# US 2020/0400331 A1 · Air conditioning system and communication method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0400331 A1 - Document ID: US20200400331A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/975,239 - Filed: 2018-03-20 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-20 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Satoshi HANAI; Masahiro ISHIHARA; Hiroaki KOTAKE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200400331A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/54: using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers - H04L 12/413: with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD] - F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks - F24F 11/58: using Internet communication - H04L 61/5007: Internet protocol [IP] addresses - H04L 61/5038: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN] - H04L 61/103: across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP] - H04L 61/5046: Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses (testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092) - H04L 61/58: Caching of addresses or names - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H04L 2101/604: Address structures or formats - H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An air conditioning system includes: outdoor units; indoor units each communicating with any one of the outdoor units by a first communication method; and a central control device communicating with each of the outdoor units by a second communication method and controlling the outdoor units and the indoor units. One of the outdoor units generates, by using a first address used for communication performed using the first communication method, a second address used for communication performed using a second communication method, generates a second address for one or more of the indoor units by using a first address, and obtains second addresses from another outdoor unit and the central control device. The central control device obtains, from each of the outdoor units, second addresses of the outdoor unit and each indoor unit, and controls operations of the outdoor units and the indoor units by using the second addresses obtained. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air conditioning system comprising: a plurality of outdoor units; a plurality of indoor units, each communicating with any one of the outdoor units by a first communication method; and a central control device communicating with each of the outdoor units by a second communication method and controlling the outdoor units and the indoor units, wherein the one of the outdoor units generates, by using a first address assigned to the one of the outdoor units, a second address of the one of the outdoor units, generates, by using a first address assigned to one or more indoor units connected with the one of the outdoor units among the indoor units, a second address of the one or more indoor units, obtains, from another of the outdoor units, a second address generated by the another of the outdoor units, obtains, from the central control device, a second address of the central control device, checks whether or not there is a duplicate address between the second addresses generated and the second addresses obtained, and, if there is a duplicate address, provides information indicating that there is a duplicate address, the first address being used for communication performed using the first communication method and the second address being used for communication performed using the second communication method, and the central control device obtains, from each of the outdoor units, the second addresses of a corresponding one of the outdoor units and each of the indoor units generated by the corresponding one of the outdoor units, and controls an operation of the outdoor units and the indoor units by using the second addresses obtained. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein for controlling an operation of an indoor unit, the central control device transmits a control command addressed to the indoor unit to be controlled by using the second address of the indoor unit to be controlled, and upon receiving the control command from the central control device, an outdoor unit connected with the indoor unit to be controlled transmits the control command to the indoor unit to be controlled by using the first address of the indoor unit to be controlled. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor units determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the outdoor units and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system according to claim 1, comprising: at least one extended control device communicating with the central control device and the outdoor units by the second communication method and controlling an outdoor unit and an indoor unit belonging to a same control network, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device generate a second address including identification information on the control network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the central control device transmits information on an operation received from a user to the extended control device by using a second address of the extended control device, the extended control device generates a control command on a basis of the information on the operation, and transmits, by using a second address of an outdoor unit to be controlled or an indoor unit to be controlled belonging to the same control network, the control command to the outdoor unit to be controlled or an outdoor unit connected with the indoor unit to be controlled, and when the control command is addressed to the indoor unit to be controlled, the outdoor unit connected with the indoor unit to be controlled transmits the control command to the indoor unit to be controlled by using a first address of the indoor unit to be controlled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the extended control devices, the number of the outdoor units, and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units. ### Claim 7 A communication method for an air conditioning system comprising: a plurality of outdoor units; a plurality of indoor units, each communicating with any one of the outdoor units by a first communication method; and a central control device communicating with each of the outdoor units by a second communication method and controlling the outdoor units and the indoor units, the communication method comprising: a first step of the one of the outdoor units generating, by using a first address assigned to the one of the outdoor units, a second address of the one of the outdoor units, and generating, by using a first address assigned to one or more indoor units connected with the one of the outdoor units among the indoor units, a second address of the one or more indoor units, the first address being used for communication performed using the first communication method and the second address being used for communication performed using the second communication method; a second step of the one of the outdoor units, obtaining, from another of the outdoor units, a second address generated by the another of the outdoor units, obtaining, from the central control device, a second address of the central control device, checking whether or not there is a duplicate address between the second addresses generated and the second addresses obtained, and, if there is a duplicate address, providing information indicating that there is a duplicate address; and a third step of the central control device obtaining, from each of the outdoor units, the second addresses of a corresponding one of the outdoor units and each of the indoor units generated by the corresponding one of the outdoor units, and controlling an operation of the outdoor units and the indoor units by using the second addresses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the outdoor units determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the outdoor units and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system according to claim 2, comprising: at least one extended control device communicating with the central control device and the outdoor units by the second communication method and controlling an outdoor unit and an indoor unit belonging to a same control network, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device generate a second address including identification information on the control network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the central control device transmits information on an operation received from a user to the extended control device by using a second address of the extended control device, the extended control device generates a control command on a basis of the information on the operation, and transmits, by using a second address of an outdoor unit to be controlled or an indoor unit to be controlled belonging to the same control network, the control command to the outdoor unit to be controlled or an outdoor unit connected with the indoor unit to be controlled, and when the control command is addressed to the indoor unit to be controlled, the outdoor unit connected with the indoor unit to be controlled transmits the control command to the indoor unit to be controlled by using a first address of the indoor unit to be controlled. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the extended control devices, the number of the outdoor units, and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the extended control devices, the number of the outdoor units, and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the outdoor units and the extended control device determine a class of the second address by using one or more of the number of the extended control devices, the number of the outdoor units, and the number of indoor units connected with the outdoor units.