US 10,255,212 B2 · Automatic master-slave system and approach

Abstract

An automatic master slave system and approach for coordinated control of a parameter, for example, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning condition, in an area of multiple spaces controlled by room controllers. Changing a layout of a zone/area in a building such as moving, adding or removing a door, increasing or splitting size of a room through movable walls, or by permanently removing partitions, changing offices to a conference room or vice versa, may occur. A size of a room may be altered within minutes, according to customer demand. For instance, rooms may be converted into a single room by removing partitions. The controllers that were controlling temperatures of the rooms independently earlier, may convert automatically into a master-slave configuration and now work together to control a larger room. If the large room is split into multiple rooms, the controllers may automatically revert to their previous configuration.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for controlling a building automation system of a room, the room configured to be separated into at least three spaces, the system comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting partitions between the at least three spaces;
and
three or more controllers operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and each controller from the three or more controllers is configured to:
manage one or more parameters for a space from the at least three spaces by controlling and adjusting a heating and cooling operation of a fan coil unit from the building automation system;
provide instructions for controlling and adjusting the heating and cooling operation of the fan coil unit to manage the one or more parameters, when in a master state, to another controller from the three or more controllers that shares the space, wherein the space is shared when a partition is not detected by the at least one sensor;
and
accept instructions for controlling and adjusting the heating and cooling operation of the fan coil unit to manage the one or more parameters, when in a slave state, from a different controller from the three or more controllers that shares the space, wherein the different controller is in the master state.

4 more elements

A method for controlling a building automation system of a room, the room configured to be separated into at least three spaces, the method comprising:

detecting, using a sensor, a removal of a first partition between the at least three spaces;
comparing, using a first controller for a first space from the at least three spaces, a first unique identifier of the first controller to a master identifier;
determining, using the first controller, the first unique identifier matches the master identifier;
placing the first controller into a master state in response to the first unique identifier matching the master identifier;
comparing, using a second controller for a second space from the at least three spaces, a second unique identifier of the second controller to the master identifier;
determining, using the second controller, the second unique identifier does not match the master identifier;
placing the second controller into a slave state in response to the second unique identifier not matching the master identifier;
registering the second controller to the first controller to establish a slave-master relationship;
and
providing instructions from the first controller to the second controller for controlling and adjusting a heating and cooling operation of a fan coil unit from the building automation system to manage one or more parameters for the first and second space in response to the established slave-master relationship;
and
controlling and adjusting the heating and cooling operation of the fan coil unit to manage the one or more parameters for the first and second spaces using at least the second controller and based on the provided instructions.

9 more elements

A master-slave arrangement comprising:

three or more rooms, wherein the three or more rooms are combinable into one or more larger rooms;
and
at least one sensor for detecting partitions between the three or more rooms;
and
three or more controllers each controlling a parameter in at least one and only one of the three or more rooms;
and
wherein each of the three or more controllers is configured to:
provide instructions for controlling and adjusting a heating and cooling operation of a fan coil unit to manage the parameter, when in a master state, to another controller from the three or more controllers that shares the one or more larger rooms, wherein the one or more larger rooms is shared when at least one partition is not detected by the at least one sensor between the three or more rooms;
accept instructions for controlling and adjusting the heating and cooling operation of the fan coil unit to manage the parameter, when in a slave state, from a different controller from the three or more controllers that shares the one or more larger rooms, wherein the different controller is in the master state;
and
control and adjust the heating and cooling operation of the fan coil unit to manage the parameter based on the instructions when in the slave state.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic master-slave system and approach

Life of this patent

Automatic master-slave system and approach

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22