Hot water recirculation pump suggestion in home with return hot water line
This is something that I have had experience with in commercial Energy Management Systems. I can tell you that the first thing you need to look at is the "Payback" or will the cost of this system save enough energy to be worth the installation?

I say this because what you are suggesting can be done but probably not with standard residential grade material. So you are either going to have to buy the control equipment separately or buy a commercial grade product. One requires more manhours and the other requires higher priced equipment and both will need someone with a control skill set to install.

The least expensive control to install would be the time clock either mechanical or digital. I would go with digital where you can program a seven day schedule to come on and off at certain times. They are very common and inexpensive. Almost anyone will do.

Since I am not a plumber, I can't help you with a check valve but that would seem to be a fairly easy install.

The real trick would be the thermocouple which you would have to develope a logic that connects the circulatory pump and the water heater to come on and off at certain times. I would bet that some of the "mumbo jumbo" you read, would recommend that you somehow restrict the flow to get you the proper heat drop (delta T) from the beginning of the line to the end. That may be a better way to go and might be able to be coordinated with the check valve.

In conclusion I would say, you probably won't find a single unit that would do what you are asking for and you would probably need build it yourself. This might include a plumber and a control electrician. So try and get an idea of what you can do for a reasonable cost and work the problem from there. 

I usually close with I hope this helps, but maybe I should say to use this answer to start your research and good luck.