Method and system for synchronizing climate control devices

• US 7,702,422 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Grenville Robinson, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US12/126,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080221738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-277, 165208-209
• 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, the operational mode being one of cooling mode, heating mode and idle mode;

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, the desired operational mode being one of cooling mode, heating mode and idle mode;

third instructions that perform an evaluation for determining whether activating the first climate control device in the desired operational mode will result in a climate control device conflict where the desired operational mode is different from the operational mode of at least one of the plurality of climate control devices; and

fourth instructions, responsive to determining that activating the first climate control device in the desired operational mode will result in a climate control device conflict, for determining that the first climate control device is not to be activated in the desired operational mode, wherein the third instructions accumulate a first count of the plurality of climate control devices that are operating in the desired operational mode and a second count of the plurality of climate control devices that are active in an operational mode that differs from the desired operational mode, and performs a comparison of the first count and the second count, wherein the evaluation is performed responsive to the comparison.