COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED-ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100106325A1
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a demand unit and a subnet controller. The demand unit is coupled to a data bus and configured to provide a primary service having a maximum service capacity. The subnet controller is configured to send a demand message to the demand unit via the data bus instructing the demand unit to provide a portion of the maximum.

Claims

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

a demand unit coupled to a data bus and configured to provide a primary service having a maximum service capacity; and

a subnet controller configured to send a demand message to said demand unit via said data bus instructing said demand unit to provide a portion of said maximum.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein said subnet controller is further configured to track availability of said service, includes including receiving a device status message from said demand unit indicating the availability of said service.

5. The network of claim 3, wherein said subnet controller is further configured to clear said demand message when said service is unavailable.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein said service is a staged service, and said demand unit is configured to round a service request to stage value.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein said demand unit provides an ancillary service in a default proportion to said primary service.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein said ancillary service is air circulation.

9. The network of claim 7, wherein said demand message overrides said default.

10. The network of claim 1, further comprising configuring said demand unit to broadcast a device status message including a device status vector that indicates an availability of said service.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

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

configuring a demand unit to provide a service having a maximum service capacity; and

configuring a subnet controller to send a demand message to said demand unit instructing said demand unit to provide a portion of said maximum.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to track availability of said service.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein tracking availability of said service includes receiving a device status message from said demand unit indicating the availability of said service.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring said subnet controller to disregard a request for said service when said device status message indicates said service is unavailable.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said service is a staged service, and further comprising configuring said demand unit to round a service request to stage value.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said demand unit provides an ancillary service in a default proportion to said primary service.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring said demand unit to broadcast a device status message including a device status vector that indicates an availability of said service.

15. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21. An HVAC data processing and communication network subnet controller, comprising:

a physical layer interface adapted to couple to a data bus of an HVAC data processing and communications network; and

a local controller configured to cooperate with said physical layer interface to publish a demand message to said data bus, said message configured to instruct an HVAC demand unit to provide a portion of a maximum service capacity.

22. The subnet controller of claim 21, wherein said local controller is further configured to track availability of said service.

23. The network of claim 22, wherein tracking availability of said service includes receiving a device status message from said demand unit indicating the availability of said service.

24. The network of claim 23, wherein said local controller is further configured to disregard a request for said service when said device status message indicates said service is unavailable.

25. The network of claim 23, wherein said local controller is further configured to clear said demand message when said service is unavailable.