Patent ID: 7987247
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
1. A building automation system having at least two components which can communicate via a BACnet MS/TP network, comprising: a DDC controller configured to communicate in a BACnet MS/TP network, the DDC controller being installable into a building as part of a BACnet MS/TP network; a BAS component configured to communicate with the DDC controller via the BACnet MS/TP network, the BAS component having a BACnet MS/TP MAC address which is assigned by the DDC controller to the BAS component after installation of both the DDC controller and the BAS component into the BACnet MS/TP network in the building; wherein the DDC controller assigns the BACnet MS/TP MAC address through an automated algorithm comprising: analyzing MS/TP traffic on the BACnet MS/TP network to determine existing MAC addresses being used on the BACnet MS/TP network; wherein, as part of the automated algorithm: the DDC controller makes a MAC pool announcement on the BACnet MS/TP network of available MAC addresses; the BAS component randomly selects an interim MAC address from out of the announced available MAC pool; the DDC controller queries MAC addresses from out of the announced available MAC pool, and the BAS component responds when the DDC controller queries the interim MAC address; and the DDC controller analyzes whether multiple responses were received from a queried MAC address, and reperforms the available MAC pool announcement, the queries and the analysis until no multiple responses are received from any queried MAC address.