Building control system

• US 9,325,573 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings AB (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Buildings AB (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Swainston, Michael Johnson
• Primary Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, AJAY P
• Application Number:
  US12/330,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,695 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

A method of operating a building control system includes installing a plurality of network devices to a communications network. Each of the plurality of network devices performs a device operation. The method also includes assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of network devices. The identifier is based on the device operation and a device location. The method further includes communicating information and coordinating operations automatically among the plurality of network devices based on the identifier.

Claims

1. A method of operating a building control system, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of network devices to a communications network, wherein each of the plurality of network devices includes a control application for performing a device operation;

assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of network devices, wherein the identifier is based on the device operation and a device location;

communicating information and coordinating operations automatically among the plurality of network devices on the communications network based on the identifier; and

communicating and coordinating operations automatically among the plurality of network devices based on a translated identifier derived from the identifier and a relative reference notation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the identifier comprises assigning a logical address having a range of 0 to 3,999,999 to each of the plurality of network devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the identifier comprises assigning a plurality of level designations having a hierarchical relationship.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein assigning the plurality of level designations comprises:

assigning a universe level designation to each of the plurality of network devices;

assigning a building level designation to each of the plurality of network devices;

assigning a zone level designation to each of the plurality of network devices; and

assigning a node level designation to each of the plurality of network devices.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein assigning the plurality of level designations comprises assigning a subdivision to at least one of the plurality of level designations.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein communicating information and coordinating operations comprises communicating information and coordinating operations automatically among network devices having common level designations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising developing the control application of each of the plurality of network devices separate from installation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein developing the control application comprises developing a function related to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.