Protocol Conversion Relay for HVAC System Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems connecting air conditioning and lighting devices with different protocols require multiple relay devices, leading to complex configurations and increased costs, and can cause communication bandwidth issues in lower-level systems, potentially reducing service quality.
Innovation Solution
A relay device with an upper-side communicator, a lower-side communicator, and a processor that performs protocol conversion using association information to facilitate communication between upper-level and lower-level systems with different protocols, allowing for efficient communication without the need for multiple relay devices and reducing bandwidth issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If one relay device is used per air conditioner connection, then protocol compatibility is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple relay functions into a single gateway device that can handle communications from multiple air conditioners simultaneously. The gateway consolidates protocol conversion capabilities, allowing one device to perform the function of multiple individual relays, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed with universal functionality to communicate with multiple air conditioners using different protocols. It incorporates multiple communication interfaces and protocol conversion capabilities, enabling a single device to serve multiple purposes and connect various lower-level systems to the upper-level system without requiring dedicated relay devices for each connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control commands are transmitted through the outdoor device in master-slave system, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but communication bandwidth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as an intermediary that receives control commands directly from the upper-level system and translates them into the appropriate protocol for the target air conditioner. This mediator approach allows the gateway to manage communication efficiently, reducing the bandwidth burden on the lower-level bus by handling protocol conversion at the gateway level rather than requiring multiple transmissions through the outdoor device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple relay devices are deployed, then protocol conversion is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protocol conversion functions into a single gateway device, eliminating the need for multiple separate relay devices. By consolidating these functions, the system reduces hardware costs, installation expenses, and maintenance requirements while maintaining full protocol conversion capability across multiple air conditioner connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed with universal protocol conversion capabilities that allow it to handle communications with multiple air conditioners using different protocols simultaneously. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized relay devices, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining adaptability to various protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay device communicably connects an upper-level air conditioning system and a lower-level air conditioning system that use different protocols. An upper-side communicator is connected to a first bus, and transmits and receives communication packets to and from the upper-level air conditioning system. A lower-side communicator is connected to an outdoor device that is a master device, and transmits and receives communication commands to and from the lower-level air conditioning system. An association information memory stores association information obtained by associating an address in the upper-level air conditioning system allocated to each device in the lower-level air conditioning system with identification information on each device in the lower-level air conditioning system. A processor performs a mutual conversion on the communication packets and the communication commands based on the association information stored in the association information memory.