System for processing HVAC control information

• US 5,751,948 A
• Filed: 12/26/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Mark A., Phillips, Thomas R., Dolan, Robert P., DeWolf, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Jr., Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palys, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US08/578,350
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 395/184.01, 395/185.07, 395/185.05, 395/185.02, 395/185.01, 371/21.1, 371/21.2, 371/21.5, 371/25.1, 371/53, 371/57.1, 371/40.11, 371/40.4, 371/40.13, 371/51.1, 371/49.2, 364/557, 364/136, 236/51
• US Class Current: 714/54
• 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 11/62 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: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

HVAC control information is written in a particular manner to a memory associated with a programmable processor. The processor generates verification images of the information and stores the same along with the information in addressable memory locations. The stored information and its corresponding verification images is read back for verification as to having been correctly stored in addressable memory locations. A rewriting and rereading of the information and the respective verification images can occur up to a predetermined number of times if necessary to verify that the information and respective verification images have been correctly stored.

Claims

1. A process for writing control parameter information to addressable memory locations of a memory associated with a programmed processor wherein the control parameter information is used by the processor to control a unit that provides conditioned air to a space to be heated or cooled, said process comprising the steps of:

receiving the value of a control parameter that is to be used by the processor to control the unit providing conditioned air;

associating the control parameter that is to be used by the processor to control the unit providing conditioned air with at least one addressable memory location;

writing the value of the control parameter to a first portion of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter;

transforming the value of the control parameter in accordance with a particular mathematical transformation that is not to be used to transform values received for any other control parameters so as to produce a verification image having a unique mathematical relationship with respect to the value of the control parameter; and

writing the verification image of the value of the particular control parameter to a second portion of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

reading the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter following said step of writing the verification image of the control parameter to the second portion of each memory location associated with the control parameter; and

examining the relationship of the first and second read portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter following said step of reading the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter to determine whether the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the control parameter to a respective verification image exists.

3. The process of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter when said step of examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter does not indicate the existence of the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the control parameter to a respective verification image in any addressable memory location associated with the control parameter.

4. The process of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

rereading the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter following said step of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter; and

re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter to determine whether the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control to a respective verification image exists.

5. The process of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

repeating said steps of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of each addressable memory location associated with the control parameter and thereafter rereading and re-examining these first and second portions each time said step of re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of each addressable memory location associated with the particular control parameter does not indicate the existence of the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter to a respective verification image in any memory location associated with the control parameter.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

reading the first and second portions of an addressable memory location associated with the particular control parameter following the writing of the verification image to the second portion of any such addressable memory location;

examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of any such addressable memory location to determine whether the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter to a respective verification exists between the first and second read portions of any such addressable memory location;

rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of any such addressable memory location when said step of examining the relationship between the first and second portions of any such addressable memory location does not indicate the existence of the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter.

7. The process of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

rereading the first and second portions of any such addressable memory location associated with the control parameter following said step of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of any such addressable memory location associated with the control parameter; and

re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of any such addressable memory location associated with the control parameter to determine whether the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control to a respective verification image exists.

8. The process of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

repeating said steps of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of any such addressable memory location associated with the control parameter and thereafter rereading and re-examining these first and second portions each time said step of re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of any such addressable memory location associated with the particular control parameter does not indicate the existence of the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter to a respective verification image in any such memory location associated with the control parameter until said step of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image has been repeated a predetermined number of times.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

proceeding to read and examine the first and second portions of any further addressable memory locations associated with the control parameter and rewrite if necessary the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of such a further addressable memory location when the mathematical relationship between said first and second portions of the further addressable memory location does not conform to the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter.

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

rereading the first and second portions of any such further addressable memory location associated with the control parameter following the rewriting if necessary of the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of any such further addressable memory location associated with the control parameter; and

re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of any such further addressable memory location associated with the control parameter to determine whether the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control to a respective verification image exists.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

repeating said steps of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image to the first and second portions of any such further addressable memory location associated with the control parameter and thereafter rereading and re-examining these first and second portions each time said step of re-examining the relationship between the first and second read portions of any such further addressable memory location associated with the particular control parameter does not indicate the existence of the mathematical relationship dictated by said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter to a respective verification image in any such further memory location associated with the control parameter until said step of rewriting the value of the control parameter and its respective verification image has been repeated a predetermined number of times.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the particular mathematical transformation used in said step of transforming the value of the particular control parameter is a numerical complement of the value of the control parameter.

13. A process for storing values of control parameters in a memory associated with a programmed processor wherein the values of the control parameters are used by the programmed processor to control a unit that provides conditioned air to a space to be heated or cooled, said process comprising the steps of:

reading the value of a first portion of an addressable memory location associated with a first control parameter;

reading the value of a second portion of the same addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter;

comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter with the read value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter so as to determine whether a certain predetermined mathematical relationship exists between the value of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter;

writing the current value of a program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter to the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location with the read value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location indicates that the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first portion and the value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter does not exist;

reading the value of a first portion of an addressable memory location associated with a second control parameter;

reading the value of a second portion of the same addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter;

comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the read value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter to determine whether a certain predetermined mathematical relationship exists between the value of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter wherein the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter is substantially different from the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter; and

writing the current value of a program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read values of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not indicate that the predetermined mathematical relationship exists between the read values of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter.

14. The process of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

writing a verification image of the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter to the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter when said step of comparing the value of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter indicates that the particular predetermined mathematical relationship between the read values of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter does not exist, the verification image written to the second portion having the particular mathematical relationship to the value written to the first portion that is required between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter; and

writing a verification image of the value written to the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter to the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read values of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates that the mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not exist, the verification image written to the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter having the particular mathematical relationship required between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein said steps of writing verification images of the values written to the first portions of the addressable memory locations associated respectively with either the first or second control parameters each comprise the steps of:

transforming the values written to the first portion of the respective addressable memory locations to the verification images to be written to the second portion of the respective addressable memory locations in accordance with the particular predetermined mathematical relationship that is to exist between the first and second portions of the respective addressable memory locations; and

writing the transformed values to the second portions of the respective memory locations.

16. The process of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter with the read value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location indicates that the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first portion and the second portion of the same addressable memory location does exist;

writing the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter to the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the processor with the first control parameter;

comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the read value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location indicates that the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first portion and the value of the second portion of the same addressable memory location does exist; and

writing the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter.

17. The process of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

writing a verification image of the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter to the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the processor with the first control parameter; and

writing a verification image of the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the processor with the second control parameter.

18. The process of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

rereading and recomparing the values read from the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter;

rewriting the value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter and the respective verification image of this value when said step of rereading and recomparing values read from the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter indicates the predetermined mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location does not exist.

19. The process of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

recomparing the value of the program variable associated with the first control parameter with the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter when said step of rereading and recomparing values read from the first and second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control variable indicates the predetermined mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location does exist; and

rewriting the value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the first control parameter and the respective verification image of this value when said step of recomparing the value of the program variable associated with the first control parameter with the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the first control parameter does not equal the value of the program variable associated by the processor with the first control parameter.

20. The process of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

rereading and recomparing the values read from the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter;

rewriting the value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter and the respective verification image of this value when said step of rereading and recomparing values read from the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates the predetermined mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location does not exist.

21. The process of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

recomparing the value of the program variable associated with the second control parameter with the second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of rereading and recomparing values read from the first and second portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control variable indicates the predetermined mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location does exist; and

rewriting the value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter and the respective verification image of this value when said step of recomparing the value of the program variable associated with the second control parameter with the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the value of the program variable associated by the processor with the second control parameter.

22. The process of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

reading the value of a first portion of at least one additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter;

reading the value of a second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter;

comparing the read value of the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter to determine whether a certain predetermined mathematical relationship exists between the value of the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter wherein the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter is the same as the predetermined mathematical relationship of the values of the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter that have been previously read and compared with each other; and

writing the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not indicate that the particular mathematical relationship exists between the read values of the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter.

23. The process of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

writing a verification image of the value written to the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter to the second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read values of the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates that the mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not exist, the verification image written to the second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter having the same particular mathematical relationship to the value written to the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter as is required between the first and second portions of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter previously read and compared with each other.

24. The process of claim 22 further comprising the step of:

comparing the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read values of the first and second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates that the predetermined mathematical relationship between the value of the first portion and the value of the second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does exist; and

writing the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter.

25. The process of claim 24 further comprising the step of:

writing a verification image of the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the processor with the second control parameter.

26. The process of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

writing a verification image of the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter to the second portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter when said step of comparing the read value of the first portion of the addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter with the current value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter indicates the read value of the first portion of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter does not equal the current value of the program variable associated by the processor with the second control parameter.

27. The process of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

rereading and recomparing the values read from the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter;

rewriting the value of the program variable associated by the programmed processor with the second control parameter and the respective verification image of this value when said step of rereading and recomparing values read from the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location associated with the second control parameter indicates the predetermined mathematical relationship between the first and second portions of the additional addressable memory location does not exist.