You would certainly want to interface with the thermostat but you don't necessarily have to, for instance, you could just open all vents when the AC kicks on ex

You would certainly want to interface with the thermostat but you don't necessarily have to, for instance, you could just open all vents when the AC kicks on except the one by the thermostat and have each room close off when it gets cold enough and open the thermostat vent so that it kicks off around when every other room is cool enough.