Wireless node auto-reset function

• US 10,324,478 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Nass, Geoffrey Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Thong P
• Application Number:
  US14/504,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless

Abstract

A method for wireless communication within a building automation system is disclosed. The method includes establishing a communications link between a first automation component and a second automation component, detecting a change in the communications link at the second automation component, and initiating a reset function on the second automation component in response to the detected change in the communications link. A building automation system is further disclosed. The system includes a first automation component, a second automation component in communication with the first automation component via a communication link. The second automation component further includes a reset function stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory, such that the reset function is activated in response to a change in the communications link.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication within a building automation system, the method comprising:

establishing a communications link between a first automation component and a second automation component;

sending a communication signal from the first automation component to the second automation component via the communications link as part of a plurality of communication signals generated by the first automation component and sent by the first automation component at a timed interval set at the first automation component;

detecting a change in the communications link, via which the communication signal is sent from the first automation component to the second automation component, at the second automation component based on the sending, wherein detecting the change in the communications link includes detecting absence of the communication signal; and

initiating a reset function on the second automation component in response to the detected absence of the communication signal, the initiated reset function comprising restarting the second automation component without restarting the first automation component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a full function device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a reduced function device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the communications link includes periodically detecting the change according to a timed interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first automation component is selected from the group consisting of:

a full function device;

a reduced function device, a terminal, and a portable computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change in the communications link comprises detecting the change in the communications link when the communication signal or status query is not received at the second automation component.

7. A building automation system comprising:

a first automation component; and

a second automation component in communication with the first automation component via a communication link, the second automation component comprising;

a reset function comprising a restart of the second automation component without a restart of the first automation component, the reset function being stored on a memory and executable by a processor in communication with the memory,

wherein a communication signal or a status query is sent from the first automation component to the second automation component via the communication link as part of a plurality of communication signals or a plurality of status queries, respectively, generated by the first automation component and sent by the first automation component at a timed interval set at the first automation component, and

wherein the reset function is activated at the second automation component in response to a change in the communication link detected based on the sending of the communication signal or the status query, the detected change including absence of the communication signal.

8. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein the communication link between first automation component and the second automation component is a wired communication link.

9. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein the communication link between first automation component and the second automation component is a wireless communication link.

10. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a full function device.

11. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein at least one automation component of the first automation component and the second automation component is a reduced function device.

12. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein activation of the reset function is in response to a null signal associated with the communication link.

13. The building automation system of claim 7, wherein the first automation component is selected from the group consisting of:

a full function device;

a reduced function device, a terminal, and a portable computer.

14. An automation component comprising:

a memory having a first memory portion and a second memory portion, the first memory portion being configured to store instructions associated with high-level functionality of the automation component, and the second memory portion being configured to store a reset function;

a processor in communication with the memory and configured to execute the reset function; and

a communication port configured to receive a communication signal of a plurality of communication signals generated by another automation component and sent from the other automation component at a timed interval set at the other automation component and provide the received communication signal to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to execute the reset function in response to absence of the communication signal sent from the other automation component, the executed reset function comprising a restart of the automation component without a restart of the other automation component.

15. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the processor includes a timer function having a timed period, and

wherein the reset function is executed based on the timed period.

16. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the communication port is a wireless communication port.

17. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the communication port is a wired communication port.

18. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the communication signal is a null signal.

19. The automation component of claim 14, wherein the change in the received communication signal is due to one or more faults, errors, or incidents in the high-level functionality of the automation component.