ALARM AND DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100106311A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallaert, Timothy E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment the network includes a subnet controller, a system device and a gateway. The controller is configured to publish control messages over a data bus. The system device is configured to receive the messages and to provide an HVAC service in response to the messages. A gateway is configured to provide access by a remote user to the network. The access includes operating the network to generate diagnostic data and retrieving the diagnostic data via the gateway.

Claims

1. An HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a subnet controller configured to publish control messages over a data bus;

a system device configured to receive said messages and to provide an HVAC service in response thereto; and

a gateway configured to provide access by a remote user to said network, said access including operating said network to generate diagnostic data and retrieving said diagnostic data via said gateway.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said access includes said gateway accepting an internet connection from said remote user.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said subnet controller is configured to act as an inactive subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said gateway is configured to act as an active subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote terminal configured to cooperate with said gateway to control said network.

17. The network as recited in claim 5, wherein said gateway is configured to issue a message over said data bus in response to an instruction from said remote terminal.

18. The network as recited in claim 17, wherein said message is configurable to change a parameter value of system device.

6. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a subnet controller to publish control messages over a data bus;

configuring a system device to receive said messages and to provide an HVAC service in response thereto; and

configuring a gateway to provide access by a remote user to said network, said access including operating said network to generate diagnostic data and retrieving said diagnostic data via said gateway.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said access includes said gateway accepting an internet connection from said remote user.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to act as an inactive subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring said gateway to act as an active subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising configuring a remote terminal to cooperate with said gateway to control said network.

19. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said gateway is configured to issue a message over said data bus in response to an instruction from said remote terminal.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said instruction is configurable to change a parameter value of system device.

11. An HVAC data processing and communication network gateway, comprising:

a physical layer interface configured to interface to a data bus of an HVAC data processing and communication network;

a local controller configured to provide access by a remote user to said network via said data bus, said access including operating said network to generate diagnostic data, and retrieving said diagnostic data.

12. The gateway as recited in claim 11, wherein said access includes an internet connection to said remote user.

13. The gateway as recited in claim 11, wherein said local controller is further configured to act as an inactive subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

14. The gateway as recited in claim 11, wherein said local controller is further configured to act as an active subnet controller when said remote user is granted access.

15. The gateway as recited in claim 11, wherein said local controller is further configured to cooperate with a remote terminal to control said network.

16. The gateway as recited in claim 11, wherein said local controller is further configured to issue a message over said data bus in response to an instruction from said remote terminal, said message being configurable to change a parameter value of system device.