US 10018371

As a senior US patent analyst, I have reviewed US Patent 10,018,371. Below is a concise summary of my findings as of April 30, 2026.

Summary of U.S. Patent 10,018,371

Title: System, method and apparatus for identifying manual inputs to and adaptive programming of a thermostat

Assignee: Ecofactor, Inc.

Inventors: John Douglas Steinberg, Scott Douglas Hublou, Leo Cheung

Filing Date: October 8, 2015

Issue Date: July 10, 2018

Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed for incorporating manual changes to the setpoint for a thermostatic controller into long-term programming of the thermostatic controller. For example, one or more of the exemplary systems compares the actual setpoint at a given time for the thermostatic controller to an expected setpoint for the thermostatic controller in light of the scheduled programming. A determination is then made as to whether the actual setpoint and the expected setpoint are the same or different. Furthermore, a manual change to the actual setpoint for the thermostatic controller is compared to previously recorded setpoint data for the thermostatic controller. At least one rule is then applied for the interpretation of the manual change in light of the previously recorded setpoint data.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

This patent has three independent claims: Claim 1 (a method), Claim 9 (a method), and Claim 17 (an apparatus).

Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a method for a computer system to detect when a person manually changes the temperature setting on a thermostat. The system knows the thermostat's pre-set schedule. It compares the actual temperature setting at a specific time with what the schedule says it should be. If there's a difference, the system recognizes that a manual change has been made and records this event in a database.

Independent Claim 9: This claim outlines a method for a thermostat system to not only detect a manual temperature change but also to react to it. After identifying a manual adjustment by comparing the actual setting to the scheduled setting, the system uses a set of rules to decide how to alter future scheduled temperature settings. This allows the system to learn from the user's manual adjustments and adapt the thermostat's program accordingly.

Independent Claim 17: This claim details the physical components of a system designed to detect manual thermostat adjustments. It includes a programmable, internet-connected thermostat that records the actual temperature settings. It also includes computer hardware with electronic storage that holds the scheduled temperature settings. The computer hardware is set up to get the actual settings from the thermostat, compare them to the scheduled settings, and identify any differences as manual changes.

Litigation Search

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for 2026 for litigation involving US Patent 10,018,371 did not yield any specific results. There is a record of a district court case (2:22-cv-00016) where Ecofactor Inc. (now part of Trane Technologies) asserted this patent against Ecobee Inc., but further details on the appellate level for 2026 are not available. There is no authoritative information to suggest any active CAFC litigation for this patent in 2026.