Full-link rapid OTA upgrading method based on central air conditioner RS485 bus

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and provides a full-link rapid OTA upgrading method based on a central air conditioner RS485 bus, and the full-link rapid OTA upgrading method comprises the steps that a cloud server upgrading instruction is received, the version upgrading requirement of a central air conditioner system is detected, and a material network module stores the current running state in the running process of the central air conditioner system; data packets are transmitted to target equipment step by step through an RS485 bus, an outdoor unit driving program packet is transmitted to a compressor driving control panel and an outer fan driving control panel, an outdoor unit main control program packet is transmitted to an air conditioner outdoor unit mainboard, and an indoor unit program packet is transmitted to an air conditioner indoor unit; the air conditioner indoor unit, the air conditioner outdoor unit, the compressor driving control panel and the outer fan driving control panel are controlled to cache the received data packets to a backup storage area in the running state; and after the air conditioner indoor unit, the air conditioner outdoor unit, the compressor driving control board and the outer fan driving control board complete data packet writing, the air conditioner indoor unit broadcasts a reset command.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to a full-link rapid OTA upgrade method based on a central air conditioning RS485 bus. Background Art

[0002] A multi-split system is a central air conditioning system with multiple indoor units connected to an outdoor unit. These units are installed in different rooms or areas. A bus connects the various models of the multi-split indoor units and outdoor units, forming a control system with a bus topology. With the rapid development of IoT technology, multi-split systems are also continuously iterating and upgrading their software based on the IoT. As a result, multi-split system software has evolved from being burned in the factory to a full-lifecycle OTA (Over-the-Air) update program, providing users with more efficient product feature iteration services.

[0003] Due to the bandwidth limitation of bus communication, the existing multi-split OTA technology is still stuck in point-to-point upgrade, that is, an IoT module (WIFI module or 4G cellular module) only upgrades the directly connected multi-split air conditioner indoor unit or outdoor unit, and it is impossible for one IoT module interface to complete the programs of all multi-split indoor and outdoor units in the refrigeration system. In addition, since the multi-split system has multiple node indoor units running simultaneously, and during the upgrade process, OTA needs to write the target code transmitted by the IoT module in the MCU, and when writing the MCU target program (the medium is the chip MCU Flash), it needs to enter the write critical state (disabling other interrupts). Therefore, there will be system operation risks during the non-stop operation of the multi-split system, and silent upgrades cannot be achieved. The system can only be upgraded by shutting down. When all upgrade nodes are completed, it takes a very long time (downtime of up to tens of minutes), affecting the user's use of the air conditioner. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above-mentioned defects, the purpose of the present invention is to propose a full-link rapid OTA upgrade method based on the central air-conditioning RS485 bus, aiming to utilize the RS485 bus communication between the indoor and outdoor units and the Internet of Things interface of the indoor unit centralized control, combined with the air-conditioning outdoor unit master bus control, to achieve silent and rapid upgrade of the multi-split central air-conditioning system.

[0005] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A full-link rapid OTA upgrade method based on the central air conditioning RS485 bus, which is applied to the central air conditioning system including the material network module, air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board;

[0007] The full-link fast OTA upgrade method includes the following steps:

[0008] S1: Receive an upgrade instruction from the cloud server and detect the version upgrade requirement of the central air-conditioning system. The material network module saves the current operating status of the central air-conditioning system during operation and feeds back the upgrade preparation status to the cloud server.

[0009] S2: transparently transmitting the data packet to the target device step by step through the RS485 bus, specifically including: transparently transmitting the outdoor unit driver package to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, transparently transmitting the outdoor unit main control program package to the air conditioner outdoor unit mainboard, and transparently transmitting the indoor unit program package to the air conditioner indoor unit;

[0010] S3: Controls the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board to cache received data packets in the backup storage area while in operation, and reports the data packet reception progress and device operation status to the cloud server in real time;

[0011] S4: After the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board have completed writing the data packet, the air conditioner indoor unit broadcasts a reset command.

[0012] Preferably, step S1 includes:

[0013] The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board report their corresponding operating status and OTA status to the air conditioner outdoor unit;

[0014] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, as well as the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board;

[0015] The indoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the material network module, reports the operating status and OTA status of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, and reports the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board;

[0016] If the air conditioner indoor unit electronic control is not in the OTA process, the current running task status progress information is saved and the upgrade preparation status is fed back to the cloud server.

[0017] Preferably, step S2 includes:

[0018] The material network module requests the cloud server to download the entire OTA program package, which includes the air conditioner indoor unit program Bin file, the air conditioner outdoor unit main control program Bin file, and the drive control program Bin file;

[0019] After receiving the entire OTA program package, the material network module verifies and analyzes the legitimacy of the sub-packaged data of the entire OTA program package.

[0020] Preferably, the data packet includes a first upgrade package for upgrading the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board, and step S3 includes:

[0021] The air conditioner indoor unit receives and parses the entire OTA program package sent by the material network module, and sends a response frame ACK to the material network module to restore the OTA information;

[0022] When the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board do not require OTA upgrades, determine whether the air conditioner outdoor unit requires OTA upgrades;

[0023] Otherwise, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program, obtains the package address of the first upgrade package corresponding to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit via the RS485 bus;

[0024] The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board receive the first upgrade package according to the package address and RS485 bus. After writing the first upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, they gradually report the progress of receiving the first upgrade package in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server.

[0025] The material network module continues to obtain the first upgrade package from the cloud server until the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board complete receiving the first upgrade package.

[0026] Preferably, the data packet includes a second upgrade package for upgrading the air conditioner outdoor unit, and step S3 includes:

[0027] Determine whether the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade. If not, determine whether the indoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade.

[0028] If so, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the second upgrade package and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit, and verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the second upgrade package;

[0029] After writing the second upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the second upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the air conditioner indoor unit, the material network module, and the cloud server;

[0030] The material network module continues to obtain the second upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner outdoor unit completes receiving the second upgrade package.

[0031] Preferably, the data packet includes a third upgrade package for upgrading the air conditioner indoor unit, and step S3 includes:

[0032] Check each indoor unit's IP address one by one to determine whether it requires an OTA upgrade. If so, the indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the third upgrade package, and then verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the third upgrade package.

[0033] After writing the third upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the third upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the material network module and the cloud server;

[0034] The material network module continues to obtain the third upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner indoor unit completes receiving the third upgrade package.

[0035] Preferably, step S4 comprises:

[0036] When the data receiving progress of the air conditioner indoor unit reaches 100%, the air conditioner indoor unit completes the upgrade, and the upgraded air conditioner indoor unit executes the waiting system reset command;

[0037] When all indoor air conditioners have executed the waiting system reset command, the direct-connected indoor air conditioner sends a system reset command to all outdoor air conditioners. When the outdoor air conditioner executes the reset command, it sends a system reset command to the corresponding compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board.

[0038] When the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the backup area program is copied to the main program Flash area and reset startup is executed;

[0039] Wherein, when the air-conditioning outdoor unit, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the central air-conditioning system is shut down.

[0040] Preferably, step S4 includes:

[0041] After the air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board are reset and restarted, the OTA upgraded version and OTA status are reported in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server.

[0042] The directly connected indoor unit in the air conditioner broadcasts the system reset command to other indoor units on the RS485 bus and collects the flag status of all other indoor units after OTA upgrade;

[0043] The directly connected indoor unit is reset, and the OTA completion information of the directly connected indoor unit is reported to the cloud server, and the OTA completion information is broadcast in the central air conditioning system.

[0044] One of the above technical solutions has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0045] The present invention lays the foundation for subsequent upgrades by accurately identifying upgrade requirements during system operation and establishing reliable communication with the cloud; it uses the RS485 bus to transparently transmit data packets step by step to ensure that the upgrade data can be accurately and completely transmitted to each target device; it safely caches data and reports the status in real time when the device is running, which can ensure the integrity of the data and the controllability of the upgrade process; it can achieve synchronous reset and version switching of each device in the system by broadcasting reset commands, ensuring that the central air-conditioning system can complete the full-link software upgrade task efficiently and stably without shutting down, including all key components such as indoor units, outdoor units and various drive control boards, which can greatly shorten the upgrade time, reduce the impact on user experience, and improve the system's intelligent maintenance capabilities and market competitiveness; at the same time, it makes full use of the advantages of the RS485 bus, combines flexible storage management strategies and reliable status monitoring mechanisms, and effectively enhances the stability, reliability and adaptability of the upgrade process, so that fast and accurate OTA upgrades can be achieved in small-scale or large-scale multi-connected systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a full-link fast OTA upgrade method based on the central air conditioning RS485 bus provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended only to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0049] In the present invention, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to encompass non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0050] A full-link fast OTA upgrade method based on the central air-conditioning RS485 bus, such as Figure 1 As shown, the full-link fast OTA upgrade method is applied to a central air-conditioning system including a material network module, an air-conditioning indoor unit, an air-conditioning outdoor unit, a compressor drive control board, and an outdoor fan drive control board;

[0051] The full-link fast OTA upgrade method includes the following steps:

[0052] S1: Receive an upgrade instruction from the cloud server and detect the version upgrade requirement of the central air-conditioning system. The material network module saves the current operating status of the central air-conditioning system during operation and feeds back the upgrade preparation status to the cloud server.

[0053] While the central air conditioning system is operating, the Material Network module serves as a bridge between the cloud and the system, receiving upgrade instructions from the cloud server. Leveraging its data processing and communication capabilities, the module detects version upgrade requirements across the entire central air conditioning system, checking for discrepancies between the current software versions of various components, including the indoor and outdoor units, compressor driver control board, and outdoor fan driver control board, and the latest versions stored in the cloud. To ensure a smooth upgrade process and data continuity, the Material Network module records and saves the system's current operating status, including key information such as each device's operating parameters, mode, and load. It then communicates its readiness for upgrade to the cloud server, ensuring the cloud has the necessary upgrade requirements. This paves the way for subsequent upgrade data transmission and other operations. This ensures accurate identification of any system components requiring an upgrade without disrupting the normal operation of the central air conditioning system. It also establishes effective pre-upgrade communication with the cloud server, ensuring the cloud is aware of the system's readiness and enabling accurate and orderly push of upgrade data. On the one hand, it avoids system operation conflicts or data confusion caused by blindly receiving upgrade data. On the other hand, it provides necessary preliminary preparations and information synchronization for the formal launch of the entire OTA upgrade process, ensuring the compatibility of the upgrade process with system operation, so that subsequent upgrade operations can be carried out in a targeted manner for the required parts.

[0054] The cloud server serves as the initiator and control center for the entire upgrade process, storing the latest software version, upgrade-related data, and instructions for the central air conditioning system. It sends upgrade instructions to the material network module as needed and receives feedback from the module on upgrade readiness, thereby controlling the pace of the entire upgrade process. The material network module, located between the central air conditioning system and the cloud server, acts as a communication hub. It receives and interprets instructions from the cloud server, detects version upgrade requirements during system operation, maintains operational status to prevent disruptions, and promptly provides feedback on upgrade readiness to the cloud server. The central air conditioning system, comprising multiple components such as the indoor and outdoor units, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board, is the target of this OTA upgrade. During operation, the system collaborates with the material network module and the cloud to update and upgrade its software components to improve functionality, performance, or fix vulnerabilities. Version upgrade requirements refer to the differences between the current software versions of each component of the system and the latest version on the cloud. This determines whether an upgrade is necessary and provides a basis for whether to carry out subsequent upgrade operations. The current operating status includes a series of information that can reflect the normal operation of each device in the central air-conditioning system, such as the operating parameters, working mode, and load status. The purpose of saving it is to minimize the impact on operation during the upgrade process and to quickly restore to the stable operating status before the upgrade after the upgrade.

[0055] S2: transparently transmitting the data packet to the target device step by step through the RS485 bus, specifically including: transparently transmitting the outdoor unit driver package to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, transparently transmitting the outdoor unit main control program package to the air conditioner outdoor unit mainboard, and transparently transmitting the indoor unit program package to the air conditioner indoor unit;

[0056] Specifically, leveraging the RS485 bus's powerful communication capabilities and stable transmission characteristics, different types of data packets are precisely delivered to their corresponding target devices in a step-by-step transparent manner. Specifically, when upgrading the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, the outdoor unit driver program package is sequentially transmitted via the RS485 bus, ensuring that the data packets reach both drive control boards intact and without error. For upgrades to the air conditioner's outdoor unit mainboard, the outdoor unit master control program package is transmitted to its location via the RS485 bus. For upgrades to the air conditioner's indoor units, the indoor unit program package is transmitted to the corresponding indoor unit via the same bus. During the entire transparent transmission process, the RS485 bus can utilize its half-duplex or full-duplex communication mechanism, as well as its anti-interference ability and long transmission distance advantages to ensure the reliable transmission of data packets in complex industrial environments. Each target device receives its own data packet according to its own address identifier or preset communication protocol rules, realizing the accurate distribution of upgrade data and accurately sending the various program packages required for the upgrade to the corresponding devices in the central air-conditioning system, ensuring that each device can receive its own upgrade data, thereby ensuring that all parts of the entire system can coordinate and accurately update versions to avoid system failures caused by data confusion or upgrade errors.

[0057] The RS485 bus, a serial communication bus based on the RS-485 standard, boasts multi-site communication capabilities, a long transmission distance, and strong anti-interference performance. As a data transmission channel within the central air conditioning system, it carries and reliably transmits various upgrade data packets, as well as control and status information between devices, ensuring stable data flow across all system components. Data packets are encapsulated data units containing the required software updates for the target devices, such as patched vulnerability codes, new functional modules, and optimized control algorithms. These packets serve as the data carrier for these updates, transmitting them via the RS485 bus to the corresponding devices for subsequent installation and application, ultimately achieving the device software upgrade. The target devices include the specific hardware entities to be upgraded, such as the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioner, the compressor drive control board, and the outdoor fan drive control board. These devices receive data packets matching their needs and, when appropriate, write them to their own storage areas to complete the software upgrade, thereby improving their performance and functionality and meeting the overall system upgrade requirements.

[0058] S3: Controls the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board to cache received data packets in the backup storage area while in operation, and reports the data packet reception progress and device operation status to the cloud server in real time;

[0059] Specifically, after receiving data packets transmitted via the RS485 bus, the target devices—the indoor and outdoor air conditioner units, the compressor drive control board, and the outdoor fan drive control board—use their local storage management mechanisms and resource scheduling capabilities to temporarily store the received data packets in a pre-assigned backup storage area while the devices remain operational. During this process, the device's control system rationally allocates storage resources to ensure that the running program and the upgrade data packets do not interfere with each other. While caching data, the device's communication module and status monitoring capabilities provide real-time feedback to the cloud server via the RS485 bus, including the progress of data packet reception and its own operational status. This feedback allows the cloud server to dynamically monitor the progress of the upgrade task on each device, allowing it to make timely adjustments to the upgrade process or make appropriate decisions, such as whether to resend data packets or adjust the upgrade order, thereby ensuring an efficient and controllable upgrade process.

[0060] The backup storage area is a specific storage area within the target device used to temporarily store upgrade data packets. It is usually independent of the storage area used by the device's main program. Its function is to ensure the stability of the running program during the upgrade process, avoid system crashes or functional abnormalities that may be caused by directly writing upgrade data to the running area, and provide a safe data storage location for subsequent data verification and formal write operations. The data packet reception progress can reflect the proportion or amount of data packets received by the target device to the entire upgrade data packet, presented as a percentage or other quantitative form. Its function is to let the cloud understand the reception status of the upgrade data of each device, facilitate the cloud to evaluate the quality and efficiency of data transmission, promptly detect possible transmission interruptions, data loss and other problems, and take corresponding measures such as resending data packets to ensure that the device can fully receive the required upgrade data. The device operating status covers all key indicators of the target device during the process of receiving data packets, such as the device's temperature, current, voltage, operating mode, fault code and other information. The purpose of real-time reporting of this status information is to enable the cloud to promptly grasp the health status and operating environment of the device and determine whether it is suitable to continue the upgrade operation. For example, when the device overheats or a fault alarm occurs, the cloud can suspend the upgrade task based on this status information and continue after the device returns to normal, thereby avoiding unexpected situations in the upgrade process due to abnormal device operation and ensuring the reliability and security of the entire upgrade process.

[0061] S4: After the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board have completed writing the data packet, the air conditioner indoor unit broadcasts a reset command.

[0062] Specifically, when each target device (air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board) has completed the data packet writing operation, that is, the new software version has been successfully stored in its respective backup storage area and has been verified to be correct after the necessary verification, the air conditioner indoor unit, as an important node in the system, uses its broadcast capability in the RS485 bus communication network to send a reset command to the entire central air conditioning system. The reset command is quickly transmitted to each device in the system through the RS485 bus. After receiving the reset command, each device stops the currently running old version of the software according to the preset reset procedure, copies the new version of the software in the backup storage area to the main program storage area, and restarts the system, thereby completing the software version switching and upgrade. Throughout the entire process, the broadcast of the reset command can ensure that all devices perform the reset operation at almost the same time, avoiding system compatibility issues and operational failures that may be caused by some devices having been upgraded while some devices are still running the old version.

[0063] Preferably, step S1 includes:

[0064] The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board report their corresponding operating status and OTA status to the air conditioner outdoor unit;

[0065] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, as well as the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board;

[0066] The indoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the material network module, reports the operating status and OTA status of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, and reports the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board;

[0067] If the air conditioner indoor unit electronic control is not in the OTA process, the current running task status progress information is saved and the upgrade preparation status is fed back to the cloud server.

[0068] Specifically, the two key drive components, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, first report their operating status and OTA status to the outdoor unit. This information can include key information such as the device's voltage, current, temperature, operating mode, fault code, and the current OTA upgrade stage, allowing the outdoor unit to promptly understand the operation and upgrade status of the drive components. While summarizing its own operating status and OTA status, the outdoor unit also compiles the received drive component status information and reports it to the indoor unit, making it the aggregation center for the entire system's status information. The indoor unit of the air conditioner further reports its own operating status and OTA status, as well as the status information of the outdoor unit itself and drive components obtained from the outdoor unit to the material network module, realizing the step-by-step aggregation and transmission of information. If the electronic control of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is not in the OTA process at this time, that is, the system operation is stable and there is no upgrade conflict, the indoor unit of the air conditioner will save the current operation task status progress information, such as the operating parameters, working mode, load conditions and other key data of each device, to ensure that the impact on the existing operating status can be minimized during the upgrade process, and feedback the upgrade preparation status to the cloud server, indicating that the system is ready to receive upgrade instructions and waits for further upgrade operation instructions from the cloud, thereby establishing effective communication between the cloud and the local system to ensure the orderly progress of the subsequent upgrade process.

[0069] The compressor drive control board precisely regulates compressor speed, start and stop, and other operations according to system control commands to achieve stable cooling or heating output, and reports its status during the OTA upgrade process. The outdoor fan drive control board controls the operation of the air conditioner's outdoor fan. By adjusting the speed and operating status of the outdoor fan, it cooperates with the compressor to achieve the system's heat dissipation and air circulation functions. It also needs to report status information during the upgrade. As the outdoor main unit, the air conditioner's outdoor unit not only performs the primary cooling and heating tasks but also collects and aggregates status information from itself and the connected drive control board, reporting it to the indoor unit, thus serving as an outdoor information hub. The indoor unit, the indoor air conditioning terminal, also serves as an information aggregation node during the upgrade process, reporting its own status information and various status information received from the outdoor unit to the material network module. The material network module bridges the local air conditioning system with the cloud server, receiving status information and reporting upgrade readiness status to the cloud. Its role is to establish a communication link between the local system and the cloud, enabling the receipt of upgrade commands and the upload of status information. If the air conditioner's indoor electronic control unit is not in the OTA process, it indicates that the system is currently operating normally and there is no upgrade conflict. At this time, the progress information of the current running task status is saved to ensure a stable system transition based on this data during the upgrade. Feedback of the upgrade preparation status to the cloud server informs the cloud system that the upgrade conditions are met and it is waiting for further upgrade instructions from the cloud.

[0070] Preferably, step S2 includes:

[0071] The material network module requests the cloud server to download the entire OTA program package, which includes the air conditioner indoor unit program Bin file, the air conditioner outdoor unit main control program Bin file, and the drive control program Bin file;

[0072] After receiving the entire OTA program package, the material network module verifies and analyzes the legitimacy of the sub-packaged data of the entire OTA program package.

[0073] Specifically, after determining that the system requires a version upgrade and is ready for the upgrade, it proactively initiates a request to the cloud server to download the entire OTA program package, including the air conditioner indoor unit program Bin file, the air conditioner outdoor unit main control program Bin file, and the driver control program Bin file. After receiving the request, the cloud server transmits the corresponding entire program package to the material network module via the network. After receiving the entire OTA program package, the material network module uses its own data processing capabilities to verify and parse the sub-package data in the entire program package according to preset data verification rules and parsing logic, verifying the data integrity and accuracy, ensuring that the downloaded upgrade data is undamaged, error-free, and meets the expected upgrade requirements, providing a reliable data foundation for subsequent upgrade operations.

[0074] A full OTA package is a complete upgrade data package containing multiple Bin files. The indoor unit program Bin file is used to upgrade the control system software of the indoor unit, the outdoor unit main control program Bin file is used to update the software of the outdoor unit main control board, and the driver control program Bin file is used to upgrade the software of the compressor driver control board and the outdoor fan driver control board. These Bin files are the specific implementation vehicles for device software updates. Verifying and parsing the legitimacy of subpackaged data refers to verifying each subpackage within the full package, including checking the data's integrity, correctness, and compliance with predefined formats and specifications, to ensure that the downloaded upgrade data can be correctly applied to subsequent device upgrade operations.

[0075] Preferably, the data packet includes a first upgrade package for upgrading the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board, and step S3 includes:

[0076] The air conditioner indoor unit receives and parses the entire OTA program package sent by the material network module, and sends a response frame ACK to the material network module to restore the OTA information;

[0077] When the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board do not require OTA upgrades, determine whether the air conditioner outdoor unit requires OTA upgrades;

[0078] Otherwise, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program, obtains the package address of the first upgrade package corresponding to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit via the RS485 bus;

[0079] The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board receive the first upgrade package according to the package address and RS485 bus. After writing the first upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, they gradually report the progress of receiving the first upgrade package in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server.

[0080] The material network module continues to obtain the first upgrade package from the cloud server until the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board complete receiving the first upgrade package.

[0081] Specifically, the indoor air conditioner unit first receives and parses the entire OTA program package sent by the material network module. After confirming the integrity and correctness of the data through data verification and parsing algorithms, it sends a response frame ACK to the material network module to restore the OTA information, establishing a stable two-way communication link. Next, the system determines whether the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board require an OTA upgrade. If not, it further determines whether the outdoor air conditioner unit requires an OTA upgrade to ensure the targeted and efficient upgrade process. If the drive control board requires an upgrade, the indoor air conditioner unit executes a subpackaging program, extracts the package address of the first upgrade package corresponding to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, and sends the package address to the outdoor air conditioner via the RS485 bus, achieving precise data routing. Subsequently, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board receive the first upgrade package based on the package address and the RS485 bus, and write the received upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area to ensure the security and stability of data storage. 4KB of data can be cached before writing. Finally, the progress of receiving the first upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module and cloud server, so that all levels of the entire system can grasp the upgrade dynamics in real time. At the same time, the material network module continues to obtain the first upgrade package from the cloud server until the driver control board completes the reception, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the upgrade task. Among them, the DataFlash backup storage area is the area used by the driver control board to temporarily store upgrade data, ensuring the safe storage of upgrade data during system operation. The reception progress reporting mechanism gradually feedbacks the upgrade data reception status in the established order, so that each level (air conditioner outdoor unit, indoor unit, material network module and cloud server) can timely understand the upgrade progress in order to carry out corresponding management and decision-making.

[0082] Preferably, the data packet includes a second upgrade package for upgrading the air conditioner outdoor unit, and step S3 includes:

[0083] Determine whether the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade. If not, determine whether the indoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade.

[0084] If so, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the second upgrade package and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit, and verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the second upgrade package;

[0085] After writing the second upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the second upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the air conditioner indoor unit, the material network module, and the cloud server;

[0086] The material network module continues to obtain the second upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner outdoor unit completes receiving the second upgrade package.

[0087] Specifically, the system first determines whether the outdoor unit requires an OTA upgrade. If not, it then determines whether the indoor unit requires one. This step-by-step evaluation ensures the accuracy and efficiency of the upgrade process, avoiding unnecessary operations on devices that don't require an upgrade. If the outdoor unit requires an upgrade, the indoor unit executes a subpackaging process to extract a second upgrade package for the outdoor unit from the entire OTA package and sends it to the outdoor unit. After receiving the second upgrade package, the outdoor unit uses its own data verification and parsing capabilities to verify and parse the data for integrity, correctness, and format compliance, ensuring that the received data meets the upgrade requirements. The outdoor unit then writes the second upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area for secure data storage. The system then reports the progress of receiving the second upgrade package in the order of the indoor unit, the material network module, and the cloud server, ensuring that all levels of the system are kept informed of the upgrade status. Throughout this process, the material network module continuously requests the second upgrade package from the cloud server until the outdoor unit completes the process, ensuring the continuity and integrity of the upgrade task and ultimately achieving a smooth outdoor unit software upgrade.

[0088] The second upgrade package is a Bin file designed specifically for the outdoor air conditioner. It contains code for bug fixes, performance optimizations, or new features. It is sent from the indoor air conditioner to the outdoor air conditioner to update its software version. The subpackaging program is the software logic used by the indoor air conditioner to extract the device-specific upgrade package from the entire OTA program package. Its function is to accurately identify and isolate the second upgrade package required by the outdoor air conditioner.

[0089] Preferably, the data packet includes a third upgrade package for upgrading the air conditioner indoor unit, and step S3 includes:

[0090] Check each indoor unit's IP address one by one to determine whether it requires an OTA upgrade. If so, the indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the third upgrade package, and then verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the third upgrade package.

[0091] After writing the third upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the third upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the material network module and the cloud server;

[0092] The material network module continues to obtain the third upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner indoor unit completes receiving the third upgrade package.

[0093] Specifically, network communication mechanisms are used to identify upgrade requirements for specific devices, ensuring targeted upgrade operations. If an upgrade is required for an air conditioner indoor unit, the indoor unit autonomously executes a subpackaging process to extract a third upgrade package specifically for its own upgrade from the entire OTA program package. The third upgrade package's data legitimacy is verified and parsed, using a verification algorithm to verify data integrity and correctness. The data packet structure is then parsed to extract key information required for the upgrade, ensuring the correctness of the upgrade data used. Subsequently, the third upgrade package is written from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area. The backup storage area's data protection function during system operation prevents upgrade data loss or overwriting, providing a secure data foundation for subsequent software updates. Finally, the progress of receiving the third upgrade package is reported sequentially to the material network module and the cloud server. This escalating reporting mechanism ensures that all levels of the system management are kept informed of the upgrade status, ensuring controllable upgrade processes. Throughout this process, the material network module continuously requests the third upgrade package from the cloud server until the indoor unit completes receipt, ensuring uninterrupted data flow for the upgrade task and ultimately achieving a smooth upgrade and seamless handover of the indoor unit's software.

[0094] The third upgrade package is a custom Bin file specifically designed for the AC unit. It contains code to fix vulnerabilities, optimize performance, or add new features. After verification and analysis, it is written to the backup storage area and used to update the AC unit's software version. The subpackaging program, the software logic built into the AC unit, is responsible for separating the third upgrade package from the entire OTA program package to ensure accurate extraction of the upgrade data.

[0095] For example, one feasible implementation method is to use a point-to-point communication mode based on the TCP / IP protocol, using the IP address of the indoor unit to establish a direct communication link between the air conditioner indoor unit and the material network module to achieve accurate data transmission and demand judgment. This method has high communication stability and reliable data transmission, and is suitable for home multi-split system upgrades. Another implementation method is to use the multicast communication mechanism of the Internet of Things platform to simultaneously send upgrade data to multiple air conditioner indoor units with similar upgrade requirements through the Internet of Things identifier, and then perform individualized data verification and storage operations. This method can improve data distribution efficiency and is suitable for large-scale commercial multi-split system upgrade scenarios. For example, in home systems, point-to-point communication is used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data transmission, while in large commercial systems, multicast communication is combined for preliminary data distribution and then personalized processing is performed through point-to-point communication. This can achieve efficient adaptation to systems of different sizes and scenarios, ensuring the stability of small system upgrades while improving the efficiency of data distribution in large systems, thereby optimizing the performance and reliability of the entire upgrade process, improving the upgrade performance of the system in different application scenarios, and providing strong support for the full-link rapid upgrade of home multi-split central air conditioning systems.

[0096] Preferably, step S4 comprises:

[0097] When the data receiving progress of the air conditioner indoor unit reaches 100%, the air conditioner indoor unit completes the upgrade, and the upgraded air conditioner indoor unit executes the waiting system reset command;

[0098] When all indoor air conditioners have executed the waiting system reset command, the direct-connected indoor air conditioner sends a system reset command to all outdoor air conditioners. When the outdoor air conditioner executes the reset command, it sends a system reset command to the corresponding compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board.

[0099] When the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the backup area program is copied to the main program Flash area and reset startup is executed;

[0100] Wherein, when the air-conditioning outdoor unit, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the central air-conditioning system is shut down.

[0101] Specifically, when the data reception progress of the air conditioner indoor unit reaches 100%, it indicates that the air conditioner indoor unit has completed the reception and storage operations of all upgraded data. At this time, the air conditioner indoor unit enters the state of waiting for the system reset command, preparing for the final software switch and upgrade completion. After all air conditioner indoor units execute the waiting system reset command, the directly connected indoor unit, as the key coordination node in the system, sends a system reset command to all air conditioner outdoor units, triggering the outdoor units and their associated compressor drive control boards and outdoor fan drive control boards to perform reset operations. During the execution of the reset command, the air conditioner outdoor unit is responsible for forwarding the reset command it receives to the corresponding compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board, ensuring that all key components of the entire refrigeration system are reset synchronously. When executing the system reset command, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board copy the upgrade program pre-stored in the backup area to the main program Flash area, and perform a reset startup operation, so that the new software version officially replaces the old version and starts running. During the entire reset process, in order to ensure data consistency and avoid abnormal situations during the upgrade process, the central air-conditioning system will be temporarily shut down and stop providing cooling or heating services to the indoor environment. However, this downtime is relatively short, aiming to minimize the impact on the user experience and achieve a fast and reliable upgrade of the system software.

[0102] The directly connected indoor unit is the air conditioner in the system that communicates directly with the cloud server. After all indoor units have completed upgrade preparations, it plays a key role in sending a system reset command to all outdoor units, ensuring the synchronous reset of the outdoor units and their associated components, thereby updating the software version of the entire system. The system reset command is a control instruction that triggers the device to reset. In step S4, the directly connected indoor unit sends this command to the outdoor unit, which then forwards it to the driver control board. During the reset operation, the driver control board copies the backup program to the main program Flash area and starts the new software, achieving a seamless transition from the old system version to the new one. The main program Flash area is where the device stores and runs the main program. During the reset process, the upgraded program from the backup area is copied to this area and replaces the old program, allowing the device to run the new software version after the reset. Central air conditioning system downtime refers to the temporary suspension of cooling or heating operations during the execution of the system reset command to ensure data consistency and upgrade reliability. This prevents data conflicts or anomalies caused by device operation during the upgrade process. However, the downtime is optimized to minimize user impact.

[0103] Preferably, step S4 includes:

[0104] After the air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board are reset and restarted, the OTA upgraded version and OTA status are reported in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server.

[0105] The directly connected indoor unit in the air conditioner broadcasts the system reset command to other indoor units on the RS485 bus and collects the flag status of all other indoor units after OTA upgrade;

[0106] The directly connected indoor unit is reset, and the OTA completion information of the directly connected indoor unit is reported to the cloud server, and the OTA completion information is broadcast in the central air conditioning system.

[0107] Specifically, after the air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board complete reset and restart, the system follows a predetermined sequence, gradually reporting the OTA upgraded version and OTA status through the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server, ensuring accurate transmission and recording of upgrade information between all levels of the system. The directly connected indoor unit, as the key coordination node of the system, broadcasts the system reset command to other indoor units via the RS485 bus, achieving synchronous reset of all indoor units and collecting the flag status of other indoor units after OTA upgrade to ensure upgrade consistency across the entire indoor unit system. After completing its own reset, the directly connected indoor unit reports its OTA completion information to the cloud server and broadcasts the OTA completion information throughout the central air conditioning system, allowing all parts of the entire system to promptly understand the final completion status of the upgrade task, achieving a comprehensive update of the system status and a formal closure of the upgrade process.

[0108] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative uses of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0109] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A full-link fast OTA upgrade method based on the central air-conditioning RS485 bus, characterized in that: The full-link rapid OTA upgrade method is applied to a central air-conditioning system including a material network module, an air-conditioning indoor unit, an air-conditioning outdoor unit, a compressor drive control board, and an outdoor fan drive control board; The full-link fast OTA upgrade method includes the following steps: S1: Receive an upgrade instruction from the cloud server and detect the version upgrade requirement of the central air-conditioning system. The material network module saves the current operating status of the central air-conditioning system during operation and feeds back the upgrade preparation status to the cloud server. S2: transparently transmitting the data packet to the target device step by step through the RS485 bus, specifically including: transparently transmitting the outdoor unit driver package to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, transparently transmitting the outdoor unit main control program package to the air conditioner outdoor unit mainboard, and transparently transmitting the indoor unit program package to the air conditioner indoor unit; S3: Controls the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board to cache received data packets in the backup storage area while in operation, and reports the data packet reception progress and device operation status to the cloud server in real time; S4: After the air conditioner indoor unit, air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board have completed writing the data packet, the air conditioner indoor unit broadcasts a reset command.

2. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 1, characterized in that Step S1 includes: The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board report their corresponding operating status and OTA status to the air conditioner outdoor unit; The outdoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the indoor unit of the air conditioner, as well as the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board; The indoor unit of the air conditioner reports its corresponding operating status and OTA status to the material network module, reports the operating status and OTA status of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, and reports the operating status and OTA status of the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board; If the air conditioner indoor unit electronic control is not in the OTA process, the current running task status progress information is saved and the upgrade preparation status is fed back to the cloud server.

3. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 1, characterized in that Step S2 includes: The material network module requests the cloud server to download the entire OTA program package, which includes the air conditioner indoor unit program Bin file, the air conditioner outdoor unit main control program Bin file, and the drive control program Bin file; After receiving the entire OTA program package, the material network module verifies and analyzes the legitimacy of the sub-packaged data of the entire OTA program package.

4. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 1, characterized in that The data packet includes a first upgrade package for upgrading the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board, and step S3 includes: The air conditioner indoor unit receives and parses the entire OTA program package sent by the material network module, and sends a response frame ACK to the material network module to restore the OTA information; When the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board do not require OTA upgrades, determine whether the air conditioner outdoor unit requires OTA upgrades; Otherwise, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program, obtains the package address of the first upgrade package corresponding to the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board, and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit via the RS485 bus; The compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board receive the first upgrade package according to the package address and RS485 bus. After writing the first upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, they gradually report the progress of receiving the first upgrade package in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server. The material network module continues to obtain the first upgrade package from the cloud server until the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board complete receiving the first upgrade package.

5. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The data packet includes a second upgrade package for upgrading the air conditioner outdoor unit, and step S3 includes: Determine whether the outdoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade. If not, determine whether the indoor unit of the air conditioner needs an OTA upgrade. If so, the air conditioner indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the second upgrade package and sends it to the air conditioner outdoor unit, and verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the second upgrade package; After writing the second upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the second upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the air conditioner indoor unit, the material network module, and the cloud server; The material network module continues to obtain the second upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner outdoor unit completes receiving the second upgrade package.

6. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The data packet includes a third upgrade package for upgrading the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and step S3 includes: Check each indoor unit's IP address one by one to determine whether it requires an OTA upgrade. If so, the indoor unit executes the subpackaging program to obtain the third upgrade package, and then verifies and analyzes the data legitimacy of the third upgrade package. After writing the third upgrade package from RAM to the DataFlash backup storage area, the progress of receiving the third upgrade package is reported step by step in the order of the material network module and the cloud server; The material network module continues to obtain the third upgrade package from the cloud server until the air conditioner indoor unit completes receiving the third upgrade package.

7. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step S4 package: When the data receiving progress of the air conditioner indoor unit reaches 100%, the air conditioner indoor unit completes the upgrade, and the upgraded air conditioner indoor unit executes the waiting system reset command; When all indoor air conditioners have executed the waiting system reset command, the direct-connected indoor air conditioner sends a system reset command to all outdoor air conditioners. When the outdoor air conditioner executes the reset command, it sends a system reset command to the corresponding compressor drive control board and outdoor fan drive control board. When the compressor drive control board and the external fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the backup area program is copied to the main program Flash area and reset startup is executed; Wherein, when the air-conditioning outdoor unit, the compressor drive control board and the outdoor fan drive control board execute the system reset command, the central air-conditioning system is shut down.

8. The full-link fast OTA upgrade method according to claim 7, characterized in that: Step S4 includes: After the air conditioner outdoor unit, compressor drive control board, and outdoor fan drive control board are reset and restarted, the OTA upgraded version and OTA status are reported in the order of the air conditioner outdoor unit, air conditioner indoor unit, material network module, and cloud server. The directly connected indoor unit in the air conditioner broadcasts the system reset command to other indoor units on the RS485 bus and collects the flag status of all other indoor units after OTA upgrade; The directly connected indoor unit is reset, and the OTA completion information of the directly connected indoor unit is reported to the cloud server, and the OTA completion information is broadcast in the central air conditioning system.

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