Communication protocol system and method for a distributed-architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network

• US 8,774,210 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• 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: Grohman, Wojciech
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARAHMAND, ASHIL S
• Application Number:
  US12/603,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 370/242, 370/445, 370447-448, 370/462
• US Class Current: 370/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]

Abstract

The disclosure provides an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In an embodiment, the network includes a local controller. The local controller is configured to publish a first message to a data bus, and to detect a collision between the first message and a second message published to the data bus. The local controller is further configured to republish the first message in the event that the first message collides with a second message published to the data bus; a bit error results in response to publishing the message.

Claims

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

a first local controller associated with an HVAC component, said HVAC component in communication with at least one other HVAC component via a data bus, said first local controller configured to;

publish a first message to said data bus;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus; and

republish said first message, after a delay unique to said first local controller, in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus by a second local controller and a bit error results as a result of said collision wherein said delay is derived from a device designator of said local controller and is determined by multiplying a base delay time by a factor based on a subset of bits of said device designator.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein a first attempt to republish said first message uses a first contiguous subset of bits of said device designator, and a subsequent attempt to republish said first message uses a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said message is a device startup message configured to indicate that said first local controller is ready to operate in the network after a reset condition.

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

configuring a first local controller associated with an HVAC component, said HVAC component in communication with at least one other HVAC component via data bus, to;

publish a first message to a data bus, after a delay unique to said first local controller, said delay derived from a device designator of said first local controller;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus;

republish said first message in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus by a second local controller and a bit error results as a result of said collision; and

configuring said first local controller to determine said delay by multiplying a base delay time by a factor based on a subset of bits of said device designator.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising configuring said first local controller to make a first attempt to republish said first message using a first contiguous subset of bits of said device designator, and to make a subsequent attempt to republish said first message using a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said message is a device startup message configured to indicate that said first local controller is ready to operate in the network after a reset condition.

7. A system device of an HVAC data processing and communication network, comprising:

a demand unit configured to provide a service; and

a first local controller configured to;

control a level of said service;

publish a first message to a data bus;

detect a collision between said first message and a second message published to said data bus by a second local controller; and

republish, after a delay unique to said first local controller, said first message in the event that said first message collides with a second message published to said data bus by said second local controller and a bit error results as a result of said collision, wherein said delay is derived from a device designator of said first local controller and is determined by multiplying a base delay time by a factor based on a subset of bits of said device designator.

8. The system device as recited in claim 7, wherein a first attempt to republish said first message uses a first contiguous subset of bits of said device designator, and a subsequent attempt to republish said first message uses a different contiguous subset of bits of said device designator.