Air-conditioning system and program update method of air-conditioning system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air-conditioning system updates are challenging due to difficult access to devices, leading to physical burdens on operators and potential equipment failures during updates, with existing methods requiring direct access and manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system with a high-level device connected to equipment, featuring communication units, a storage device, and an update execution unit that allows for remote program updates and automatic restoration to a previous program version if the updated equipment fails to operate normally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual program update is performed by operator directly accessing the device, then the program can be updated, but the operator suffers physical burdens due to difficult access locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of program updateVSAvoidphysical burden on operator

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air-conditioning device performs program update automatically without operator intervention. The update execution unit reads the update program from storage, writes it to the program storage unit, and restores the program automatically, enabling the device to update itself without requiring operator presence at the installation location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A program update device serves as an intermediary between the remote air-conditioning device and the update management device. It stores update programs and communicates with both the management device and the air-conditioning device, eliminating the need for operators to physically access remote locations for program updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If program update is performed manually, then the program can be updated, but time is consumed when update fails and restoration is needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram update efficiencyVSAvoidtime for restoration work

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing the pre-update program in the storage unit before executing the update. When update failure is detected, the restoration process quickly retrieves and applies the stored pre-update program, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual restoration work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The update execution unit automatically detects update failures and performs restoration without operator intervention. The system self-diagnoses whether the updated program causes abnormal operation and automatically restores the pre-update program, significantly reducing restoration time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If program update is performed, then new functionality is achieved, but equipment may fail to operate normally when update fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram functionalityVSAvoidequipment operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares compensatory measures in advance by storing the pre-update program in the storage unit before performing the update. This cushioning mechanism ensures that if the new program causes failures, the system can quickly restore reliable operation using the stored backup program.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by monitoring whether the air-conditioning device operates normally after program update. When abnormal operation is detected, the update execution unit automatically restores the pre-update program and notifies the update management device, creating a closed-loop reliability assurance mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11859841B2Air-conditioning system and program update method of air-conditioning system

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

An air-conditioning system includes equipment, the equipment including one or more pieces of equipment, a high level device connected to the equipment and configured to control the equipment, a first communication unit configured to obtain, from an update management device that previously stores an update program for updating a program of the equipment, the update program, a second communication unit configured to transmit the update program to the equipment and obtain a pre-update program from the equipment, a storage device configured to store the update program and the pre-update program, and an update execution unit configured to update the program of the equipment, in which the update execution unit transmits the update program to the equipment and updates the program of the equipment, and when one of the one or more pieces of the equipment in which the program is updated does not operate normally, the update execution unit transmits the pre-update program to the one of the one or more pieces of the equipment and restores the program of the one of the one or more pieces of the equipment to the pre-update program.