# US 11,079,732 B2 · Building management system with update ecosystem

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- Number: US 11,079,732 B2
- Document ID: US11079732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/777,406
- Filed: 2020-01-30
- Published: 2020-08-06
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-31
- Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company
- Applicants: Johnson Controls Technology Company
- Inventors: Vivek V. Gupta; Justin J. Seifi; Brandon A. Sloat; John K. Krenzer; Jameel Ahmed; Mark T. Fischbach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079732B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57)
- G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method for updating heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) devices is provided. The method includes receiving an update package at a first HVAC device of a plurality of HVAC devices via a network. The update package includes an identification of a plurality of device models and a plurality of software updates. The method includes determining that a device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package and in response to a determination that the device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package, extracting a first software update corresponding to the device model for the first HVAC device from the update package and installing the first software update on the first HVAC device. The method includes transmitting the first update package to a second HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices via the network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for updating heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) devices, the method comprising:
receiving an update package at a first HVAC device of a plurality of HVAC devices via a network, the update package including:
an identification of a plurality of device models;
a plurality of software updates, each of the software updates corresponding to one of the plurality of device models;
determining that a device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package;
in response to a determination that the device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package, extracting a first software update corresponding to the device model for the first HVAC device from the update package and installing the first software update on the first HVAC device; and
transmitting the update package to a second HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices via the network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the update package to the second HVAC device comprises:
determining that a device model for the second HVAC device is identified by the update package;
extracting the first software update corresponding to the device model for the second HVAC device; and
transmitting the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the update package to the second HVAC device comprises:
determining that a device model of the second HVAC device is different than the device model of the first HVAC device;
extracting a second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device; and
transmitting the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
establishing device tiers within the plurality of HVAC devices, the device tiers comprising a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier, the HVAC devices in the first tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the second tier and the HVAC devices in the third tier, the second tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the third tier;
wherein two or more HVAC devices within the first tier, second tier, or third tier have the same device models.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
transmitting the update package from an HVAC device in the first tier to an HVAC device in the second tier;
extracting the second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device; and
transmitting the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
connecting a first HVAC system in a first building to the network;
connecting a second HVAC system in a second building to the network, the first HVAC system and second HVAC system comprising the plurality of HVAC devices; and
providing, via the network, a plurality of update packages to the first HVAC system and the second HVAC system, the plurality of update packages comprising the update package.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of HVAC devices comprises various HVAC controllers configured to provide control signals to HVAC building equipment, wherein the update package comprises one or more software updates, installation updates, or configuration updates, the update package configured to update the operation of one or more of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 8

A building management system (BMS) comprising:
an update package comprising an identification of an update package version; an identification of a plurality of device models; and a plurality of software updates, each of the software updates corresponding to one of the plurality of device models;
a processing circuit comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receive the update package at a first HVAC device of a plurality of HVAC devices via a network;
determine that a device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package; and
in response to a determination that the device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package,
extract a first software update corresponding to the device model for the first HVAC device from the update package and installing the first software update on the first HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a second HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices via the network.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The BMS of claim 8, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
determine that a device model for the second HVAC device is identified by the update package;
extract the first software update corresponding to the device model for the second HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The BMS of claim 8, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
determine that a device model of the second HVAC device is different than the device model of the first HVAC device;
extract a second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The BMS of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
establish device tiers within the plurality of HVAC devices, the device tiers comprising a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier, the HVAC devices in the first tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the second tier and the HVAC devices in the third tier, the second tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the third tier;
wherein two or more HVAC devices within the first tier, second tier, or third tier have the same device models.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The BMS of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
transmit the update package from an HVAC device in the first tier to an HVAC device in the second tier;
extract the second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device;
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The BMS of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
connect a first HVAC system in a first building to the network;
connect a second HVAC system in a second building to the network, the first HVAC system and second HVAC system comprising the plurality of HVAC devices; and
provide, via the network, a plurality of update packages to the first HVAC system and the second HVAC system, the plurality of update packages comprising the update package.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The BMS of claim 8, wherein the plurality of HVAC devices comprises various HVAC controllers configured to provide control signals to HVAC building equipment, wherein the update package comprises various software updates, installation updates, or configuration updates, the update package configured to update the operation of one or more of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 15

A building management ecosystem for controlling heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) systems across one or more buildings, the ecosystem comprising:
a first HVAC system in a first building connected to a network and a second HVAC system in a second building to the network, the first HVAC system comprising a first plurality of HVAC devices and the second HVAC system comprising a second plurality of HVAC devices, a first HVAC device of the first plurality of HVAC devices comprising a processing circuit comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receive an update package at the first HVAC device of the first plurality of HVAC devices via the network;
determine that a device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package; and
in response to a determination that the device model for the first HVAC device is identified by the update package,
extract a first software update corresponding to the device model for the first HVAC device from the update package and installing the first software update on the first HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a second HVAC device of the second plurality of HVAC devices via the network.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The ecosystem of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
determine that a device model for the second HVAC device is identified by the update package;
extract the first software update corresponding to the device model for the second HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The ecosystem of claim 15, the processing circuit is further configured to:
determine that a device model of the second HVAC device is different than the device model of the first HVAC device;
extract a second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The ecosystem of claim 17, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
establish device tiers within the plurality of HVAC devices, the device tiers comprising a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier, the HVAC devices in the first tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the second tier and the HVAC devices in the third tier, the second tier configured to control, at least in part, the HVAC devices in the third tier;
wherein two or more HVAC devices within the first tier, second tier, or third tier have the same device models.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The ecosystem of claim 18, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
transmit the update package from an HVAC device in the first tier to an HVAC device in the second tier;
extract the second software update from the update package and installing the second software update on the second HVAC device; and
transmit the update package to a third HVAC device of the plurality of HVAC devices.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The ecosystem of claim 15, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:
provide, via the network, a plurality of update packages to the first HVAC system and the second HVAC system, the plurality of update packages comprising the update package.