DEVICE ABSTRACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20100106313A1
• 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: Grohman, Wojciech, Filbeck, Amanda
• Granted Patent: US 8,661,165 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the method includes configuring a subnet controller. The subnet controller is configured to assign to a first device associated with the network a first equipment type number based on a first device ID number and a first offset. The subnet controller is configured, in the event that the first device shares a same enclosure with a second device associated with the network, to assign to the second device a second equipment type number based on the first device ID number and a second offset. The subnet controller is configured, in the event that the first device does not share a same enclosure with the second device, to assign to the second device the second equipment type number based on a second device ID number and the second offset.

Claims

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

configuring a subnet controller to;

assign to a first device associated with said network a first equipment type number based on a first device ID number and a first offset;

in the event that said first device shares a same enclosure with a second device associated with said network, assign to said second device a second equipment type number based on said first device ID number and a second offset; and

in the event that said first device does not share a same enclosure with said second device, assign to said second device said second equipment type number based on a second device ID number and said second offset.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a user interface and said second device is said subnet controller.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a comfort sensor and said second device is said subnet controller.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a comfort sensor and said second device is a user interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said subnet controller shares said enclosure with said comfort sensor and said user interface.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first offset is a base equipment type number of said first device, and said second offset is a base equipment type number of said second device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein first device is a local controller associated with a demand unit and said second device is said subnet controller.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein subnet controller is a first subnet controller, and said first device is a second subnet controller.

10. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a user interface and said second device is said subnet controller.

11. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a comfort sensor and said second device is said subnet controller.

12. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first device is a comfort sensor and said second device is a user interface.

13. The network as recited in claim 4, wherein said subnet controller shares said enclosure with said comfort sensor and said user interface.

14. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first offset is a base equipment type number of said first device, and said second offset is a base equipment type number of said second device.

15. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein first device is a local controller associated with a demand unit and said second device is said subnet controller.

16. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein subnet controller is a first subnet controller, and said first device is a second subnet controller.

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

a subnet controller configured to;

assign to a first device associated with said network a first equipment type number based on a first device ID number and a first offset;

in the event that said first device shares a same enclosure with a second device associated with said network, assign to said second device a second equipment type number based on said first device ID number and a second offset; and

in the event that said first device does not share a same enclosure with said second device, assign to said second device said second equipment type number based on a second device ID number and said second offset.

17. A subnet controller for use in an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a local controller configured to;

assign to a first device associated with said network a first equipment type number based on a first device ID number and a first offset;

in the event that said first device shares a same enclosure with a second device associated with said network, assign to said second device a second equipment type number based on said first device ID number and a second offset; and

in the event that said first device does not share a same enclosure with said second device, assign to said second device said second equipment type number based on a second device ID number and said second offset.

18. The subnet controller as recited in claim 17, wherein said first device is a user interface and said second device is said subnet controller.

19. The subnet controller as recited in claim 17, wherein said first device is a comfort sensor and said second device is a user interface.

20. The subnet controller as recited in claim 19, wherein said subnet controller shares said enclosure with said comfort sensor and said user interface.