HVAC unit, a method of generating a network address for a HVAC unit and a HVAC controller therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933174-B2
Application number	US-201615216892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2016
Priority date	May 21, 2009
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

An HVAC controller, a method for operating a HVAC unit and a HVAC unit are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a memory configured to store a unique default network address for the controller and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate the unique default network address based on a seed value that is uniquely associated with the HVAC unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a memory comprising operating instructions;
an interface operable to receive a seed value that is uniquely associated with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit; and
a processor communicably coupled to the interface and memory, and operable, when executing the operating instructions, to:
generate a unique default network address for said HVAC unit based on the seed value, wherein said unique default network address is generated using a function of said seed value; and
store the unique default network address for said HVAC unit in the memory.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seed value is based at least in part on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface is further configured to receive global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS transceiver coupled to said HVAC unit, and the seed value is based at least in part on said GPS data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said function includes at least one coefficient.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one coefficient is associated with at least one digit of said seed value.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one coefficient includes different coefficients for at least two digits of said seed value.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further configured to reconfigure the stored unique default network address to comply with an address scheme of an installation site of said HVAC unit.

8. A method, comprising:
receiving a seed value that is uniquely associated with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit;
generating a unique default network address for a controller of said HVAC unit based on the seed value, wherein said unique default network address is generated using a function of said seed value; and
store the unique default network address at the controller of said HVAC unit.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the seed value is based at least in part on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS transceiver coupled to said HVAC unit, and wherein the seed value is based at least in part on said GPS data.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said function includes at least one coefficient.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one coefficient is associated with at least one digit of said seed value.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one coefficient includes different coefficients for at least two digits of said seed value.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising reconfiguring the stored unique default network address to comply with an address scheme of an installation site of said HVAC unit.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising operating instructions that are operable, when executed, to:
receive a seed value that is uniquely associated with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit;
generate a unique default network address for a controller of said HVAC unit based on the seed value, wherein said unique default network address is generated using a function of said seed value; and
store the unique default network address at the controller of said HVAC unit.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the seed value is based at least in part on a serial number associated with said HVAC unit.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further operable, when executed, to receive global positioning system (GPS) data from a GPS transceiver coupled to said HVAC unit, and the seed value is based at least in part on said GPS data.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein said function includes at least one coefficient.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the at least one coefficient is associated with at least one digit of said seed value.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the at least one coefficient includes different coefficients for at least two digits of said seed value.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mauk Richard A
• Stachler John P

Classifications

• H02J2105/55

  according to an economic condition, e.g. tariff-based load management · CPC title

• H02J2105/42

  Home appliances · CPC title

• G01R21/00

  Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor (G01R7/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title

• Y10T29/49359

  Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator · CPC title