Air-Conditioning Billing Data Backup Across Central Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning system fails to back up data from the central management device to the central controllers, leading to potential data loss and impaired convenience, especially in multi-air-conditioning setups where user billing relies on accumulated data.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a central management device with a first data unit for storing power consumption data and results of pro-rata calculations, and a second data unit for storing data from central controllers, while central controllers have a third data unit for operation data and a fourth data unit for backing up data from the central management device, enabling data duplication and restoration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the central management device stores power consumption data and pro-rata calculation results, then billing accuracy is improved, but data loss risk increases when the master unit malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements data copying by having central controllers (slave units) store copies of power consumption data and pro-rata calculation results from the central management device (master unit). This creates redundant data copies distributed across the network, ensuring that if the master unit fails, the data can be recovered from slave units. The copying principle directly addresses the data security concern while maintaining billing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by proactively storing backup copies of critical billing data in central controllers before any potential failure occurs. This preventive measure ensures that data is protected against future malfunctions or losses, allowing system recovery without impacting billing operations. The cushioning is achieved through automated data replication to slave units.
2Reliability
If data is backed up only from central controllers to the central management device, then data redundancy is improved, but data loss occurs when the master unit malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional backup direction by having central controllers (slave units) store copies of data from the central management device (master unit), rather than only backing up from slave to master. This reverse backup approach ensures that if the master unit fails, the data can be recovered from the slave units, preventing data loss and maintaining system reliability.
3Ease of repair
If multiple data units are implemented for data storage and backup, then data recovery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data storage function across multiple devices - the central management device maintains primary data storage while central controllers maintain backup copies. This segmentation distributes the data recovery capability across the network, reducing the burden on any single device and simplifying the overall recovery process. Each device has a defined storage role, making the system manageable despite the added redundancy.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A plurality of central controllers that each control a refrigeration cycle device and receive power consumption data of the refrigeration cycle device and a central management device that performs pro-rata calculation by use of at least the power consumption data and manages the plurality of central controllers are provided. The central management device includes a first data unit that stores the power consumption data and a result of the pro-rata calculation and a second data unit that stores data output from each of the plurality of central controllers, and the plurality of central controllers each include a third data unit that stores operation data of the refrigeration cycle device and a fourth data unit that stores data of the first data unit output from the central management device.