Integrated management system and method for controlling multi-type air conditioners

• US 7,831,339 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Youn, Sang-Chul, Jeon, Duck-Gu, Kim, Jun-Tae
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/945,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 702/188, 709/201, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/232, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.32, 340/517, 340/521, 340/522, 236/51
• 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 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode

Abstract

An integrated management system for controlling multi-type air conditioners can reduce a communication load by transmitting only changed operation state information among operation state information related to at least one air conditioner system which is disposed in a room or office and is being operated.

Claims

1. An integrated management system for controlling multi-type air conditioners, comprising:

one or more air conditioner systems having one or more air conditioner groups provided with a local controller connected to multi-type air conditioners via a gateway, and configured to detect changes in operation state information related to the one or more air conditioner groups and convert the changed operation state information based on the detected result into operation state information data according to a remote communication protocol for transmission; and

a remote integrated management system configured to receive the operation state information data based on the remote communication protocol from the one or more air conditioner systems and remotely control the one or more air conditioner systems based on the received operation state information data,

wherein the remote integrated management system includes a database server, and an application server for receiving the changed operation state information, storing the received operation state information in the database server and converting the changed operation state information into operation control data according to a remote communication protocol for transmission,

wherein the local controller includes;

a collecting module to collect operation state information at specific intervals, and store the operation state information in a FIFO buffer in a first-in, first-out manner, the FIFO buffer including a first buffer to store present operation state information and a second buffer to store previous operation state information,

an analyzing module to analyze the operation state information collected by the collecting module based on a comparison of the present operation state information in the first buffer and the previous operation state information in the second buffer, and the analyzing module to detect the changes in the operation state information based on a result of the comparison, and

a transmitting module to convert the changed operation state information based on the detected result of the analyzing module into operation state information data according to the remote communication protocol for transmission.

2. The integrated management system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting module compresses and transmits the changed operation state information.

3. The integrated management system of claim 1, wherein the remote integrated management system further includes a monitoring server for displaying desired operation state information of interest related to the one or more air conditioner systems.

4. An integrated management method for controlling multi-type air conditioners that include one or more air conditioner systems having one or more air conditioner groups provided with a local controller coupled to multi-type air conditioners via a gateway, the method comprising:

collecting operation state information related to the one or more air conditioners,

storing the collected operation state information in a FIFO buffer that includes a first buffer to store present operation state information and a second buffer to store previous operation state information, the FIFO buffer operating in a first-in, first-out manner;

comparing the operation state information in the first buffer with the operation state information in the second buffer;

analyzing the operation state information by detecting changes in the operation state information based on the comparing; and

when a change in the operation state information is detected according to a result of the analyzing, compressing and transmitting the changed operation state information.

5. The integrated management method of claim 4, further comprising;

analyzing the changed operation state information, and based on the analysis result, generating and transmitting operation control data.