Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

• US 8,452,906 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh G
• Application Number:
  US12/603,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 710/105, 700/276
• US Class Current: 710/105
• 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 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• 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 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

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 system device and a subnet controller. The system device is adapted to provide a service and publish a message including a device status vector representing an availability of the system device to provide the service. The subnet controller is adapted to receive the message from the system device including the device status vector via a data bus.

Claims

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

a first system device adapted to provide a first service and publish a message including a first device status vector representing an availability of said first system device to provide said first service; and

a subnet controller adapted to receive said message from said first system device including said first device status vector via a data bus,

wherein said subnet controller is further adapted to receive, via messages from a plurality of system devices including said first system device, a corresponding plurality of device status vectors that includes said first device status vector, wherein each device status vector includes a plurality of bits, each bit having within said device status vector a bit position that corresponds to one of a plurality of potential services provided by said system devices, said plurality of services including said first service, said subnet controller further adapted to perform a logical operation on a bit corresponding to said first service from each of said plurality of device status vectors to determine if said first service is available.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising said plurality of second system devices.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said subnet controller is adapted to determine an availability of said first service from said plurality of device status vectors.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said logical operation is a logical AND.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein said subnet controller is adapted to generate a status message configured to display an alert on said user interface when said subnet controller determines from said first device status vector that said first service is unavailable.

6. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said first system device generates an alarm message in the event that said first service is unavailable.

7. A method of manufacturing a HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a first system device to provide a first service and publish a message including a first device status vector representing an availability of said first system device to provide said first service;

configuring a subnet controller to receive said message from said first system device including said first device status vector,

further configuring said subnet controller to receive, via messages from a plurality of system devices including said first system device, a corresponding plurality of device status vectors that includes said first device status vector, wherein each device status vector includes a plurality of bits, each bit having within said device status vector a bit position that corresponds to one of a plurality of potential services provided by said system devices, said plurality of services including said first service; and

configuring said subnet controller to perform a logical operation on a bit corresponding to said first service from each of said plurality of device status vectors to determine if said first service is available.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising adapting said subnet controller to determine an availability of said first service from said plurality of device status vectors.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said logical operation is a logical AND.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising configuring a user interface to receive a status message generated by said subnet controller when said subnet controller determines from said first device status vector that said first service is unavailable, and configuring the user interface to display an alert in response to said status message.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising configuring said system device to generate an alarm message in the event that said first service is unavailable.

12. A system device for use in an HVAC data processing and communication network having a plurality of system devices, wherein each of said plurality of system devices is configured to send a corresponding device status vector, comprising:

a physical layer interface adapted to couple said system device to a data bus;

a first demand unit configured to provide a first HVAC service; and

a local controller adapted to publish a message including a first device status vector representing an availability of said first demand unit to provide said first HVAC service,

wherein said first local controller is further adapted to publish, via messages sent via said data bus, said first device status vector having a plurality of bits, each bit having within said first device status vector a bit position that corresponds to one of a plurality of potential services provided by said system devices, said plurality of services including said first HVAC service, wherein said first local controller indicates an availability of said first demand unit to provide said first HVAC service with a single bit having a first polarity, and said first local controller fills each remaining bit position of said first device status vector with a bit having a second polarity, wherein a subnet controller of said HVAC data processing and communication network is adapted to perform a logical operation on a bit corresponding to said first HVAC service from each of said plurality of device status vectors to determine if said first HVAC service is available.

13. The system device as recited in claim 12, wherein said local controller is further configured to publish an alarm message to said data bus in the event that said first HVAC service is unavailable.

14. The system device as recited in claim 12, wherein said local controller is configured to modify an alarm status bit of said first device status vector when an alarm corresponding to said status bit is active.

15. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said alarm is cleared after the expiration of a predetermined interval.

16. The system device as recited in claim 14, wherein said alarm is cleared by a message published to said data bus.