Download Updating control software on a network

US008594850B1
(12) United States Patent
Gourlay et a].
(54)
(10) Patent N0.:
US 8,594,850 B1
(45) Date of Patent:
UPDATING CONTROL SOFTWARE ON A
(56)
Nov. 26, 2013
References Cited
NETWORK-CONNECTED HVAC
CONTROLLER
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(71) Applicant: Nest Labs, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
2
ggggzzlhéteifl'
(72) Inventors: Alastair Robert Gourlay, Boulder
Creek, CA (US); David A. Bourne, San
(Continued)
Francisco’ CA (Us); Grant M_
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
Erickson, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Richard
David
J. Schultz,
S100,Mountain
Menlo Park,
View,
CACA
(US);
(US);
.
Jonathan Solnit, San Jose, CA (US)
(Commued)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(73) Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Aprilaire Electronic Thermostats Model 8355 User’s Manual,
(*)
Notice:
Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
Research Products Corporation, 2000, 16 pages.
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
_
U.S.C. 154(1)) by 0 days.
p10‘Z
(Commued)
Primary Examiner i Ramesh Patel
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Kilpatrick Townsend &
(22) Filed:
Sep. 30, 2012
Stockton LLP
(51) Int. Cl.
G01M1/38
(2006-01)
(57)
ABSTRACT
Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program prod
G05B 13/00
G05B 15/00
(2006-01)
(2006-01)
ucts are disclosed for providing software updates to client
devices. A client device (such as a thermostat) executes soft
G05B 23/00
(2006-01)
ware to perform one or more functionalities of the device.
(2006-01)
(2006-01)
(2006-01)
Upon receiving an indicating that a software update is avail
able, the device waits to download the software update until
pre-download conditions are satis?ed. Once the software
update is downloaded, the device then waits to install the
G06F 9/44
B60H 1/00
F223 3/00
(52) U-s- Cl-
(58)
USPC ~~~~~~~~~ -~ 700/276; 700/ 277; 700/278; 700/ 299;
software update until pre-install conditions are satis?ed. If the
700/300; 236/1 B; 236/1 E; 236/3; 236/ 101 C;
717/168; 717/171; 717/173; 717/174; 707/638;
707/695; 165/111; 165/112; 165/203; 165/270
Field of Classi?cation Search
software update is non-critical and received during an initial
installation of the device, the software update may not be
installed until after installation of the device is complete. If
the device is a thermostat, the device may delay installation of
USPC ..... .. 700/276i278, 299*300; 236/1 B, 1 E, 3,
the software update until a controlled HVAC system in inac
tive. Control of the HVAC system may be disabled during
236/101 C; 165/11.1*11.2, 200, 203, 270;
717/122, 168, 17(L174, 177*178;
707/638, 695, 806; 715/229
See application ?le for complete search history.
installation of the software update.
30 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
258
[200
250
252
US 8,594,850 B1
Page 2
(56)
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US 8,594,850 B1
Page 3
(56)
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* cited by examiner
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1
2
UPDATING CONTROL SOFTWARE ON A
NETWORK-CONNECTED HVAC
CONTROLLER
have relatively loW poWer capacity and limited access to
poWer sources. By Way of example and not by Way of limi
tation, thermostats provided in structured environments may
have limited amounts of poWer capacity (e. g., a rechargeable
lithium-ion battery) that is replenished using poWer stealing
FIELD
techniques that ‘steal’ or otherWise acquire poWer from
HVAC systems Which the thermostats are coupled to control.
This patent speci?cation relates to systems, methods, and
related computer program products for performing softWare
updates. More particularly, this patent speci?cation relates to
poWer stores as it is consumed by the thermostat, in some
techniques for performing user-friendly softWare updates in
potentially poWer-limited network-connected electronic
user experience, consume poWer at a higher rate than that
devices.
replenished. Further, in the particular example of thermostats
While these poWer stealing may advantageously replenish
cases thermostats may, to provide superior functionality and
installed in structured environments, a user typically cannot
obviate the poWer limitations by simply ‘plugging in’ the
BACKGROUND
device to a poWer source.
Updating softWare on electronic devices may spread the
spectrum of complexity from a trivial to daunting. At one end
Many, if not most, electronic devices in use today have
installed thereon some type of software for facilitating opera
tion of the electronic device. Such softWare may include
operating systems, such as the WindoWs operating system by
Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash. Such softWare typically
of the spectrum, a softWare update may comprise almost
super?cial changes to a single softWare application or process
20
executing or executable on the electronic device. At the other
also includes application softWare that executes over the oper
end of the spectrum, a softWare update may comprise replace
ating system and provides additional device functionality,
ment of an entire operating system of the electronic device.
Regardless of the situation, hoWever, common elements to a
such as the Of?ce softWare also by Microsoft Corp. Incre
mental changes to such softWare (the operation system and/or
application softWare) are often made by the softWare devel
25
opers to provide improvements, address de?ciencies, or for
other reasons. These changes are commonly propagated to
Techniques for reliably doWnloading and installing soft
Ware updates in poWer limited environments are described
the user of the softWare over Wired or Wireless netWorks so
that the user may revise their softWare With the latest softWare
upgrades provided by the developers.
30
herein. In one particular embodiment, an intelligent netWork
connected thermostat for controlling the operation of an
HVAC system in a smart home environment is disclosed.
Thermostat includes a communications component for com
municating With at least one server that is located remotely
While certain mechanisms for updating softWare on an
electronic device are currently available, substantial disad
vantages can arise for certain knoWn methods in that they tend
to be a one-siZe-?ts-all approach that does not take into
account the nature of the device that is being updated in terms
reliable update process exist, including the electronic device
doWnloading or otherWise acquiring the softWare update, and
installing the softWare update.
from the thermostat, HVAC control circuitry operable to actu
35
ate one or more elements of the HVAC system, a storage
of the problems, pitfalls, inconveniences, and even dangers
element for storing computer softWare operable to control
that can arise for that particular type of device. For example,
many such knoWn softWare updating mechanisms are typi
processor is operable to perform a variety of operations. For
one or more functions of the thermostat, and a processor. The
cally implemented in environments Whereby the electronic
device is either constantly connected to a reliable poWer
source (e.g., a desktop computer connected to an AC poWer
source) or may easily be connected to a reliable poWer source
via minimal user interaction (e. g., a user may plug a portable
40
electronic device such as a smartphone into an AC poWer
source). Modern day techniques, hoWever, have yet to con
sider much less address environments Whereby the electronic
45
the criticality indicator, Whether the softWare update is criti
cal, and delay installation of the softWare update When it is
device has limited access to poWer and users may be signi?
cantly hindered in providing reliable access to poWer. Even
though electronic devices may exist in such environments,
like their poWer-satis?ed cousins such devices may similarly
derive various bene?ts from reliably receiving and installing
50
softWare updates. While one or more of the embodiments
described hereinbeloW have been found to be particularly
advantageous in the context of a network-connected thermo
stat designed to control an HVAC system, it is to be appreci
ated that the scope of the present teachings is not so limited,
example, the processor may be operable to receive a critical
ity indicator indicating Whether a softWare update to the com
puter softWare stored in the storage element is critical or not,
doWnload the softWare update from a softWare update server
via the communications component, determine Whether the
softWare update Was doWnloaded during an initial installation
of the thermostat in a physical structure, determine, based on
determined that the softWare update is not critical and the
softWare update Was doWnloaded during the initial installa
tion of the thermostat in the physical structure.
In another particular embodiment, a thermostat includes a
communications component for communicating With at least
one server that is located remotely from the thermostat,
HVAC control circuitry operable to actuate one or more ele
55
ments of the HVAC system, a storage element for storing
computer softWare operable to control one or more functions
and can advantageously be applied across a broad array of
of the thermostat, and a processor operable to perform a
smart-home devices in Which one or more similar issues may
variety of operations. For example, the processor may be
be faced.
60
SUMMARY
operable to doWnload a softWare update to the computer
softWare stored in the storage element from a softWare update
server via the communications component, determine
Whether the HVAC control circuitry has actuated one or more
Various techniques for providing softWare updates are dis
closed herein. While such techniques may be implemented in
various electronic devices across a variety of computing envi
ronments, some techniques may be particularly Well-suited
for environments Where one or more of the electronic devices
elements of the HVAC system to be in an active state, and
When it is determined that one or more elements of the HVAC
65
system are in an active state, delay installation of the softWare
update until the one or more elements of the HVAC system are
in an inactive state.
US 8,594,850 B1
3
4
In yet another particular embodiment, a thermostat
includes a communications component for communicating
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a special-purpose computer
system according to an embodiment.
with at least one server that is located remotely from the
thermostat, HVAC control circuitry operable to actuate one or
more elements of the HVAC system, a storage element for
storing computer software operable to control one or more
functions of the thermostat, and a processor operable to per
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As described further herein, one or more intelligent, multi
sensing, network-connected devices can be used to promote
user comfort, convenience, safety and/or cost savings. FIG.
1A illustrates an example of general device components
form a variety of operations. For example, the processor may
be operable to download a software update to the computer
software stored in the storage element from a software update
server via the communications component, disable control of
which can be included in an intelligent, network-connected
device 100 (i.e., “device”). Each of one, more or all devices
100 within a system of devices can include one or more
one or more elements of the HVAC system, install the soft
ware update, and enable control of one or more elements of
sensors 102, a user-interface component 104, a power supply
the HVAC system after installing the software update.
a communications component 110, a modularity unit (e.g.,
(e.g., including a power connection 106 and/or battery 108),
For a more complete understanding of the nature and
including a docking station 112 and replaceable module 114)
advantages of embodiments of the present invention, refer
and intelligence components 116. Particular sensors 102,
ence should be made to the ensuing detailed description and
user-interface components 104, power-supply con?gura
tions, communications components 110, modularity units
accompanying drawings. Other aspects, objects and advan
tages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and
detailed description that follows. However, the scope of the
invention will be fully apparent from the recitations of the
20
and/or intelligence components 116 can be the same or simi
lar across devices 100 or can vary depending on device type or
model.
By way of example and not by way of limitation, one or
claims.
more sensors 102 in a device 100 may be able to, e.g., detect
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
25
FIG. 1A illustrates an example of general device compo
nents which can be included in an intelligent, network-con
nected device.
FIG. 1B illustrates an intelligent, network-connected
device having a replaceable module and a docking station
according to some embodiments.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a smart home environment
within which one or more of the devices, methods, systems,
services, and/or computer program products described fur
30
mental sensor(s), accelerometer(s), microphone(s), optical
sensors up to and including camera(s) (e. g., charged-coupled
device or video cameras), active or passive radiation sensors,
35
FIG. 3 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible
40
updating software on a client device according to an embodi
for energy-ef?ciency objectives or smart-operation objec
FIG. 6 illustrates a communication sequence of a process
unaware of an existence of a secondary sensor.
One or more user-interface components 104 in device 100
may be con?gured to present information to a user via a visual
ment.
FIG. 7 is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
50
ment.
FIG. 8B is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
55
FIG. 8C is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
ring (e.g., to adjust a setting) and/or by clicking the ring
FIG. 9A is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9B is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
determine whether a back plate needs an update according to
an embodiment.
touchscreen, buttons, scroll component (e.g., a movable or
virtual ring component), microphone or camera (e.g., to
detect gestures). In one embodiment, user-input component
104 includes a click-and-rotate annular ring component,
wherein a user can interact with the component by rotating the
install a software update according to an embodiment.
perform software updating of head units and back plates
display (e.g., a thin-?lm-transistor display or organic light
emitting-diode display) and/or an audio speaker. User-inter
face component 104 can also include one or more user-input
components to receive information from a user, such as a
FIG. 8A is a ?owchart of a process for a client device to
satisfy pre-download conditions according to an embodi
satisfy pre-install conditions according to an embodiment.
While FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment with a single sensor,
many embodiments will include multiple sensors. In some
instances, device 100 includes one or more primary sensors
and one or more secondary sensors. The primary sensor(s)
can sense data central to the core operation of the device (e. g.,
sensing a temperature in a thermostat or sensing smoke in a
45 tives. In some instances, an average user may even be
for performing software updates according to an embodi
perform software updating according to an embodiment.
GPS receiver(s) or radio-frequency identi?cation detector(s).
smoke detector). The secondary sensor(s) can sense other
types of data (e. g., motion, light or sound), which can be used
FIG. 5 depicts a system that implements techniques for
ment.
quency (RF) or other electromagnetic signals or ?elds. Thus,
for example, sensors 102 can include temperature sensor(s),
humidity sensor(s), haZard-related sensor(s) or other environ
ther herein can be applicable.
devices and services platform with which a smart home envi
ronment can be integrated.
FIG. 4 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the
extensible devices and services platform of FIG. 3.
acceleration, temperature, humidity, water, supplied power,
proximity, external motion, device motion, sound signals,
ultrasound signals, light signals, ?re, smoke, carbon monox
ide, global-positioning-satellite (GPS) signals, or radio-fre
inwards (e.g., to select an adjusted setting or to select an
60
option). In another embodiment, user-input component 104
includes a camera, such that gestures can be detected (e.g., to
indicate that a power or alarm state of a device is to be
changed).
A power-supply component in device 100 may include a
FIG. 10 is a ?owchart of a process for a remote server (e.g., 65 power connection 106 and/or local battery 108. For example,
a registration server 512) to perform software updating
power connection 106 can connect device 100 to a power
according to an embodiment.
source such as a line voltage source. In some instances, con