Device abstraction system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning system

• US 9,152,155 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

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 coupled to a data bus and configured to locally store feature or parameter data related to an operation of the system device. The subnet controller is configured to publish a message via the data bus directing the device to publish a message including the feature or parameter data to the network.

Claims

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

a system device coupled to a data bus by a first physical layer interface and including;

an HVAC component configured to provide an HVAC service; and

a local controller configured to locally store feature or parameter data related to an operation of said system device; and

a subnet controller coupled to said data bus by a second physical layer interface and configured to publish a first message via said data bus directing said system device to publish to said data bus a second message including said feature or parameter data.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a user interface including preloaded feature or parameter data associated with said system device.

3. The network as recited in claim 2, wherein said subnet controller is configured to direct said system device to publish only said feature or parameter data that is not included in said preloaded data.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said system device is configured to publish said feature or parameter data during a commissioning process.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said system device replaces another system device in said network.

6. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said feature or parameter data include parameter values, definitions and strings.

7. The network as recited in claim 6, wherein said subnet controller is configured to publish separate messages to retrieve said values, definitions and strings.

8. A method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

configuring a system device coupled to a data bus to provide an HVAC service from an HVAC component, and to locally store feature or parameter data related to an operation of said system device; and

configuring a subnet controller to publish a first message via said data bus directing said system device to publish to said data bus a second message including said feature or parameter data.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising coupling to said data bus a user interface including preloaded feature or parameter data associated with said system device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising configuring said subnet controller configured to direct said system device to publish only said feature or parameter data that is not included in said preloaded data.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising configuring said system device to publish said feature or parameter data during a commissioning process.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said system device is configured to replace another system device in said network.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said feature or parameter data include parameter values, definitions and strings.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said second message includes only one of said feature or parameter data.

15. A system for storing information about attached devices in an HVAC data processing and communication network, the system comprising:

at least one system device coupled to a data bus by a first physical layer interface and including an HVAC component configured to provide an HVAC service; and

a user interface having a second physical layer interface, said user interface being coupled to said at least one device via said data bus,

wherein said at least one system device is configured to store feature or parameter data and to publish to said data bus said feature or parameter data upon command by said user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one system device further includes information about system device features that can be collected at said user interface.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said information about system device parameters includes actual list information.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said information about device parameters includes value information.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said information about device parameters includes format information.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said user interface includes a querying subsystem for querying said devices to which it is coupled for information about device parameters, and a storage subsystem for storing said information it receives in response to its queries to devices to which it is coupled for information about devices parameters.