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

• US 9,432,208 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• 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: Hadzidedic, Darko, Grohman, Wojciech
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US12/603,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,505 Days
• Field of Search: 700/3, 700/20, 700/276, 370/469
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes configuring a first system device and a subnet controller. The first system device is configured to receive an initial value of a specified dependent parameter. The subnet controller is configured to determine that a value of said specified parameter has been changed to a modified value after said first system device receives said initial value. The subnet controller is further configured to send to said first system device, in response to said determining, a message updating said specified parameter with said modified value.

Claims

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

forming an HVAC network by causing a plurality of HVAC system devices to be coupled to a data bus, at least one of said HVAC system devices constituting an HVAC demand unit having an integral network controller;

configuring a first HVAC system device to receive an initial value of a specified first parameter that is dependent upon a value of a second parameter of either said first HVAC system device or of a second HVAC system device;

configuring said integral network controller to;

determine that a value of said second parameter has changed after said first HVAC system device receives said initial value; and

send said first HVAC system device a message modifying said first parameter in view of said second parameter change.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said specified first parameter is modified during a commissioning process.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising configuring said first HVAC system device to publish a list of dependent parameters used thereby, including said specified first parameter, after receiving said initial value.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring a second HVAC system device to send a message including an initial value of said specified first parameter to said first HVAC system device before said first HVAC system device publishes said list.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising configuring said integral network controller to send said message after receiving a confirmation from a third HVAC system device that said third HVAC system device has accepted said changed value of said second parameter.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said second HVAC system device and said third HVAC system device are embodied in an individual autonomous unit.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said specified first parameter is modified by manual entry via a user interface.

8. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring said integral network controller to receive said list before determining that a value of said second parameter has been changed.

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

a plurality of HVAC system devices coupled to a data bus, at least one of said HVAC system devices constituting an HVAC demand unit having an integral network controller;

a first HVAC system device configured to receive an initial value of a specified first parameter that is dependent upon a value of a second parameter of either said first HVAC system device or of a second HVAC system device; and

said integral network controller configured to;

determine that a value of said second parameter has changed after said first HVAC system device receives said initial value; and

send said first HVAC system device a message modifying said first parameter in view of said second parameter change.

10. The network as recited in claim 9, wherein said first parameter is modified during a commissioning process.

11. The network as recited in claim 9, wherein said first HVAC system device is further configured to publish a list of dependent parameters used thereby, including said first parameter, after receiving said initial value.

12. The network as recited in claim 11, further comprising a second HVAC system device configured to send a message including an initial value of said first parameter to said first HVAC system device before said first HVAC system device publishes said list.

13. The network as recited in claim 12, where said integral network controller is further configured to send said message after receiving a confirmation from a third HVAC system device that said third HVAC system device has accepted the changed value of said second parameter.

14. The network as recited in claim 13, wherein said second HVAC system device and said third HVAC system device are embodied in an individual autonomous unit.

15. The network as recited in claim 10, wherein said specified first parameter is modified by manual entry via a user interface.

16. The network as recited in claim 11, wherein said integral network controller is further configured to receive said list before determining that a value of said second parameter has been changed.

17. A subnet controller, comprising:

a physical layer interface configured to couple to a data bus for an HVAC system; and

a controller integral with an HVAC system device demand unit configured to;

receive messages via said data bus from a first and a second HVAC system device;

determine from said received messages that an initial value of a specified dependent parameter supplied to said first HVAC system device by said second HVAC system device has been changed after said first HVAC system device receives said initial value; and

send to said first HVAC system device, in response to the determination that an initial value of a specified dependent parameter has changed, a message via said data bus updating said specified parameter in view of the change.

18. The subnet controller as recited in claim 17, wherein said specified parameter is modified during a commissioning process.

19. The subnet controller as recited in claim 17, wherein said controller integral with an HVAC system device is further configured to receive a list of dependent parameters used by said first HVAC system device before said determining.

20. The subnet controller as recited in claim 18, wherein said specified parameter is modified by manual entry via a user interface.