REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS DIAGNOSTICS USING ANALOG DATA ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. A method of diagnosing a problem across the communications bus of an environmental control system installed within a building or structure, the control system including an executive controller adapted to exchange digital data on the communications bus back and forth between one or more slave modules, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a number of analog input lines of an analog-to-digital converter to the communications lines of the communications bus, the analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert analog signals transmitted over the communication lines into a digital output signal;
scanning the analog input lines of the analog-to-digital converter and analyzing the output signal from the converter using a diagnostics module; and
diagnosing a problem on one or more of the communications lines using analog data analysis of the output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for remotely diagnosing problems across the communications lines of an environmental control network using analog data analysis are disclosed. An illustrative system can include an executive controller, a communications bus including a number of communications lines connecting the controller to one or more slave modules, an analog-to-digital converter, and a diagnostics module for diagnosing problems on one or more of the communications lines from a remote location. The analog input lines for the analog-to-digital converter can be connected to the communications lines and one or more other sources. The diagnostics module can include various diagnostic tools that can be used to diagnose problems occurring across the communications lines as well as to determine other information about the system.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of diagnosing a problem across the communications bus of an environmental control system installed within a building or structure, the control system including an executive controller adapted to exchange digital data on the communications bus back and forth between one or more slave modules, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a number of analog input lines of an analog-to-digital converter to the communications lines of the communications bus, the analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert analog signals transmitted over the communication lines into a digital output signal;
scanning the analog input lines of the analog-to-digital converter and analyzing the output signal from the converter using a diagnostics module; and
diagnosing a problem on one or more of the communications lines using analog data analysis of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of remotely diagnosing a problem across the communications bus of an environmental control system installed within a building or structure, the control system including an executive controller adapted to exchange digital data on the communications bus back and forth between one or more slave modules, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a number of analog input lines of an analog-to-digital converter to the communications lines of the communications bus, the analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert analog signals transmitted over the communication lines into a digital output signal;
scanning the analog input lines of the analog-to-digital converter and analyzing the output signal from the converter using a diagnostics module;
outputting a response to a remote computer located away from the building or structure; and
remotely diagnosing a problem on one or more of the communications lines using a signal received from the executive controller.
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16. A system for diagnosing problems across the communications lines of an environmental control network installed within a building or structure, the system comprising:
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an executive controller;
a communications bus including a number of communications lines connecting the executive controller to one or more slave modules, the communications bus adapted to exchange digital data back and forth between the executive controller and said one or more slave modules;
an analog-to-digital converter having a number of analog input lines connected to the communications lines of said bus, said analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert analog signals transmitted over the communications lines into a digital output signal; and
a means for diagnosing problems on one or more of the communications lines from a remote location away from the building or structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A controller for controlling one or more slave modules connected to a communications bus having a number of communications lines, the controller comprising:
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a processor;
an analog-to-digital converter including a number of analog input lines connected to the communications lines;
a memory unit for storing the output from the analog-to-digital converter; and
a built-in diagnostics module for analyzing the output from the analog-to-digital converter.
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Specification