Control terminal, server and central air conditioning system

Abstract

The invention discloses a control terminal used for controlling operation of a central air conditioning system. The control terminal is in communication connection with the server to carry out OTA upgrading; the control terminal is configured to execute the following steps during OTA upgrading: receiving an upgrading request issued by the server through the upgrading request point location; receiving a data packet from the server; the data packet is formed by segmenting the upgrading file by the server, and the data packet has a corresponding packet number; the received data packet is stored, and the receiving progress is reported through the upgrade progress point location; reporting a request for a data packet through the data request point location to indicate a packet number sent next time by the server; verifying an upgrading file formed by the stored data packets; after verification succeeds, OTA upgrading is executed; and after the OTA is upgraded, checking the running state, and when the running state is normal, reporting firmware parameters to the server. According to the invention, point location communication and subpackage upgrading modes are adopted, so that the calculation and storage burden of the control terminal is reduced.

Description

Control terminals, servers, and central air conditioning systems Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning equipment technology, and in particular to a control terminal, a server, and a central air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0002] OTA (Over-The-Air) upgrades enable the control terminals of central air conditioning systems (including centralized controllers, wired controllers, etc.) to adapt more flexibly to changing market demands and technological environments, thereby improving overall system performance and user satisfaction. For example, OTA upgrades can add new functions or improve existing functions, upgrade firmware to fix security vulnerabilities, improve control algorithms and performance parameters, and fix software faults, among other things.

[0003] In existing technologies, over-the-air (OTA) upgrades of central air conditioning systems typically use protocols such as HTTP or MQTT for data transmission. For example, taking a centralized controller as an example, the centralized controller downloads firmware or software updates via the HTTP protocol. During this process, the centralized controller sends a request to a designated server to obtain the latest software version and related files, or communicates with the server through a publish / subscribe model for real-time data transmission and status updates.

[0004] However, the control terminal has relatively weak data processing capabilities. When the module connects to both HTTP and MQTT simultaneously, it encounters performance bottlenecks, is unable to process all messages in a timely manner, and causes data loss or delays; at the same time, it increases security risks.

[0005] The information disclosed in this background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background technology of this application, and therefore may include prior art that is not known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the relatively weak data processing capability of the central air conditioning system control terminal, the module encounters performance bottlenecks when connecting to HTTP and MQTT simultaneously during OTA upgrades, and cannot process all messages in a timely manner, which can easily lead to data loss or delay, resulting in upgrade failure and increased security risks. The first aspect of this application designs and provides a control terminal.

[0007] A control terminal is used to control the operation of a central air conditioning system, which includes at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit. The control terminal communicates with a server for OTA (Over-The-Air) upgrades. The control terminal is configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade: receiving an upgrade request from the server via an upgrade request point; receiving data packets from the server; the data packets are segmented from an upgrade file by the server, and each data packet has a corresponding packet number; storing the received data packets and reporting the receiving progress via upgrade progress points; reporting a request for data packets via data request points to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next; verifying the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets; performing an OTA upgrade after successful verification; and performing an operational status check after the OTA upgrade, reporting firmware parameters to the server when the operational status is normal.

[0008] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: Compared with the traditional method that relies on HTTP and MQTT, the control terminal of this application adopts point-to-point communication (including but not limited to upgrade request points, data request points, upgrade progress points and verification points) and packet upgrade method. Point-to-point communication is based on a simple data exchange protocol, which reduces the complexity of the protocol stack, thereby reducing the computational and storage burden of the control terminal. It does not require complex protocol headers and handshake processes, thereby improving the response speed in the OTA upgrade process. In systems that require frequent updates and expansions, this combination method can also provide flexible expansion capabilities to adapt to different application needs.

[0009] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: determine whether the upgrade file has been downloaded completely; if the upgrade file has not been downloaded completely, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server according to preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined that the upgrade result should not be reported to the server, further identify whether the restart has been completed; if the restart has been completed, send a full upgrade status to the server; if the restart has not been completed, presume whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within a set period; if no compensation signal has been received, generate an upgrade anomaly indication signal.

[0010] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: Through the above process, the control terminal can effectively deal with upgrade anomalies, ensuring the reliability and success rate of the upgrade process. By judging the download status of the upgrade file, deciding whether to report the upgrade result according to preset conditions, identifying the restart status of the device, listening to the compensation signal from the second server, and generating upgrade anomaly indication signals, the control terminal can promptly detect and handle anomalies during the upgrade process, improving the stability and reliability of the system.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the upgrade file download is complete, the upgrade file is verified according to a preset verification rule, and the verification result is obtained; if the verification result fails, it is determined whether to report the upgrade result to the server according to preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined not to report the upgrade result to the server, it is further identified whether the restart is completed; if the restart is completed, a full upgrade status is sent to the server; if the restart is not completed, it is presumed whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within a set period; if no compensation signal is received, an upgrade anomaly indication signal is generated.

[0012] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by verifying upgrade files, deciding whether to report upgrade results based on preset conditions, identifying the device's restart status, monitoring compensation signals from the second server, and generating upgrade anomaly indication signals, the control terminal can promptly detect and handle anomalies during the upgrade process, improving system stability and reliability. This design helps ensure that the device can operate normally during the upgrade process and allows for timely remedial measures in case of anomalies.

[0013] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server based on preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined to report the upgrade result to the server, further identify whether a restart has been completed; if a restart has been completed, send a full upgrade status to the server, and further determine whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number; if the reported version number is consistent with the target version number, generate an upgrade success indication signal; if a restart has not been completed, presume whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within a set period; if a compensation signal has not been received, generate an upgrade error indication signal.

[0014] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the above process helps to further identify anomalies after successful verification and to take remedial measures in a timely manner.

[0015] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server based on preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined that the upgrade result should not be reported to the server, further identify whether a restart has been completed; if a restart is completed, send a full upgrade status to the server, and further determine whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number; if the reported version number is consistent with the target version number, generate an upgrade success indication signal; if a restart fails, presume whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within a set period; if the compensation signal is not received, generate an upgrade error indication signal.

[0016] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the above process provides a flexible upgrade result reporting mechanism, realizes real-time monitoring and feedback, ensures the consistency of device versions, and helps to improve the efficiency and success rate of OTA upgrades.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade: presumably powering on within a set period; if powering on within the set period, resetting the OTA upgrade process.

[0018] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: Through the above process, the control terminal can provide an anomaly recovery measure by powering back on, further improving the stability and reliability of the OTA upgrade process.

[0019] A second aspect of this application provides a server communicatively connected to a control terminal, which controls the operation of a central air conditioning system. The central air conditioning system includes at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit. The server is configured with an OTA upgrade strategy for the control terminal. The server is configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade of the control terminal: sending an upgrade request to the control terminal through an upgrade request point; segmenting the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number; receiving a request for data packets sent by the control terminal through a data request point to determine the packet number of the next data packet to be sent, and replying to the control terminal with a data packet; and receiving the reception progress reported by the control terminal through an upgrade progress point.

[0020] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The server provided in this application realizes centralized management and control of the central air conditioning system. Through efficient upgrade request distribution, flexible data packet request and response, and real-time upgrade progress monitoring, the reliability and stability of the system can be improved. The simplified communication protocol and equipment design can reduce equipment complexity and development costs, and improve the system's flexibility and scalability. This design helps ensure that the equipment can operate normally during the upgrade process and that remedial measures can be taken promptly in case of anomalies.

[0021] In one or more embodiments of this application, the server is further configured to perform the following steps when the control terminal is OTA upgraded: after the upgrade file transfer is completed, it is estimated whether a full upgrade status is received from the control terminal within a set period; if a full upgrade status is received from the control terminal within the set period, a compensation signal is sent to the control terminal.

[0022] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: After the upgrade file transfer is completed, the server estimates whether it has received the full upgrade status sent by the control terminal within a set period, and sends a compensation signal to the control terminal when it receives the full upgrade status, thereby realizing real-time monitoring and feedback, timely compensation and processing, and improving the upgrade success rate.

[0023] In one or more embodiments of this application, the server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters; the control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range.

[0024] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by accurately screening and targeted upgrading, it improves the upgrading efficiency of control terminals and ensures the consistency of upgrades.

[0025] A third aspect of this application provides a central air conditioning system, comprising: at least one outdoor unit; at least one indoor unit; a control terminal for controlling the operation of the central air conditioning system; the control terminal is communicatively connected to a server for OTA upgrades; the control terminal and the server are configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade: the server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters; the control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range; the server sends an upgrade request to the control terminal through an upgrade request point, dividing the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number; the control terminal reports a request for the data packets through a data request point to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next; the server replies to the control terminal with data packets; the control terminal stores the received data packets and reports the receiving progress through upgrade progress points; the control terminal verifies the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets; and after the OTA upgrade, a running status check is performed, and when the running status is normal, firmware parameters are reported to the server.

[0026] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: through the communication connection between the server and the control terminal, through precise screening and targeted upgrades, efficient upgrade request issuance, flexible data packet request and response, real-time upgrade progress monitoring, upgrade file verification, and operation status check and reporting, the efficiency and success rate of OTA upgrades of the control terminal are improved, ensuring the reliability and stability of upgrades for the central controller and the wired controller.

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer after reading the detailed embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the structure of a central air conditioning system provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the communication structure of a central air conditioning system provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 is a communication flowchart of a server provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 is a communication flowchart of a server provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a control terminal provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a control terminal provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a control terminal provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a control terminal provided in one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a server provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a server provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 11 is a communication flowchart of a central air conditioning system provided by one or more embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0042] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0043] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0044] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0045] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0046] In response to the relatively weak data processing capabilities of central air conditioning system control terminals, and the performance bottlenecks encountered by modules during OTA upgrades when simultaneously connecting to HTTP and MQTT, resulting in the inability to process all messages in a timely manner, data loss or delays, upgrade failures, and increased security risks, the first aspect of this application designs and provides a control terminal without upgrading the hardware.

[0047] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal may be a central controller (also known as a centralized controller, as shown in Figure 1, 10). The central controller can centrally control multiple air conditioning units of a central air conditioning system, such as outdoor units (as shown in Figure 1, 30) and indoor units (as shown in Figure 1, 40).

[0048] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal can also centrally control multiple subsystems of the central air conditioning system, such as chiller units, fresh air systems, etc.

[0049] In one or more embodiments of this application, a central air conditioning system is a system that uses a compressor condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation to cool or heat an indoor space.

[0050] From a principle perspective, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant enters the compressor, which compresses it into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0051] The throttling device expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant that condenses in the condenser into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the expanded refrigerant in the throttling device, returning the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. The evaporator achieves its cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout the cycle, the central air conditioning system regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0052] The outdoor unit of a central air conditioning system refers to the part of the refrigeration cycle that includes the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor unit of a central air conditioning system is located in the air-conditioned room and includes the indoor heat exchanger. Throttling devices can be provided in both the indoor and outdoor units, namely outdoor throttling elements and indoor throttling elements.

[0053] Indoor and outdoor heat exchangers function as either condensers or evaporators. When the indoor heat exchanger is used as a condenser, the central air conditioning system acts as a heater in heating mode; when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the central air conditioning system acts as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0054] In one alternative implementation, each outdoor unit may be equipped with one or more compressors, and AC power is supplied to the compressors in operation via a frequency converter. When the output frequency of the frequency converter changes, the compressor speed changes, thereby achieving different air conditioning capacities.

[0055] In one or more embodiments of this application, the central controller can realize the unified scheduling and management of the entire central air conditioning system, monitor the operating status of each part of the system in real time, including parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, and flow rate, and automatically adjust the operating status of the air conditioning system according to preset parameters and real-time monitoring data.

[0056] The hardware configuration of the central controller is described below: The central controller comprises a central processing unit (CPU), memory, input / output (I / O) modules, communication modules, a display and operation interface, and a power management module. The CPU, as the core of the central controller, is responsible for executing control algorithms, processing data, and issuing control commands. The memory stores program code, system parameters, and operating data; the memory can be volatile or non-volatile. The I / O modules can be digital signal modules and / or analog signal modules. The communication module includes a network interface, a serial interface, and a wireless communication unit; the communication interface is used to communicate with other control devices, computers, or servers. The display and operation interface includes a display screen, a touch screen, buttons, and a touch panel. The power management module includes a power converter; in one or more embodiments of this application, the power management module may also include a backup power supply.

[0057] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal may be a wired controller (as shown in Figure 1, 20). The wired controller is used to control and manage the terminal devices of the central air conditioning system to adjust the indoor environment according to preset parameters and real-time detected parameters. Exemplarily, the terminal device may be an indoor unit (e.g., a fan coil unit).

[0058] The following describes the hardware structure of a wired controller: A wired controller comprises a central processing unit (CPU), memory, input / output (I / O) modules, a communication module, a display, and a user interface. The CPU, as the core of the wired controller, is responsible for executing control algorithms, processing data, and issuing control commands. The memory stores program code, system parameters, and operating data; the memory can be volatile or non-volatile. The I / O modules can be digital signal modules and / or analog signal modules. The communication module includes a network interface, a serial interface, and a wireless communication unit; the communication interface is used to communicate with other control devices, computers, or servers. The display and user interface include a screen, a touchscreen, buttons, and a touch panel.

[0059] In one or more embodiments of this application, the wired controller and the central controller can be used together.

[0060] Referring to FIG2, the communication network used in one or more embodiments of this application will be described.

[0061] The communication network includes a control terminal 102 (taking a central controller as an example), which is connected to the outdoor unit and multiple indoor units.

[0062] The communication network also includes a first server 100 and a second server 101.

[0063] In one or more embodiments of this application, the first server 100 is a business cloud, and the second server 101 is a public cloud. The first server 100 is communicatively connected to the mobile terminal 103, and the second server 101 is communicatively connected to the control terminal 102. The first server 100 and the second server 101 are also communicatively connected.

[0064] In one or more embodiments of this application, the mobile terminal 103 may run a dedicated application through which the user can manually confirm OTA upgrades.

[0065] In one or more embodiments of this application, the mobile terminal 103 may be a computer, smartphone, tablet computer, PDA, wearable device, vehicle device, etc.

[0066] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal 102 can be remotely accessed and managed through the first server 100 and the second server 101, and OTA (Over-The-Air) upgrades can be performed on the control terminal 102.

[0067] In one or more embodiments of this application, a first server 100 is used to coordinate the OTA upgrade strategy of the control terminal 102. The first server 100 is communicatively connected to the mobile terminal 103 and the second server 101. The second server 101 communicates directly with the control terminal 102, performs the maintenance of the OTA upgrade strategy, and executes the specific OTA upgrade tasks of the control terminal 102.

[0068] The OTA upgrade strategy is defined in advance by the operator or system administrator and maintained regularly. Specifically, the operator defines the initial OTA upgrade strategy based on the needs and environment of the control terminal 102. During use, the operator regularly checks, maintains, and updates the OTA upgrade strategy to adapt to new needs and changes.

[0069] In one or more embodiments of this application, the OTA upgrade policy is stored in the database or configuration file of the second server 101 for easy management access.

[0070] The second server 101 can send the OTA upgrade policy to the control terminal 102. For example, the second server 101 can periodically push the latest OTA upgrade policy to the control terminal 102, or the control terminal 102 can request the latest OTA upgrade policy from the second server 101 when it is powered on or when a scheduled task is triggered, or the second server 101 can actively notify the control terminal 102 to update the OTA upgrade policy when a new firmware version is released.

[0071] In one or more embodiments of this application, the OTA upgrade strategy may include the latest version information, historical version information, upgrade mode (e.g., whether user confirmation is required, whether silent upgrade is adopted, whether timed upgrade is adopted, whether forced upgrade is adopted, etc.), upgrade time window, etc.

[0072] Taking an OTA upgrade requiring user confirmation as an example, the second server 101 sends the OTA upgrade policy to the first server 100. The first server 100 then sends the OTA upgrade task to the mobile terminal 103. Upon detecting that user confirmation is required, the mobile terminal 103 sends a notification to the user, prompting them to confirm or decline the OTA upgrade. The user sees the notification on the mobile terminal 103 and chooses to confirm or decline the OTA upgrade. If the user confirms, the mobile terminal 103 sends a confirmation message to the first server 100. The first server 100 then communicates with the second server 101, and the second server 101 continues executing the OTA upgrade task. If the user declines, the mobile terminal 103 sends a rejection message to the first server 100. The first server 100 then communicates with the second server 101, and the first server 100 and / or the second server 101 record the rejection operation. After recording the rejection operation, the first server 100 can resend the OTA upgrade task at a set time based on pre-configured conditions.

[0073] During the execution of the OTA upgrade task, the second server 101 communicates with the first server 100, feeding back the OTA upgrade progress from the control terminal 102 to the first server 100, and displaying it to the user through the mobile terminal 103.

[0074] In one or more embodiments of this application, a device database is configured in the first server 100. For example, the device database may be a list of APP devices. The device database contains a collection of data on all devices for management and monitoring. In one or more embodiments of this application, the device database includes device identifiers, device types, online status, software versions, device locations, device parameters, operating status parameters, maintenance information, and upgrade information, etc.

[0075] In one or more embodiments of this application, a device database is configured in the second server 101. For example, the device database may be a list of APP devices. The device database contains a collection of data on all devices for management and monitoring. In one or more embodiments of this application, the device database includes device identifiers, device types, online status, etc.

[0076] In one or more embodiments of this application, a portion of the data in the device database is stored in the first server 100, and another portion is stored in the second server 101.

[0077] In one or more embodiments of this application, the device identifier includes a MAC address and may also include a device ID. For example, the device identifier of the control terminal 102 includes its own MAC address and device ID.

[0078] Taking the device database stored on the first server and the OTA upgrade policy stored on the second server as an example, the first server and the second server can perform the following steps during the OTA upgrade policy acquisition stage, as shown in Figure 3.

[0079] Step S101: The first server selects the control terminals to be upgraded based on predefined conditions.

[0080] In one or more embodiments of this application, the predefined conditions may be control terminal parameters, which include: the original ROM version number, the target ROM version number, and / or the MAC address range.

[0081] In one or more embodiments of this application, the first server can display the selected control terminals to be upgraded through a management interface or API.

[0082] Step S102: The first server sends a request to the second server to obtain information on whether there is an OTA upgrade policy.

[0083] Step S103: The second server returns the OTA upgrade strategy.

[0084] Step S104: The first server further sends a request to the second server to query the OTA upgrade policy details.

[0085] Step S105: The second server returns details of the OTA upgrade strategy.

[0086] Step S106: The first server determines whether to perform an OTA upgrade based on the OTA upgrade policy details.

[0087] Step S107: If it is determined that an OTA upgrade will be performed, an upgrade command is sent to the second server.

[0088] Step S108: The second server triggers an OTA upgrade after receiving the upgrade instruction.

[0089] The process described in the example above ensures the orderly execution of OTA upgrades for control terminals. The first server filters control terminals to be upgraded, confirms the policy query with the second server, and finally, the second server triggers the upgrade. This allows the second server to centrally manage and control the OTA upgrade process for all control terminals. If there are multiple control terminals in the central air conditioning system, it avoids upgrade conflicts and inconsistencies between them, and effectively reduces the equipment burden on the control terminals.

[0090] In one or more embodiments of this application, the OTA upgrade strategy and device database can be stored in a server, and the same server can be used to filter control terminals to be upgraded, query OTA upgrade strategies, parse OTA upgrade strategies, determine whether to perform OTA upgrades, and trigger OTA upgrades.

[0091] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the following steps may be included:

[0092] Step S201: The server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on predefined conditions.

[0093] Step S202: Determine if there is an updated OTA upgrade strategy.

[0094] Step S203: If there is an updated OTA upgrade strategy, parse the updated OTA upgrade strategy.

[0095] Step S204: Determine whether to perform an OTA upgrade based on the OTA upgrade policy (e.g., whether there is an updated firmware version).

[0096] Step S205: If it is determined that an OTA upgrade will be performed, then an upgrade command is sent.

[0097] In one or more embodiments of this application, the second server sends an upgrade request through an upgrade request point.

[0098] An upgrade request point refers to a second server sending an upgrade request to the control terminal to be upgraded through specific data points or command fields.

[0099] Using only one server, the process of sending upgrade requests through upgrade request points is similar to that of using a second server, and will not be described in detail here.

[0100] By controlling the upgrade request points, the second server can precisely control which control terminals need upgrading, as well as the timing and order of the upgrades, avoiding network congestion and service interruptions. The control terminals only need to listen to specific upgrade request points, execute the upgrade operation upon receiving the request, simplifying the logic and design of the control terminals and freeing up their hardware capabilities.

[0101] The control terminal to be upgraded performs several steps as shown in Figure 5 during OTA upgrade.

[0102] Step S301: Receive the upgrade request sent by the second server through the upgrade request point.

[0103] The control terminal to be upgraded continuously listens for specific upgrade request points. Once an upgrade request is detected, the upgrade process is initiated.

[0104] Step S302: Request a data packet from the second server.

[0105] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal to be upgraded reports a request for data packets through a data request point. Upon receiving the request, the second server begins preparing the data packets.

[0106] Step S303: Receive data packets from the second server.

[0107] In one or more embodiments of this application, the data packets are segmented from the upgrade file by a second server. Each data packet has a corresponding packet number.

[0108] Step S304: Store the received data packets and report the receiving progress through the upgrade progress points.

[0109] The control terminal to be upgraded stores the received data packets locally and reports the current receiving progress to the second server through upgrade progress points.

[0110] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal to be upgraded verifies each received data packet to determine whether the data packet is correct. If the data packet is correct, the received data packet is stored locally.

[0111] Step S305: Report the request for the data packet again through the data request point to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next.

[0112] The control terminal to be upgraded reports the packet number of the last data packet it has received to the second server via a data request point. The second server then sends the next data packet based on this packet number. The packet number of the next data packet is the packet number of the last data packet received plus 1, and the above process is repeated.

[0113] Step S306: Verify the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets.

[0114] In one or more embodiments of this application, the last frame data packet sent by the second server is equal to the size of the upgrade package.

[0115] By examining the last data packet frame, the control terminal to be upgraded can determine whether all data packets have been received. For example, the control terminal to be upgraded can determine whether all data packets have been received by checking whether the size of all received data packets matches the size of the upgrade packet in the last data packet frame.

[0116] After receiving the last data packet, the control terminal to be upgraded calculates the checksum of the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets and compares the checksum with the total checksum in the upgrade file. If the calculated checksum matches the total checksum, the upgrade file is considered complete and correct; if the calculated checksum does not match the total checksum, the upgrade file is considered incomplete or erroneous.

[0117] The control terminal to be upgraded can further determine whether to "re-search". For example, if the received data packet numbers are not consecutive, it can be re-acquired by "re-searching". If the received data packets are duplicates, the step of discarding duplicate data packets can be performed.

[0118] The checksum can be calculated using predefined check algorithms (such as checksum, hash value, etc.).

[0119] Step S307: Perform OTA upgrade after successful verification.

[0120] After successful verification, OTA upgrade is performed. After the OTA upgrade is performed, the control terminal to be upgraded reports the receiving progress and verification result to the second server through the upgrade progress point and the verification result point.

[0121] Step S308: After the OTA upgrade, perform a running status check. If the running status is normal, report the firmware parameters to the server.

[0122] After the verification is passed, the control terminal to be upgraded performs an operational status check. If the operational status is normal, it reports the firmware parameters to the second server.

[0123] On the second server side, if the version number corresponding to the reported firmware parameters matches the target version number, the OTA upgrade is presumed to be successful.

[0124] Compared to traditional methods that rely on HTTP and MQTT, the control terminal in this application adopts point-to-point communication (including but not limited to upgrade request points, data request points, upgrade progress points, and verification result points) and packet-based upgrade methods. Point-to-point communication is based on a simple data exchange protocol, reducing the complexity of the protocol stack and thus reducing the computational and storage burden on the control terminal. It does not require complex protocol headers and handshake processes, thereby improving the response speed during OTA upgrades. In systems that require frequent updates and expansions, this combination can also provide flexible scalability to adapt to different application needs.

[0125] In one or more embodiments of this application, the data request point, upgrade progress point, and verification result point can be the configuration parameters, command fields, or API interfaces of the control terminal to be upgraded.

[0126] To address situations where upgrades fail, such as upgrade files not being fully downloaded due to network or other reasons, in one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrades, as shown in Figure 6.

[0127] Step S401: Determine whether the upgrade file has been downloaded completely.

[0128] The control terminal to be upgraded checks whether the locally stored upgrade files are complete and verifies the integrity and correctness of the upgrade files.

[0129] Step S402: If the upgrade file has not been downloaded completely, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the second server based on the preset upgrade conditions.

[0130] If the upgrade file is not downloaded completely, the control terminal to be upgraded will decide whether to report the upgrade result based on the preset upgrade conditions, so that the second server can perform further processing.

[0131] In one or more embodiments of this application, the preset upgrade condition may be the download progress. Whether or not to report the upgrade result is required is determined based on the download progress. For example, if the download progress exceeds or falls short of a certain threshold (e.g., 80%), the upgrade result is reported.

[0132] In one or more embodiments of this application, the preset upgrade condition may be the network status. For example, if the network status is unstable, the upgrade result may not be reported temporarily, and the network status may be allowed to improve.

[0133] In one or more embodiments of this application, the preset upgrade conditions may also be CPU utilization, memory utilization, time conditions, etc.

[0134] Step S403: If it is determined that the upgrade result is not reported to the second server, further identify whether the restart is complete.

[0135] The control terminal to be upgraded checks the restart status to confirm whether the restart has been completed.

[0136] Step S404: If the restart is complete, send a full upgrade status to the second server.

[0137] In one or more embodiments of this application, the full upgrade state includes the state of all points.

[0138] The control terminal to be upgraded sends a report containing the upgrade status to the second server, notifying the second server that the device has completed the restart.

[0139] Step S405: If the restart fails, it is presumed that a compensation signal sent by the second server was received within the set period.

[0140] The control terminal to be upgraded listens for the compensation signal sent by the second server within a set period (which can be set to 1 hour to 3 hours) to confirm whether it has received the compensation signal.

[0141] In one or more embodiments of this application, the compensation signal refers to a setting signal sent by the second server to the control terminal during the OTA upgrade process, used to handle abnormal situations during the upgrade process.

[0142] In one or more embodiments of this application, the compensation signal is a re-download signal used to notify the control terminal to re-download the upgrade file. Upon receiving the re-download signal, the control terminal to be upgraded re-requests the upgrade file and continues the download process.

[0143] In one or more embodiments of this application, the compensation signal is a supplementary data signal used to notify the control terminal to replenish missing data packets. Upon receiving the supplementary data signal, the control terminal to be upgraded requests the missing data packets and continues the download process.

[0144] In one or more embodiments of this application, the compensation signal is a restart signal used to notify the control terminal to restart. Upon receiving the restart signal, the control terminal to be upgraded restarts the device and continues the upgrade process.

[0145] In one or more embodiments of this application, the compensation signal is an upgrade abort signal used to notify the control terminal to stop the current upgrade process. Upon receiving the upgrade abort signal, the control terminal to be upgraded aborts the current upgrade process and waits for further instructions.

[0146] Step S406: If no compensation signal is received, an upgrade error indication signal is generated.

[0147] Through the above process, the control terminal can effectively handle upgrade anomalies, ensuring the reliability and success rate of the upgrade process. By judging the download status of upgrade files, deciding whether to report upgrade results based on preset conditions, identifying the device restart status, monitoring compensation signals from the second server, and generating upgrade anomaly indication signals, the control terminal can promptly detect and handle anomalies during the upgrade process, improving system stability and reliability.

[0148] To address the issue of downloading but failing verification (which may be due to network transmission errors, insufficient memory, disk errors, etc.), in one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrades, as shown in Figure 7.

[0149] Step S501: If the upgrade file is downloaded, the upgrade file is verified according to the preset verification rules, and the verification result is obtained.

[0150] The control terminal to be upgraded uses preset verification rules to verify the downloaded upgrade file and obtain the verification result.

[0151] Step S502: If the verification result fails, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the second server based on the preset upgrade conditions.

[0152] Step S503: If it is determined that the upgrade result is not reported to the second server, further identify whether the restart is complete.

[0153] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal to be upgraded identifies whether a restart has been completed by checking the startup log or other means.

[0154] Step S504: If the restart is complete, send a full upgrade status to the second server.

[0155] In one or more embodiments of this application, the full upgrade status includes information on all locations.

[0156] Step S505: If the restart fails, it is presumed that a compensation signal sent by the second server was received within the set period.

[0157] Step S506: If no compensation signal is received, an upgrade error indication signal is generated.

[0158] Through this process, the control terminal can effectively handle anomalies during OTA upgrades, ensuring the reliability and success rate of the upgrade process. By verifying upgrade files, deciding whether to report upgrade results based on preset conditions, identifying the device's restart status, monitoring compensation signals from the second server, and generating upgrade anomaly indication signals, the control terminal can promptly detect and handle anomalies during the upgrade process, improving system stability and reliability. This design helps ensure that the device operates normally during the upgrade process and allows for timely remedial measures when anomalies occur.

[0159] Due to insufficient system resources, even if the verification passes, the upgrade may still fail. In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade, as shown in Figure 8.

[0160] Step S601: If the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the second server based on the preset upgrade conditions.

[0161] Step S602: If it is determined that the upgrade result is not reported to the second server, further identify whether the restart is complete.

[0162] Step S603: If the restart is completed, send the full upgrade status to the second server and further determine whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number.

[0163] Step S604: If the reported version number matches the target version number, an upgrade success indication signal is generated.

[0164] Step S605: If the restart fails, it is presumed whether a compensation signal sent by the second server has been received within the set period; if the compensation signal is not received, an upgrade error indication signal is generated.

[0165] The above process helps to further identify anomalies after successful verification and to take remedial measures in a timely manner.

[0166] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server based on preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined to report the upgrade result to the server, further identify whether a restart has been completed; if a restart has been completed, send a full upgrade status to the server, and further determine whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number; if the reported version number is consistent with the target version number, generate an upgrade success indication signal; if a restart has not been completed, presume whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within a set period; if a compensation signal has not been received, generate an upgrade error indication signal.

[0167] The above process provides a flexible upgrade result reporting mechanism, enabling real-time monitoring and feedback, ensuring device version consistency, and helping to improve the efficiency and success rate of OTA upgrades.

[0168] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal is further configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade: presumably powering on within a set period; if powering on within the set period, resetting the OTA upgrade process.

[0169] Through the above process, the control terminal can provide an anomaly recovery measure by powering back on, further improving the stability and reliability of the OTA upgrade process.

[0170] A second aspect of this application provides a server.

[0171] The server communicates with the control terminal, which is used to control the operation of the central air conditioning system, which includes at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit.

[0172] The server is configured with an OTA upgrade policy for the control terminal.

[0173] The server is configured to perform the steps shown in Figure 9 during OTA upgrades on the control terminal.

[0174] Step S701: Send an upgrade request to the control terminal through the upgrade request point, and divide the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number.

[0175] Step S702: Receive the request for data packets sent by the control terminal through the data request point, determine the packet number of the next data packet to be sent, and reply to the control terminal with a data packet.

[0176] Step S703: Receive the reception progress reported by the control terminal through the upgrade progress points.

[0177] The server provided in this application enables centralized management and control of a central air conditioning system. Through efficient upgrade request distribution, flexible data packet request and response, and real-time upgrade progress monitoring, the system's reliability and stability can be improved. The simplified communication protocol and equipment design reduce equipment complexity and development costs, while enhancing system flexibility and scalability. This design helps ensure the equipment operates normally during upgrades and allows for timely remedial measures in case of anomalies.

[0178] The server is also configured to perform the steps shown in Figure 10 when the control terminal is upgraded via OTA.

[0179] Step S801: After the upgrade file transfer is completed, it is estimated whether the full upgrade status sent by the control terminal has been received within the set period.

[0180] Step S802: If a full upgrade status is received from the control terminal within a set period, a compensation signal is sent to the control terminal.

[0181] After the upgrade file transfer is completed, the server estimates whether it has received the full upgrade status from the control terminal within a set period. When it receives the full upgrade status, it sends a compensation signal to the control terminal, thus realizing real-time monitoring and feedback, timely compensation and processing, and improving the upgrade success rate.

[0182] In one or more embodiments of this application, the server consists of a first server and a second server. The architecture of the first server and the second server is described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0183] In one or more embodiments of this application, the server is implemented by a single server.

[0184] In one or more embodiments of this application, the server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters; the control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range.

[0185] By accurately screening and targeting upgrades, the efficiency of control terminal upgrades can be improved, and the consistency of upgrades can be ensured.

[0186] A third aspect of this application provides a central air conditioning system.

[0187] From a hardware perspective, a central air conditioning system includes at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit. The system also includes a control terminal used to control its operation. The control terminal communicates with a server for over-the-air (OTA) upgrades.

[0188] As shown in Figure 11, the control terminal and server are configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: The server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters; control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range; the server sends an upgrade request to the control terminal through upgrade request points, dividing the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number; the control terminal reports requests for data packets through data request points to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next; the server replies to the control terminal with data packets; the control terminal stores the received data packets and reports the receiving progress through upgrade progress points; the control terminal verifies the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets; after the OTA upgrade, a running status check is performed, and if the running status is normal, firmware parameters are reported to the server.

[0189] Through the communication connection between the server and the control terminal, the efficiency and success rate of OTA upgrades for the control terminal are improved through precise screening and targeted upgrades, efficient upgrade request issuance, flexible data packet request and response, real-time upgrade progress monitoring, upgrade file verification, and operation status checks and reporting, ensuring the reliability and stability of upgrades for the central controller and wired controller.

[0190] In one or more embodiments of this application, the control terminal can be a central controller or a wired controller. When the control terminal is a wired controller, the central controller can perform a pass-through function.

[0191] In the description of the above embodiments, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0192] The above are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A control terminal for controlling the operation of a central air conditioning system, wherein the central air conditioning system includes: At least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit; The control terminal is communicatively connected to the server for OTA upgrades; characterized in that the control terminal is configured to perform the following steps during an OTA upgrade: receiving an upgrade request sent by the server through an upgrade request point; receiving data packets from the server; the data packets are segmented from an upgrade file by the server, and each data packet has a corresponding packet number; storing the received data packets and reporting the receiving progress through upgrade progress points; reporting a request for data packets through data request points to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next; and verifying the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets. After successful verification, perform an OTA upgrade; after the OTA upgrade, perform a running status check, and if the running status is normal, report the firmware parameters to the server.

2. The control terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control terminal is also configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: determine whether the upgrade file has been downloaded completely; if the upgrade file has not been downloaded completely, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server according to preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined that the upgrade result should not be reported to the server, further identify whether the restart has been completed. If the restart is complete, send a full upgrade status to the server. If the restart fails, it is presumed whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within the set period; if the compensation signal is not received, an upgrade error indication signal is generated.

3. The control terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control terminal is also configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the upgrade file is downloaded, the upgrade file is verified according to a preset verification rule, and the verification result is obtained; if the verification result fails, it is determined whether to report the upgrade result to the server according to preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined not to report the upgrade result to the server, it is further identified whether to complete the restart. If the restart is complete, send a full upgrade status to the server. If the restart fails, it is presumed whether a compensation signal sent by the server has been received within the set period; if the compensation signal is not received, an upgrade error indication signal is generated.

4. The control terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control terminal is also configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server based on preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined to report the upgrade result to the server, further identify whether the restart is completed. If the restart is complete, a full upgrade status is sent to the server, and it is further determined whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number; If the reported version number matches the target version number, an upgrade success indication signal is generated; If the restart fails, it is presumed that a compensation signal was received from the server within the set period. If the compensation signal is not received, an upgrade anomaly indication signal is generated.

5. The control terminal according to claim 4, characterized in that, The control terminal is also configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade: if the verification result passes, determine whether to report the upgrade result to the server based on preset upgrade conditions; if it is determined that the upgrade result should not be reported to the server, further identify whether the restart is completed. If the reboot is complete, a full upgrade status is sent to the server, and it is further determined whether the reported device version number is consistent with the target version number; If the reported version number matches the target version number, an upgrade success indication signal is generated; If the restart fails, it is presumed that a compensation signal was received from the server within the set period. If the compensation signal is not received, an upgrade anomaly indication signal is generated.

6. The control terminal according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The control terminal is also configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrades: presumably powering on within a set period; if powering on within the set period, resetting the OTA upgrade process.

7. A server, communicatively connected to a control terminal, the control terminal being used to control the operation of a central air conditioning system, the central air conditioning system comprising: The system includes at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit; the server is configured with an OTA upgrade strategy for the control terminal; characterized in that the server is configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrade of the control terminal: sending an upgrade request to the control terminal through an upgrade request point, dividing the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number; receiving a request for data packets sent by the control terminal through a data request point to determine the packet number of the next data packet to be sent, and replying to the control terminal with a data packet; and receiving the reception progress reported by the control terminal through an upgrade progress point.

8. The server according to claim 7, characterized in that, The server is also configured to perform the following steps during the OTA upgrade of the control terminal: after the upgrade file transfer is completed, it is estimated whether a full upgrade status is received from the control terminal within a set period; if a full upgrade status is received from the control terminal within the set period, a compensation signal is sent to the control terminal.

9. The server according to claim 8, characterized in that, The server filters out control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters. The control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range.

10. A central air conditioning system, which includes: At least one outdoor unit; At least one indoor unit; A control terminal is used to control the operation of a central air conditioning system; the control terminal is communicatively connected to a server for OTA upgrades; characterized in that: the control terminal and the server are configured to perform the following steps during OTA upgrades: the server selects control terminals to be upgraded based on control terminal parameters; the control terminal parameters include: original ROM version number, target ROM version number, and / or MAC address range; the server sends an upgrade request to the control terminal through upgrade request points, dividing the upgrade file into data packets, each data packet having a corresponding packet number; the control terminal reports a request for data packets through data request points to indicate the packet number to be sent by the server next; the server replies with data packets to the control terminal; the control terminal stores the received data packets and reports the receiving progress through upgrade progress points; the control terminal verifies the upgrade file composed of the stored data packets; after the OTA upgrade, a running status check is performed, and when the running status is normal, firmware parameters are reported to the server.

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