Mailbox data storage system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gateway control system for residential equipment comprising:
- a gateway device;
heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment connected to the gateway device;
a mailbox having a data storage mechanism incorporated in the gateway device;
a lock mechanism incorporated in the gateway device;
a collection device connected to the mailbox;
a remote access mechanism connected to the gateway device and an internet cloud; and
wherein the gateway device includes a two-way synchronous connection with the remote access mechanism and an asynchronous one-way connection with the remote access mechanism;
wherein the lock mechanism is configured to facilitate the two-way synchronous connection by delaying or rejecting low priority tasks in favor of high priority tasks for a limited time;
wherein the mailbox comprises a first interface to communicate with an external device using a first message protocol and a second interface to communicate with two or more components of the HVAC equipment using a second message protocol,wherein, when the gateway device receives a request for data from the external device about a component of the HVAC equipment, the gateway device;
determines whether a recent message containing the data about the component of the HVAC equipment and stored in the mailbox is valid;
if the recent message stored in the mailbox is valid, responds to the external device with the recent message stored in the mailbox; and
if the recent message stored in the mailbox is invalid, queries the component of the HVAC equipment to provide updated data using the lock mechanism and respond to the external device with a message containing the updated data about the component of the HVAC equipment.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mailbox data storage mechanism for a remote device in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment. The mechanism, as a part of a gateway device and acting as a citizen of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning environment, may collect system information regularly and maintain a copy of the latest data locally which can be a response to external access requests in time at any moment. The mechanism may limit the latency for external access and improve user experience. The mechanism may help satisfy multiple interfaces.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A gateway control system for residential equipment comprising:
-
a gateway device; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment connected to the gateway device; a mailbox having a data storage mechanism incorporated in the gateway device; a lock mechanism incorporated in the gateway device; a collection device connected to the mailbox; a remote access mechanism connected to the gateway device and an internet cloud; and wherein the gateway device includes a two-way synchronous connection with the remote access mechanism and an asynchronous one-way connection with the remote access mechanism; wherein the lock mechanism is configured to facilitate the two-way synchronous connection by delaying or rejecting low priority tasks in favor of high priority tasks for a limited time; wherein the mailbox comprises a first interface to communicate with an external device using a first message protocol and a second interface to communicate with two or more components of the HVAC equipment using a second message protocol, wherein, when the gateway device receives a request for data from the external device about a component of the HVAC equipment, the gateway device; determines whether a recent message containing the data about the component of the HVAC equipment and stored in the mailbox is valid; if the recent message stored in the mailbox is valid, responds to the external device with the recent message stored in the mailbox; and if the recent message stored in the mailbox is invalid, queries the component of the HVAC equipment to provide updated data using the lock mechanism and respond to the external device with a message containing the updated data about the component of the HVAC equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An approach of controlling a gateway for residential equipment comprising:
-
providing a gateway device including a two-way synchronous connection with a remote access mechanism and an asynchronous one-way connection with the remote access mechanism; connecting heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment to the gateway device, the HVAC equipment including a plurality of hosts; incorporating a mailbox having a data storage mechanism in the gateway device; incorporating a lock mechanism in the gateway device; and connecting a collection device to the mailbox, wherein the lock mechanism of the gateway device synchronizes with each of the plurality of hosts in a round robin manner by delaying or rejecting low priority tasks in favor of high priority task for a limited time, and wherein, when the gateway device receives a message from an external device referencing a specific host, in response to the gateway device not being synchronized with the specific host, the gateway device suspends, using the lock mechanism, the round robin synchronization and initiates a temporary synchronization with the specific host. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A gateway control system for residential equipment comprising:
-
a gateway device; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment including two or more components connected to the gateway device; a mailbox having a data storage mechanism incorporated in the gateway device; a lock mechanism incorporated in the gateway device; and a collection device connected to the mailbox; a remote access mechanism connected to the gateway device and an internet cloud; and wherein the gateway device includes a two-way synchronous connection with the remote access mechanism and an asynchronous one-way connection with the remote access mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to facilitate the two-way synchronous connection by delaying or rejecting low priority tasks in favor of high priority tasks for a limited time, wherein the gateway device is connectable to a network, a wire medium and/or a wireless medium, wherein the mailbox stores a copy of recent messages sent from the HVAC equipment, wherein, when the gateway device receives a request for information about the HVAC equipment, the gateway device; determines whether a recent message sent from the HVAC equipment and stored in the mailbox is valid; if the recent message stored in the mailbox is valid, respond to the request with the recent message stored in the mailbox; and if the recent message stored in the mailbox is invalid, query the HVAC component to provide an updated message using the lock mechanism and respond to the request with the updated message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification