System recovery in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

• US 8,600,558 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• 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): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US12/603,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 700/21, 700/79
• 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 11/58 using Internet communication
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems and methods of employing a first subnet controller in an HVAC network. The method comprises conveying a fixed parameter from a first networked device in the HVAC system to the first subnet controller, conveying a variable parameter from the first networked device in the HVAC system to the first subnet controller, and providing an option to a user to modify the variable parameter.

Claims

1. A method for employing a first subnet controller in an HVAC network, comprising:

conveying a fixed parameter from a first networked device in said HVAC system to said first subnet controller;

conveying a variable parameter from said first networked device in said HVAC system to said first subnet controller; and

providing an option to a user to modify said variable parameter;

determining whether an entire memory of said subnet controller is corrupted, said memory correlating to stored parameters for a given set of devices in a subnet of said HVAC network,

wherein if said entire memory is corrupted, requiring all devices of said given set of devices to convey to said subnet controller;

a) a full feature manifest, and

b) a full parameter scan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying all variable parameters from all networked devices in a HVAC subnet correlated to said first subnet controller.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a second coupled network device to see said fixed parameter of said first network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising said user modifying said variable parameter through employment of one at least one of:

a) a user interface, and

b) a gateway; and

storing a modified variable parameter in said first subnet controller.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said fixed and said variable parameter in a second subnet controller, wherein;

said first subnet controller is active; and

said second subnet controller is inactive.

6. An HVAC system including a first subnet controller, comprising:

a fixed parameter retriever configured to retrieve a fixed parameter from a first device in said HVAC system and convey said fixed parameter to said first subnet controller;

a variable parameter retriever configured to retrieve a variable parameter from said first device in said HVAC system and convey said variable parameter to said first subnet controller; and

a user interface, coupled to said first subnet controller, configured to allow a user to modify at least said variable parameter,

wherein said first subnet controller is configured to

     1) determine whether an entire memory of said subnet controller is corrupted, said memory correlating to stored parameters for a given set of devices in a subnet of said HVAC network, and

     2) if said entire memory is corrupted, to require all devices of said given set of devices to convey to said first subnet controller;

a) a full feature manifest, and

b) a full parameter scan.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first subnet controller is configured to retrieve all variable parameters from devices networked in a subset controlled by said first subnet controller.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second device coupled to said first subnet controller and configured to read said fixed parameter of said first device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface further comprises a gateway.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a second subnet controller coupled to said first subnet controller and configured to store said fixed and said variable parameter, wherein:

said first subnet controller is active, and

said second subnet controller is inactive.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said subnet controller is further configured to determine whether a portion of said memory, correlating to stored parameters for a particular device, is corrupted, wherein

if said portion of memory is corrupted, said network controller is further configured to command said particular devices to conveying to said subnet controller:

a) a full feature manifest, and

b) a full parameter scan.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said subnet controller is further configured to determine whether a portion of said memory correlating to a device in said HVAC network is corrupted, wherein

if said memory of said device is corrupted, requiring said device to convey to said subnet controller:

a) a full feature manifest, and

b) a full parameter scan.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said memory is a non-volatile memory.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein said determination occurs when said subnet controller determines whether a memory corruption has occurred in both:

a) a configuration mode, and

b) a verification mode.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein said determination occurs with an occurrence of either:

a) a full feature scan, and

b) a full parameter scan.

16. A HVAC system including a first subnet controller, comprising:

a fixed parameter retriever configured to retrieve a fixed parameter from a first device in said HVAC system and convey said fixed parameter to said first subnet controller;

a variable parameter retriever configured to retrieve a variable parameter from said first device in said HVAC system and convey said variable parameter to said first subnet controller; and

a user interface, coupled to said first subnet controller, configured to allow a user to modify at least said variable parameter,

the first subnet controller further configured to generate a heartbeat message in an HVAC network, comprising;

a heartbeat message timer, and

a heartbeat generator configured to;

a) generate a heartbeat message by a first subnet controller upon said first subnet controller taking active control of a subnet of said HVAC network;

b) send another heartbeat message if said first subnet controller has detected a subnet controller message on said subnet from a second subnet controller;

c) send another heartbeat message if a specified amount of time has elapsed since a previous heartbeat message has been generated by said heartbeat generator;

wherein said first subnet controller is configured to

     1) determine whether an entire memory of said subnet controller is corrupted, said memory correlating to stored parameters for a given set of devices in a subnet of said HVAC network, and

     2) if said entire memory is corrupted, to require all devices of said given set of devices to convey to said first subnet controller;

a) a full feature manifest, and

b) a full parameter scan.

17. The first subnet controller of claim 16, wherein said message heartbeat timer is reset by any step of sending another heartbeat message.

18. The first subnet controller of claim 16, wherein said heartbeat timer increments with a passage of time.

19. The first subnet controller of claim 16, wherein said specified amount of time is about one minute.