Method and system for synchronizing climate control devices

• US 7,133,748 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, Robert Fredrick Grenville
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini, Albert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US10/855,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700/300, 165208-209, 165/217, 165/253, 165/254
• 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 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/67 Switching between heating and cooling modes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1934 each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for controlling a first climate control device is provided. An operational mode is obtained for each of a plurality of climate control devices. The operational mode of each of the plurality of climate control devices is compared with a desired operational mode of the first climate control device. A determination of whether any of the operational modes of the plurality of climate control devices differs from the desired operational mode. The first climate control device is placed in the desired operational mode dependent on the comparison of the operational modes of the plurality of climate control devices with the desired operational mode.

Claims

1. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for controlling a climate control system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions that issue a query for an operational mode of a plurality of climate control devices;

second instructions, responsive to receipt of a response message, that compare the operational mode of at least one of the plurality of climate control devices with a desired operational mode of a first climate control device; and

third instructions that perform an evaluation of whether activating the first climate control device in the desired operational mode will result in a climate control device conflict, wherein the second instructions, responsive to receiving a response message that indicates a first climate control device of she plurality of climate control devices is not in an active mode, compare a most recent active operational mode of the first of the plurality of climate control devices with the desired operational mode.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the third instructions increment a count of the plurality of climate control devices in the desired operational mode responsive to identifying the most recent active operational mode as the desired operational mode.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the third instructions increment a count of the plurality of climate control devices that are not active in the desired operational mode responsive to identifying the most recent active operational mode as different than the desired operational mode.