishing a pairing between a smart-home device and an online account may include instantiating an application on a computing device and receiving a first code from a central server. The application may receive a second code from printed material associated with the smart-home device. The smart-home device may broadcast a first communication protocol, and the application may join the first mutation protocol. The application can be authenticated by the smart-home device using the second code, and the application can receive an identity of a second communication protocol from a user. The application can then transmit the identity of the second communication protocol to the smart-home device. The smart-home device can use the second mutation protocol to access the Internet and transmit the first code to the central server, where the central server can use the first code in completing the pairing process.

Abstract: An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device can also function as a solid-state drive for data storage. The form factor of the portable media device can be hand-held or smaller, such that it is highly portable. The portable media device can use one or more status indicators. The portable media device can also include a peripheral bus connector, a rechargeable battery, and one or more input devices. According to another aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to still another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.

Abstract: This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices are disclosed. One aspect pertains to data delivery to electronic devices that are portable, such as, mobile devices. In one embodiment, one mobile device discovers another mobile device within its vicinity. The mobile devices can then wirelessly transmit data from one mobile device to the other. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a hazard detector is presented. The hazard detector may include a hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of a type of hazard. The hazard detector may include a light and a light sensor that senses a brightness level in an ambient environment of the hazard detector. The hazard detector may include a processing system configured to receive an indication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the light sensor. The processing system may determine the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has reached a threshold value. A status check of one or more components of the hazard detector may be performed. The processing system may cause the light to illuminate using a selected illumination state in response to the determining the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has reached the threshold value.

Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that continuously, periodically, or intermittently monitor progress towards one or more control goals under one or more constraints in order to achieve control that satisfies potentially conflicting goals. An intelligent controller may alter aspects of control, dynamically, while the control is being carried out, in order to ensure that goals are obtained and a balance is achieved between potentially conflicting goals. The intelligent controller uses various types of information to determine an initial control strategy as well as to dynamically adjust the control strategy as the control is being carried out.

Abstract: A system configured to control a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system may include an electronic device having a user input interface configured to receive a guest input from a guest user, the guest input including identifying information relating to the guest user. The electronic device may also include a processor configured to determine a level of access of the guest user based on the identifying information and on an input from a primary user. The level of access of the guest user may determine the guest user's ability to adjust a setting of the HVAC system via the electronic device. The processor is also configured to initiate a guest mode of operation where the guest user is able to make a setting adjustment to the HVAC system via the electronic device in place of an established setting adjustment schedule of the primary user in accordance with the determined level of access.

Abstract: Improved techniques for interaction between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a portable media device (e.g., media player) are disclosed. According to one embodiment, interaction between the host device and the portable media device can be performed over a network. The network can include wired and/or wireless components. The network can also be local, regional or global in geographic coverage. The interaction over the network can be initiated by the portable media device, manually or automatically, so as to request a content update from the host device. In response to the requested content update, updated content is received at the portable media device from the host device, provided a network connection between the portable media device and the host device is available through the network.

Abstract: A method for establishing a pairing between a hazard detector and an online account may include instantiating an application on a mobile computing device and receiving a first code from a central server. The application may receive a second code from printed material associated with the hazard detector. The hazard detector may broadcast a Wi-Fi access point, and the application may join the Wi-Fi access point. The application can be authenticated by the hazard detector using the second code, and the application can receive an identity of a home Wi-Fi network from a user. The application can then transmit the identity of the home Wi-Fi network to the hazard detector. The hazard detector can use the home Wi-Fi network to access the Internet and transmit the first code to the central server, where the central server can use the first code in completing the pairing process.