Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: Configuration of a communication module based on determination of an idle time metric is described. In one embodiment, signal strength data representative of composite signal strength indicators of a group of frequency channels utilized by the communication module is determined. A composite indicator of the composite signal strength indicators can be employed that comprises multiple signal strength indicators, sampled over time, of a first channel of the group of frequency channels. Respective values for the composite indicator can be assigned in response to comparisons of the multiple signal strength indicators to one or more defined threshold(s). An idle time metric of the first channel can be determined based on a combination of the respective values and a best channel from among the group of frequency channels can be determined based on the idle time metric. The communication module can be updated to communicate via the best channel.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: Configuration of a communication module based on determination of an idle time metric is described. In one embodiment, signal strength data representative of composite signal strength indicators of a group of frequency channels utilized by the communication module is determined. A composite indicator of the composite signal strength indicators can be employed that comprises multiple signal strength indicators, sampled over time, of a first channel of the group of frequency channels. Respective values for the composite indicator can be assigned in response to comparisons of the multiple signal strength indicators to one or more defined threshold(s). An idle time metric of the first channel can be determined based on a combination of the respective values and a best channel from among the group of frequency channels can be determined based on the idle time metric. The communication module can be updated to communicate via the best channel.

Abstract: Configuration of a communication module based on determination of an idle time metric is described. In one embodiment, signal strength data representative of composite signal strength indicators of a group of frequency channels utilized by the communication module is determined. A composite indicator of the composite signal strength indicators can be employed that comprises multiple signal strength indicators, sampled over time, of a first channel of the group of frequency channels. Respective values for the composite indicator can be assigned in response to comparisons of the multiple signal strength indicators to one or more defined threshold(s). An idle time metric of the first channel can be determined based on a combination of the respective values and a best channel from among the group of frequency channels can be determined based on the idle time metric. The communication module can be updated to communicate via the best channel.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a forward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: Devices and computer-implemented methods for controlling data communication to one or more devices in a network, e.g., a mesh network. The methods include a device broadcasting data requested by a first device, and a second device eavesdropping on the broadcast of the data in order to capture the data and to storing the captured data if the data is appropriate for the second device.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a for ward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: Devices and computer-implemented methods for controlling data communication to one or more devices in a network, e.g., a mesh network. The methods include a device broadcasting data requested by a first device, and a second device eavesdropping on the broadcast of the data in order to capture the data and to storing the captured data if the data is appropriate for the second device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a network, wherein a network device sends one or more pieces of a fragmented message to another network device via a network, and the network device that has received the one or more pieces of the fragmented messaging sends one or more acknowledgments of the receipt of the one or more pieces of the fragmented message to the sender of the fragmented message.

Abstract: Configuration of a communication module based on determination of an idle time metric is described. In one embodiment, signal strength data representative of composite signal strength indicators of a group of frequency channels utilized by the communication module is determined. A composite indicator of the composite signal strength indicators can be employed that comprises multiple signal strength indicators, sampled over time, of a first channel of the group of frequency channels. Respective values for the composite indicator can be assigned in response to comparisons of the multiple signal strength indicators to one or more defined threshold(s). An idle time metric of the first channel can be determined based on a combination of the respective values and a best channel from among the group of frequency channels can be determined based on the idle time metric. The communication module can be updated to communicate via the best channel.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatically switching communication protocols. The method includes detecting a user input, determining, based on the user input, a first communication protocol needed to address the user input, and creating a virtualized network wherein devices that use a second communication protocol are represented via virtualized devices according to the first communication protocol.

Abstract: Devices and computer-implemented methods for controlling data communication to one or more devices in a network, e.g., a mesh network. The methods include a device broadcasting data requested by a first device, and a second device eavesdropping on the broadcast of the data in order to capture the data and to storing the captured data if the data is appropriate for the second device.

Abstract: Devices and methods use an Extended Permanent Account Number Identification (EPID) of a mesh network (e.g., ZigBee) to include in the EPID a network information, a network channel information (e.g., 802.15.4 channel), and/or other data. The devices and methods allows a node to use the EPID to identify a desired network to join and join the network on the predetermined channel for that network.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method of fragmenting a large message into, for example, numbered packets for sending the message in a packet based communication system, such as in a ZigBee wireless network. Each packet may have a predetermined size and may include a MAC address, a network header of a variable size, and fragmented message data. The fragmented message data can be configured to be smaller than the available space in the packet so that the packet can be sent, for example, when the size of the header increases.

Abstract: HVAC components having improved efficiency are described. In one embodiment, excessive sleep current draw in a battery-powered device having a microcontroller is detected by measuring a voltage drop across a MOSFET device coupled in a for ward-conducting orientation in series between the battery and the microcontroller, causing a transistor to conduct when the voltage drop exceeds a predetermined threshold to generate a first trigger signal, integrating the first trigger signal to generate a second trigger signal, and generating an interrupt to the microcontroller. In another embodiment, a battery-saving method of operating an HVAC component includes maintaining the HVAC device in the sleep mode, receiving a user input to wake the device, transmitting a data request and returning the HVAC component to the sleep mode, waking up the HVAC device to poll an adjacent network node storing a cached response, displaying the response, and returning the HVAC device to sleep.

Abstract: Devices and methods use an Extended Permanent Account Number Identification (EPID) of a mesh network (e.g., ZigBee) to include in the EPID a network information, a network channel information (e.g., 802.15.4 channel), and/or other data. The devices and methods allows a node to use the EPID to identify a desired network to join and join the network on the predetermined channel for that network.