ALARM AND DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A DISTRIBUTED- ARCHITECTURE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING NETWORK

• US 20100106310A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grohman, Wojciech
• Application Number:
  US12/603,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces

Abstract

The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing an HVAC data processing and communication network. In one embodiment, the network includes a system device and a controller. The system device is configured to communicate over a data bus, and further configured to store tracking data related to the system device. The controller is configured to send a command message to the device via the data bus. The message is configured to instruct the device to publish the tracking data on the data bus via a reply message.

Claims

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

a system device configured to communicate over a data bus and further configured to store tracking data related to said system device; and

a subnet controller configured to send a command message to said system device via said data bus, said command message being configured to instruct said system device to publish said tracking data on said data bus via a reply message.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising an interface device configured to receive said tracking data and transmit said tracking data to a remote entity.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising an interface device configured to receive said tracking data and transmit said tracking data to a portable data collection device.

4. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said tracking data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

an equipment serial number;

an equipment part number;

a control serial number;

a control part number;

a time of installation;

a date of installation;

a location of installation;

a location of manufacture;

a vendor ID; and

a country of origin.

5. The network as recited in claim 3, further comprising a wireless port configured to transfer said tracking data to said data collection device.

7. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tracking data collection device coupled to a data port.

8. The network as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote server to which the tracking data are transferred.

6. (canceled)

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

configuring a system device to communicate over a data bus and further configured to store tracking data related to said system device; and

configuring a subnet controller to send a command message to said system device via said data bus, said message being configured to instruct said system device to publish said tracking data on said data bus via a reply message.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising configuring an interface device to receive said tracking data and transmit said data to a remote site entity.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising configuring an interface device to receive said tracking data and transmit said tracking data to a local data collection device.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said tracking data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

a serial number;

a time of installation;

a date of installation;

a location of installation;

a location of manufacture;

a vendor ID; and

a country of origin.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising configuring a wireless port to transfer said tracking data to said data collection device.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising transferring said tracking data to a remote entity.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising using said tracking data to provide maintenance service for said network.

18. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising using said tracking data to respond to a warranty claim associated with said network.

19. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising using said tracking data to update said network.

20. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising using said tracking data to remotely update parameter values of said network.

14-15. -15. (canceled)

21. An HVAC data processing and communication network system device, comprising:

a physical layer interface configured to interface to a data bus;

a memory; and

a local controller configured to cooperate with said physical layer interface to;

store tracking data related to said system device in said memory;

receive a command message via said data bus; and

publish, in response to receiving said command message, said tracking data to said data bus via a reply message.

22. The system device as recited in claim 21, wherein said tracking data includes data selected from the group consisting of:

an equipment serial number;

an equipment part number;

a control serial number;

a control part number;

a time of installation;

a date of installation;

a location of installation;

a location of manufacture;

a vendor ID; and

a country of origin.

23. The system device as recited in claim 21, wherein said tracking data is associated with a compressor, a fan or a blower.