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

• US 20100115364A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• 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 8,774,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/748
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]

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 local controller. The local controller is configured to publish a first message to a data bus, and to detect a collision between the first message and a second message published to the data bus. The local controller is further configured to republish the first message in the event that the first message collides with a second message published to the data bus; a bit error results in response to publishing the message.

Claims

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

a local controller configured to;

publish a first message to a data bus;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus; and

republish said first message in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus;

a bit error results in response to publishing said message.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said local controller detects a collision by detecting a bit error on said data bus.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said local controller republishes said first message after a delay unique to said local controller.

4. The network as recited in claim 3, wherein said delay is derived from a device designator of said local controller.

5. The network as recited in claim 4, wherein said delay is determined by multiplying a base delay time by a factor determined by taking a contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

6. The network as recited in claim 5, wherein a first attempt to republish said first message uses a first continuous subset of bits of said device designator, and a subsequent attempt to republish said first message uses a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

7. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said message is a device startup message configured to indicate that said local controller is ready to operate in the network after a reset condition.

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

configuring a local controller to;

publish a first message to a data bus;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus; and

republish said first message in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus;

a bit error results in response to publishing said message.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said local controller to detect a collision by detecting a bit error on said data bus.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said local controller to republish said first message after a delay unique to said local controller.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising configuring said local controller to derive said delay from a device designator of said local controller.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising configuring said local controller to determine said delay by multiplying a base delay time by a factor determined by taking a contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising configuring said local controller to make a first attempt to republish said first message using a first continuous subset of bits of said device designator, and to make a subsequent attempt to republish said first message using a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said message is a device startup message configured to indicate that said local controller is ready to operate in the network after a reset condition.

15. A system device of an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a demand unit configured to provide a service; and

a local controller configured to;

control a level of said service;

publish a first message to a data bus;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus; and

republish said first message in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus;

a bit error results in response to publishing said message.

16. The system device as recited in claim 15, wherein said local controller detects a collision by detecting a bit error on said data bus.

17. The system device as recited in claim 15, wherein said local controller republishes said first message after a delay unique to said local controller.

18. The system device as recited in claim 17, wherein said delay is derived from a device designator of said local controller.

19. The system device as recited in claim 18, wherein said delay is determined by multiplying a base delay time by a factor determined by taking a contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

20. The system device as recited in claim 19, wherein a first attempt to republish said first message uses a first continuous subset of bits of said device designator, and a subsequent attempt to republish said first message uses a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.