Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device detects a trigger event related to security of a smart home environment, determines a target state of the lock device based on the trigger event, and in accordance with a determination that the target state indicates a security threat: determines a current state of the lock device, compares the target state of the lock device with the current state of the lock device, and provides or foregoes provision of instructions to operate the lock device based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for interactively, graphically displaying and reporting performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily or monthly summary each of several days or months respectively. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe thermostats that use model predictive controls and related methods. A method of controlling a thermostat using a model predictive control may involve determining a parameterized model. The parameterized model may be used to predicted ambient temperature values for an enclosure. A set of radiant heating system control strategies may be selected for evaluation to determine an optimal control strategy from the set of control strategies. To determine the optimal control strategy, a predictive algorithm may be executed, in which each control strategy is applied to the parameterized model to predict an ambient temperature trajectory and each ambient temperature trajectory is processed in view of a predetermined assessment function. Processing the ambient temperature trajectory in this manner may involve minimizing a cost value associated with the ambient temperature trajectory.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for generating and implementing thermodynamic models of a structure. Thermostats disclosed herein are operable to control an HVAC system. In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure may be used. The thermodynamic model may be generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device detects a trigger event related to security of a smart home environment, determines a target state of the lock device based on the trigger event, and determines a current state of the lock device. A notification is sent to a user device including an indication of the trigger event and a prompt for an override input, and instructions to operate the lock device are either provided or not provided to the lock device based on a result of a comparison of the target state with the current state, and further based on a received override input or lack of a received override input.

Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control HVAC systems. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.

Abstract: Thermostats disclosed herein are operable to control an HVAC system. In controlling the HVAC system, a need to determine an expected indoor temperature profile for a particular schedule of setpoint temperatures may arise. To make such a determination, a thermodynamic model of the structure is used. The thermodynamic model may be generated by fitting weighting factors of a set of basis functions to a variety of historical data including time information, temperature information, and HVAC actuation state information. The set of basis functions characterize an indoor temperature trajectory of the structure in response to a change in HVAC actuation state, and include an inertial carryover component that characterizes a carryover of a rate of indoor temperature change that was occurring immediately prior to the change in actuation state.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for interactively, graphically displaying and reporting performance information to a user of an HVAC system controlled by a self-programming network-connected thermostat. The information is made on a remote display device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or other computer, and includes a graphical daily or monthly summary each of several days or months respectively. In response to a user selection of a day, detailed performance information is graphically displayed that can include an indication of HVAC activity on a timeline, the number of hours of HVAC activity, as well as one or more symbols on a timeline indicating setpoint changes, and when a setpoint was changed due to non-occupancy.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device detects a trigger event related to security of a smart home environment, determines a target state of the lock device based on the trigger event, and determines a current state of the lock device. A notification is sent to a user device including an indication of the trigger event and a prompt for an override input, and instructions to operate the lock device are either provided or not provided to the lock device based on a result of a comparison of the target state with the current state, and further based on a received override input or lack of a received override input.

Abstract: Techniques for determining and using a thermodynamic model that characterizes a thermodynamic response of an enclosure conditioned by an HVAC system are disclosed. To determine a thermodynamic model, temperature information when the HVAC system operates in a first state may first be received. A response interval may then be determined where the response interval indicates an estimated time between when the HVAC system begins operating in the first state and when the temperature within the enclosure begins to change in a direction associated with the first state. Weighting factors corresponding to basis functions may then be determined, where the weighted basis functions characterize the temperature trajectory of the enclosure in response to the HVAC system operating in the first state.

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: Apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for carrying out a demand response (DR) event via an intelligent, network-connected thermostat associated with a structure. The systems disclosed include an energy management system in operation with an intelligent, network-connected thermostat located at a structure. The thermostat is operable to control an HVAC system. Control during a DR event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function comprising a combination of a first factor representative of a total energy consumption during the DR event period, a second factor representative of a metric of occupant discomfort, and a third factor representative of deviations of a rate of energy consumption over the DR event period.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device obtains a number of users detected within a premises, and detects a trigger event related to a lock device and premises. When the trigger event is detected, a target state of the lock device is determined based on: (1) the number of users within the premises, and (2) user security profiles indicating a desired target state of the lock device when a respective user is within the premises. A current state of the lock device is determined, and if the current state and the target state of the lock device are not the same, instructions are provided to the lock device based on the target state.

Abstract: A controller is provided for coordinated control of various subsystems, such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) subsystem, a camera subsystem, and a security subsystem, in a structure such as a home, by allowing automatic as well as manual changes to be made to the subsystems within their respective constraints. The controller may change the states or settings of the subsystems automatically upon occurrences of certain conditions, or allow the user to change them by switching a structure mode for the subsystems between a home mode and an away mode. A change in the structure mode may effect changes to some or all of the states or settings for some or all of the subsystems.

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: Systems and Methods disclosed herein relate to providing a message to an application programming interface (API). The message includes a request for data from a data model, a submission of data to the data model, or both; and a host selection between: a representational state transfer (REST) host and a subscription-based application programming interface (API) host, wherein the REST host receives REST-based messages and the subscription-based API host receives messages in accordance with a standard of the subscription-based API host; wherein the request for data, the submission of data, or both are configured to create, delete, modify, or any combination thereof data related to a smart-device environment structure, a thermostat, a hazard detector, or any combination thereof stored in a data model accessible by the API.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device obtains a number of users detected within a premises, and detects a trigger event related to a lock device and premises. When the trigger event is detected, a target state of the lock device is determined based on: (1) the number of users within the premises, and (2) user security profiles indicating a desired target state of the lock device when a respective user is within the premises. A current state of the lock device is determined, and if the current state and the target state of the lock device are not the same, instructions are provided to the lock device based on the target state.

Abstract: Various arrangements for promoting energy efficiency in association with an HVAC system of an enclosure are presented. A first HVAC schedule may be accessed that includes setpoints. The HVAC system may be operated according to the first HVAC schedule. The first HVAC schedule may be processed to generate a second HVAC schedule representative of what would have been generated by an automated schedule learning algorithm operating over the period of time. The second HVAC schedule can be simulated using a thermal model of the enclosure to determine a hypothetical cost of operating the HVAC system according to the second HVAC schedule over the period of time. Information representative of an energy cost difference between an actual cost of operating the HVAC system according to the first HVAC schedule and the hypothetical cost of operating the HVAC system according to the second HVAC schedule can be generated.

Abstract: The current application is directed to intelligent controllers that initially aggressively learn, and then continue, in a steady-state mode, to monitor, learn, and modify one or more control schedules that specify a desired operational behavior of a device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller. An intelligent controller generally acquires one or more initial control schedules through schedule-creation and schedule-modification interfaces or by accessing a default control schedule stored locally or remotely in a memory or mass-storage device. The intelligent controller then proceeds to learn, over time, a desired operational behavior for the device, machine, system, or organization controlled by the intelligent controller based on immediate-control inputs, schedule-modification inputs, and previous and current control schedules, encoding the desired operational behavior in one or more control schedules and/or sub-schedules.

Abstract: An electronic device associated with a lock device obtains a number of users detected within a premises, and detects a trigger event related to a lock device and premises. When the trigger event is detected, a target state of the lock device is determined based on: (1) the number of users within the premises, (2) user security profiles indicating a desired target state of the lock device when a respective user is within the premises, (3) locations of detected users; (4) user states of detected users indicating whether the respective user is asleep or active; and/or (5) a current premises mode, including an armed state and a disarmed state. A current state of the lock device is determined, and if the current state and the target state of the lock device are not the same, instructions are provided to the lock device based on the target state.