System that retains continuity of equipment operational data upon replacement of controllers and components

• US 10,663,934 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Sanghamitra, Gutha Stalin, Noble, Ashley
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, James J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US15/001,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 700276
• 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 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• 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
• 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 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

A program for light commercial building system (LCBS) solutions. Solutions and other systems may incorporate lightweight alerting service, auto-adjustment of gateway poll rates based on the needs of various consuming applications, detecting loss of space comfort control in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, HVAC capacity loss alerting using relative degree days and accumulated stage run time with operational equivalency checks, and HVAC alerting for loss of heat or cool capacity using delta temperature and dependent system properties. Also, incorporated may be triggering s subset of analytics by automatically inferring HVAC equipment details from controller configuration details, ensuring reliability of analytics by retaining logical continuity of HVAC equipment operational data even when controllers and other parts of the system are replaced, and an LCBS gateway with workflow and mechanisms to associate to a contractor account.

Claims

1. An equipment continuity system comprising:

heating or cooling equipment;

a first controller connected to the heating or cooling equipment,

wherein the first controller performs a set of control functions using a set of configuration data and operational data; and

a recorder connected to the first controller; and

wherein;

the recorder receives and logs configuration data and operational data from the first controller;

the first controller is replaceable with a second controller;

when the first controller is replaced with the second controller, the recorder receives and logs operational data from the second controller; and

the operational data from the second controller is merged with the operational data from the first controller,

whereupon the second controller performs the same set of control functions that previously were performed by the first controller using the same configuration data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a merging of operational data from the first controller and the second controller into one series of operational data is done automatically to ensure continuity of operational data for the heating or cooling equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the merging of the data from the first and second controllers is automatic on a cloud connected first to the first controller and connected second to the second controller in that order.