Apparatus and method for storing event information for an HVAC system

• US 8,713,697 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc. (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Courtney, Michael, Grohman, Wojciech, Hrejsa, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, David
• Application Number:
  US12/170,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,120 Days
• Field of Search: 726 1- 4, 726/16, 726/17, 726 26- 30
• US Class Current: 726/27
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays

Abstract

An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system includes: (a) at least one memory controller coupled with the HVAC system for receiving the event information; and (b) at least one memory unit coupled with the at least one memory controller. A first memory unit of the at least one memory unit is configured for receiving first selected information of the event information for accessing by at least one of a first party and a second party. A second memory unit of the at least one memory unit is configured for receiving second selected information of the event information for accessing by the second party.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one memory controller coupled with said HVAC system for receiving said event information; and

(b) at least one memory unit coupled with said at least one memory controller;

a first memory unit of said at least one memory unit being configured for receiving first selected information of said event information for accessing by at least one of a first party and a second party;

a second memory unit of said at least one memory unit being configured for receiving second selected information of said event information for accessing by said second party, said second selected information including reset event information of said first memory unit;

wherein said event information includes alarm event information that indicates types of alarms associated with operating said HVAC system, operating parameters of said HVAC system associated with an occurrence of an alarm thereof, or alarm clears of said HVAC system.

2. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second party is a servicing party, and wherein said accessing said second selected information is a controlled accessing.

3. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second selected information is more detailed than said first selected information.

4. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second memory unit is a rolling buffer unit storing a limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

5. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 4 wherein said first memory unit is a virtual rolling buffer unit including pointers;

said pointers pointing to a subset of information contained in said limited number of most-recently received entries.

6. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 5 wherein said subset of information is contained in a smaller number of said most-recently received entries than said limited number.

7. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one memory controller is a common memory controller coupled with said first memory unit and said second memory unit, wherein said first memory unit is a first rolling buffer unit storing a first limited number of most-recently received entries of selected information items of said event information, and wherein said second memory unit is a second rolling buffer unit storing a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

8. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one memory controller is a first memory controller coupled with said first memory unit and a second memory controller coupled with said second memory unit, wherein said first memory unit is a first rolling buffer unit storing a first limited number of most-recently received entries of selected information items of said event information, and wherein said second memory unit is a second rolling buffer unit storing a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

9. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 5 wherein said types of alarms associated with operating said HVAC system includes a continuous alarm related to a continuously monitored event associated with operating said HVAC system and an occasion-based alarm related to an occurrence of a particular event associated with operating said HVAC system.

10. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating parameters of said HVAC system associated with an occurrence of an alarm thereof including at least one of specified parameters extant when an alarm occurs, before an alarm occurs, after an alarm occurs, and during a time interval spanning a time at which an alarm occurs.

11. An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 1 wherein said alarm clears of said HVAC system identifying at least one earlier occurring alarm to which said alarm clears pertain.

12. An apparatus storing operating information relating to a communicating control system;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one controller unit coupled with said communicating control system; and

(b) a memory unit coupled with said at least one controller unit;

said memory unit including a first memory device and a second memory device;

said first memory device being configured for storing first selected information of said operational information;

said second memory device being configured for storing second selected information of said operational information;

said first memory device being configured for permitting access to said first selected information without restriction;

said second memory device permitting only authorized access to said second selected information, said second selected information including reset event information of said first memory unit;

wherein said operating information includes alarm event information that indicates types of alarms associated with operating said communicating control system, operating parameters of said communicating control system associated with an occurrence of an alarm thereof, or alarm clears of said communicating control system.

13. An apparatus storing operational information relating to a communicating control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said first memory device is a virtual rolling buffer unit including pointers;

said pointers pointing to a subset of information contained in said second selected information;

said second memory device being a rolling buffer unit;

said second selected information being a limited number of most-recently received entries of said operational information.

14. An apparatus storing operational information relating to a communicating control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one controller unit is a common memory controller coupled with said first memory device and said second memory device, wherein said first memory device is a first rolling buffer unit, and wherein said second memory device is a second rolling buffer unit;

said first selected information being a first limited number of a portion of most-recently received entries of said operational information;

said second selected information being a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said operational information.

15. An apparatus storing operational information relating to a communicating control system as recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one controller unit is a first memory controller coupled with said first memory device and a second memory controller coupled with said second memory device, wherein said first memory device is a first rolling buffer unit and said second memory device is a second rolling buffer unit;

said first selected information being a first limited number of a portion of most-recently received entries of said operational information;

said second selected information being a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said operational information.

16. A method for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system;

the method comprising;

(a) providing at least one memory controller coupled with said HVAC system for receiving said event information;

(b) providing at least one memory unit coupled with said at least one memory controller;

(c) in no particular order;

(1) configuring a first memory unit of said at least one memory unit for storing first selected information of said event; and

(2) configuring a second memory unit of said at least one memory unit for storing second selected information of said event information; and

(d) in no particular order;

(1) operating said first memory unit for permitting access to said first selected information by at least one of a first party and a second party; and

(2) operating said second memory unit for permitting access to said second selected information by said second party, said second selected information including reset event information of said first memory unit;

wherein said event information includes alarm event information that indicates types of alarms associated with operating said HVAC system, operating parameters of said HVAC system associated with an occurrence of an alarm thereof, or alarm clears of said HVAC system.

17. A method for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 16 wherein said first memory unit is a virtual rolling buffer unit including pointers;

said pointers pointing to a subset of information contained in said second selected information;

said second memory unit being a rolling buffer unit;

said second selected information being a limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

18. A method for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 16 wherein said at least one memory controller is a common memory controller coupled with said first memory unit and said second memory unit, wherein said first memory unit is a first rolling buffer unit, and wherein said second memory unit is a second rolling buffer unit;

said first selected information being a first limited number of a portion of most-recently received entries of said event information;

said second selected information being a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

19. A method for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 16 wherein said at least one memory controller is a first memory controller coupled with said first memory unit and a second memory controller coupled with said second memory unit, wherein said first memory unit is a first rolling buffer unit and said second memory unit is a second rolling buffer unit;

said first selected information being a first limited number of a portion of most-recently received entries of said event information;

said second selected information being a second limited number of most-recently received entries of said event information.

20. A method for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system as recited in claim 16 wherein said second party is a servicing party, and wherein said accessing said second selected information is a controlled accessing.