Configurative control for HVAC systems

• US 5,491,649 A
• Filed: 10/29/1993
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Desmarais, Brett A., Friday, Arthur F. Jr., Chan, Chi-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/143,029
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 364/579, 364/138, 364/557, 364/571.04, 364/474.12, 62/211, 62/215, 165/13, 165/27
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states

Abstract

Programmable system and process are disclosed for adapting a generally written HVAC control program to a number of different HVAC systems. The system and process include a separate interface to the control program and a separate interface to the control elements of each particular HVAC system. Configuration data for the particular HVAC system defines the relationship between software variables of the control program and the control elements of the particular HVAC system. The configuration data is utilized when information is to be transferred between the interfaces.

Claims

1. In a system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling units, each having a programmable control unit including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling of the individual heating or cooling unit, a process executable by the processors in at least two programmable control units comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit, the control program stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit having a set of control variables identical to the control variables of the control program stored in the memory of the processor in the other programmable control unit, the control variables in each control program having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor; and

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the configuration data comprising a set of first indicia corresponding to the control variables wherein each particular first indicia corresponds to a particular control variable, and a set of second indicia corresponding to the discrete elements that are actually present in the particular heating or cooling unit wherein each particular second indicia corresponds to a particular discrete element, and wherein the configuration data further comprises stored associations of said second indicia linked to respective first indicia whereby each second indicia is linked to a respective first indicia, said step of accessing configuration data comparing the steps of;

using a first indicia to identify a linked second indicia corresponding to a particular discrete element when communication of a program control value is initiated by the programmable control unit; and

using a second indicia corresponding to a particular discrete element so as to identify a linked first indicia corresponding to a particular control variable when communication of a control value is initiated by the particular discrete element.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the memory associated with the processor includes a set of first storage locations set aside for storing program control values for the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular first indicia corresponding to the control variable for the stored program value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular second indicia corresponding to the discrete element receiving or communicating the control value, the process further comprising the steps of:

transferring a program control value associated with a particular first indicia from a first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular first indicia to a second storage location set aside for storing a control value associated with a second indicia linked to the particular first indicia when communication is initiated by the programmable control unit; and

transferring a control value associated with a particular second indicia from a second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the particular second indicia to a first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with a first indicia linked to the particular second indicia when communication is initiated by a discrete element.

3. In a system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling unit, each having a programmable control unit including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the individual heating or cooling unit, a process executable by the processors in at least two programmable control units comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit, the control program stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit having a set of control variables identical to the control variables of the control program stored in the memory of the processor in the other programmable control unit, the control variables in each control program having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor;

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program in each programmable control unit to particular discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling in the particular heating or cooling unit, each stored associated including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being linked to particular discrete elements in the heating or cooling unit when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling;

wherein the memory associated with the processor includes a set of first storage locations set aside for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

wherein said step of controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit includes the steps of;

calculating through the control program a program control value for at least one control variable,

noting when the calculation of a program control value for the control variable is complete; and

wherein said step of accessing configuration data includes the steps of;

accessing the configuration data comprising the plurality of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular discrete element calculated program control value, and

transferring the calculated program control value from a first storage location set aside for storing the calculated program control value associated with the control variable to a second storage location set aside for storing a control value associated with the identified discrete element linked to the control variable.

4. In a system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling units, each having a programmable control unit including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the individual heating or cooling unit, a process executable by the processors in at least two programmable control units comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit, the control program stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit having a set of control variables identical to the control variables of the control program stored in the memory of the processor in the other programmable control unit, the control variables in each control program having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor;

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in each programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program in each programmable control unit to particular discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling in the particular heating or cooling unit, each stored association including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements in the heating or cooling unit when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling; and

wherein the memory associated with the processor includes a set of first storage locations set aside for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

wherein said step of controlling the heating or cooling to be performed further includes the steps of;

interrupting the processor within the programmable control unit when a control value is to be transmitted from a discrete element,

storing the control value in a second storage location set aside for storing the control value from the discrete element transmitting the control value, and

wherein said step of accessing configuration data includes the steps of;

accessing the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables linked to discrete elements so as to identify the particular control variable linked to the discrete element transmitting the control value, and

transferring the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value from the second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value to the first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular control variable linked to the discrete element.

5. A system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling units, each heating or cooling unit having a programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the individual heating or cooling unit, wherein at least two of the programmable control units each comprise:

a processor;

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor of the programmable control unit and executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a set of first indicia corresponding to the control variables in the control program wherein each particular first indicia corresponds to a particular control variable, a set of second indicia corresponding to the discrete elements that are actually present in the particular heating or cooling unit wherein each particular second indicia corresponds to a particular discrete element, and wherein the configuration data further comprises stored associations of said second indicia linked to respective first indicia; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the process which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising stored associations of said second indicia linked to first indicia so that particular control variables in the control program having corresponding first indicia can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements having corresponding second indicia when communications of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said set of second indicia furthermore include specially coded indicia indicating the lack of presence of certain discrete elements in the particular heating or cooling unit.

7. A system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling units, each heating or cooling unit having a programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the individual heating or cooling unit, wherein at least two of the programmable control units each comprise:

a processor;

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor of the programmable control unit and executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program to particular discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling in the particular heating or cooling unit, each stored associations including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element;

a set of first storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with said processor, for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value;

a set of second storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with said processor, for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the processor which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, said configuration program comprising;

an instruction for noting when the control program has completed the updating of any program control values for any control variables,

an instruction for accessing the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular discrete elements linked to the particular control variables having updated program control values, and

an instruction for transferring the updated program control values from first storage locations set aside for storing the updated program control values associated with the control variables to second storage locations set aside for storing control values associated with the identified discrete elements.

8. A system having a plurality of individual heating or cooling units, each heating or cooling unit having a programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the individual heating or cooling unit, wherein at least two of the programmable control units each comprise:

a processor;

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program common to the control program in at least the one other control unit, the control program being stored in the memory associated with the processor of the programmable control unit and executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that improvement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program to particular discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooing in the particular heating or cooling unit, each stored association including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element;

a set of first storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with said processor, for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value,

a set of second storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with said processor, for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the processor which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being linked to particular discrete elements when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, said configuration program comprising;

an instruction for interrupting the processor executing the control program when a control value is to be transmitted from a discrete element;

an instruction for storing the control value in a second storage location set aside for storing the control value from the discrete element transmitting the control value,

an instruction for accessing the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables linked to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular control variable linked to the discrete element transmitting the control value and,

an instruction for transferring the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value from the second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value to the first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular control variable linked to the discrete element.

9. In a heating or cooling system having a programmable control units including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the system, a process executable by the processor within the programmable control unit comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling system through a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed; and

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system, the configuration on data comprising a set of first indicia corresponding to the control variables wherein each particular first indicia corresponds to a particular control variable and a set of second indicia corresponding to the discrete elements that are actually present in the particular heating or cooling unit wherein each particular second indicia corresponds to a particular discrete element, and wherein the configuration data further comprises stored associations of said second indicia linked to respective first indicia whereby each second indicia is linked to a respective first indicia, said step of accessing configuration data further comprising the steps of;

using a first indicia to identify a linked second indicia corresponding to a particular discrete element when communication is initiated by the programmable control unit; and

using a second indicia corresponding to a particular element so as to identify a linked first indicia corresponding to a particular control variable when communication of a control value is initiated by the particular discrete element.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the memory associated with the processor includes a set of first storage locations set aside for storing program control values for the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular first indicia corresponding to the control variable for the stored program value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular second indicia corresponding to the discrete element receiving or communicating the control value, the process further comprising the steps of:

transferring a program control value associated with a particular first indicia from a first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular first indicia to a second storage location set aside for storing a control value associated with a second indicia linked to the particular first indicia when communication of a control value is initiated by the programmable control unit; and

transferring a control value associated with a particular second indicia from a second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the particular second indicia to a first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with a first indicia linked to the particular second indicia when communication of a control value is initiated by a discrete element.

11. In a heating or cooling system having a programmable control unit including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the system, a process executable by the processor within the programmable control unit comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling system through a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed; and

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising;

and wherein said step of controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit includes the step of;

calculating through the control program a program control value for at least one control variable,

noting when the calculating of the program control value for the control variable is complete; and

wherein said step of accessing configuration data includes the steps of;

accessing the configuration data comprising the plurality of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular discrete element linked to the control variable having the calculated program control value, and

transferring the calculated program control value from a first storage location set aside for storing the calculated program control value associated with the control variable to a second storage location set aside for storing a control value associated with the identified discrete element linked to the control variable.

12. In a heating or cooling system having a programmable control unit including a processor and memory associated therewith, the programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling for the system, a process executable by the processor within the programmable control unit comprising the steps of:

controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling system through a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is repeatedly executed; and

accessing configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor in the programmable control unit, the configuration data comprising a plurability of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements of the heating or cooling system so that particular control variables can be identified as being linked to particular discrete elements in the heating or cooling system when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system;

wherein the memory associated with the processor includes a set of first storage locations set aside for storing program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing program control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value;

and wherein said step of controlling the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling unit includes the steps of;

interrupting the processor within the programmable control unit when a control value is to be transmitted form a discrete element,

storing the control value in a second storage location set aside for storing the control value from the discrete element transmitting the control value;

and wherein said step of accessing configuration data includes the steps of;

accessing the configuration data comprising the plurality of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular control variable linked to the discrete element transmitting the control value; and

transferring the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value from the second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value to a first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular control variable linked to the discrete element.

13. A programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements within a heating or cooling system which implement the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling system said programmable control unit including:

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program stored in the memory associated with said processor, the control program being executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the system through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program control values that vary from time to time as the control program is being repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor comprising a set of first indicia corresponding to the control variables in the control program wherein each particular first indicia corresponds to a particular control variable, and a set of second indicia corresponding to the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system, wherein each particular second indicia corresponds to a particular discrete element, and wherein the stored associations of particular control variables to particular control elements comprise stored associations of said second indicia linked to respective first indicia; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the processor which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of said second indicia linked to first indicia so that particular control variables in the control program having corresponding first indicia can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements having corresponding second indicia when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said set of second indicia furthermore include specially coded indicia indicating the lack of presence of certain discrete elements in the particular heating or cooling unit.

15. A programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements within a heating or cooling system which implement the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooling system said programmable control unit including:

a processor;

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program stored in the memory associated with said processor, the control program being executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the system through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program controls values that vary from time to time as the control program is being repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program to particular discrete elements of the heating or cooling system, each stored association including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element;

a set of first storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with the processor, for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value;

a set of second storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with the processor for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with a discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the processor which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system, said configuration program comprising;

an instruction for noting when the control program has completed the updating of any program control values for any control variables,

an instruction for accessing the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables to particular control elements so as to identify the particular discrete elements linked to the particular control variables having updated program control values; and

an instruction for transferring the updated program control values from first storage locations set aside for storing the updated program control values associated with the control variables to second storage locations set aside for storing control values associated with the identified discrete elements.

16. A programmable control unit interfacing with a set of discrete elements within a heating or cooling system which implement the heating or cooling to be performed by the heating or cooing system said programmable control unit including:

a processor,

a memory associated with said processor;

a control program stored in the memory associated with said processor, the control program being executable by the processor so as to control the heating or cooling to be performed by the system through communications of control values between the processor and the discrete elements that implement the prescribed heating or cooling, the control program including a set of control variables having program controls values that vary from time to time as the control program is being repeatedly executed by the processor;

configuration data stored in the memory associated with the processor comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables in the control program to particular discrete elements of the heating or cooing system, each stored association including one particular control variable linked to one particular discrete element;

a set of first storage locations, set aside in the memory associated with the processor for storing the program control values of the control variables in the control program, each stored program control value in a first storage location being associated with the particular control variable for the stored program control value, and a set of second storage locations set aside for storing control values received from or communicated to the discrete elements, each stored control value in a second storage location being associated with the particular discrete element receiving or communicating the control value; and

a configuration program stored in the memory associated with the processor which allows the processor to access the configuration data comprising a plurality of stored associations of particular control variables to particular discrete elements so that particular control variables in the control program can be identified as being lined to particular discrete elements when communication of control values is to occur between the programmable control unit and the discrete elements of the heating or cooling system, said configuration program comprising;

an instruction for interrupting the processor executing the control program when a control value is to be transmitted from a discrete element,

an instruction for storing the control value in a second storage location set aside for storing the control value from associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value;

an instruction for accessing the configuration data comprising stored associations of particular control variables linked to particular discrete elements so as to identify the particular control variable linked to the discrete element transmitting the control value; and

an instruction for transferring the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value from the second storage location set aside for storing the control value associated with the discrete element transmitting the control value to the first storage location set aside for storing the program control value associated with the particular control variable linked to the discrete element.

17. A process for defining the heating or cooling to be performed by a heating or cooling system, said process being executable by a control unit in communication with discrete elements of the heating or cooling system via communication channels associated with the discrete elements, said process including a control program which computes control values for certain of the discrete elements based upon the receipt of control values from other discrete elements, the control program having control variables for the control values, said process further comprising the steps of:

creating identifications of each communication channel associated with a discrete element;

creating identifications of each control variable within the control program;

creating and storing mapped linkages between the identifications of control variables and the identifications of communication channels associated with discrete elements;

creating a series of first storage locations accessible by the control unit based upon the identifications of control variables;

creating a series of second storage locations accessible by the control unit based upon the identifications of communications channels associated with discrete elements;

storing control values received from the discrete elements in the series of second storage locations according to the identifications of communication channels associated with discrete elements;

storing at least one value computed for at least one control variable by the control unit executing the control program in one of the first storage locations according to the identification of the control variable;

transferring at least one control value stored in a second storage location to an identified first storage location by utilizing the stored mapped linkages; and

transferring at least one value computed for at least one control variable from a first storage location to a second storage location utilizing the stored mapped linkages.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein said step of transferring at least one control value stored in a second storage location to an identified first storage location utilizing the stored mapped linkages comprises the steps of:

noting the identification of at least one communication channel associated with a discrete element communicating information to the control unit;

accessing the stored mapped linkage having the noted identification of the at least one communication channel;

reading the identification of the control variable linked by the stored mapped linkage to the at least one communication; and

transferring the value stored in the second storage location associated with the noted identification of the at least one communication channel to the storage location associated with the read identification of the control variable.

19. The process of claim 17 wherein said step of transferring at least one value computed for at least one control variable from a first storage location to a second storage location comprises the steps of:

noting the identification of the control variable for which the value was computed;

accessing the stored linkage having the noted identification of the control variable for which the value was computed;

reading the identification of the communication channel associated with the discrete element linked to the noted identification of the control variable for which the value was computed; and

transferring the value stored in the first storage location associated with the noted identification of the control variable for which the value was computed to the second storage location associated with the read identification of the communication channel.