Patent Publication Number: US-11639807-B2

Title: Air conditioning management system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2020/043899 filed on Nov. 25, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-213229, filed on Nov. 26, 2019. The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning management system that manages a plurality of air conditioners as management targets. 
     Background Art 
     There has been provided an air conditioning management system for comprehensively managing (monitoring, controlling, and the like) air conditioners such as an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. In such an air conditioning management system, a data center connected to a network such as the Internet or a public network provides a controller with a management program, and the controller executes the management program (JP 2004-234176 A). The management program in JP 2004-234176 A is selected in accordance with device information as information unique to an air conditioner and is provided from the data center. 
     SUMMARY 
     An air conditioning management system according to a first aspect is configured to manage a plurality of air conditioners as management targets. The air conditioning management system includes a controller connected to the air conditioners, and a server apparatus connected to the controller. The controller is configured to execute a management program to manage the air conditioners. The server apparatus is configured to provide the controller with an air conditioner data model as a collection of data on the air conditioners to be referred to in the management program. The air conditioner data model is information on the air conditioners to be referred to in the management program. The air conditioner data model is provided for each type of the air conditioners. The air conditioner data model stores information on the air conditioners for each of data items. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view depicting configuration of an air conditioning management system. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view depicting a configuration of an air conditioner. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view depicting functional blocks of devices constituting the air conditioning management system. 
         FIG.  4    indicates an exemplary air conditioner data model. 
         FIG.  5    indicates another exemplary air conditioner data model. 
         FIG.  6    indicates still another exemplary air conditioner data model. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     First Embodiment 
     (1) Entire Configuration 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic view depicting a configuration of an air conditioning management system  1 . When a plurality of devices having similar functions are commonly described below, identical reference signs will be denoted. An English lower-case subscript will be added to distinguished description of one of the devices having similar functions. For example, indoor units  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  have similar functions, and will be each called an indoor unit  12  without using a subscript a, b, and c for common description. 
     The air conditioning management system  1  includes an air conditioner  10  as a management target, a controller  60  that executes a management program  3  for management of the air conditioner  10 , and a server apparatus  40  that provides an air conditioner data model  4  to be referred to in the management program  3  and manages the air conditioner  10 . 
     The server apparatus  40  herein is installed in a central management center. The server apparatus  40  is connected to a communication network  50  such as the Internet. The server apparatus  40  is connected with a plurality of facilities  2  ( 2   a  to  2   c ). Examples of the facilities  2  include an office building, a commercial building, and a condominium. Each of the facilities  2  is provided with, as management targets, one or a plurality of air conditioners  10  that execute cooling operation or heating operation in the facility  2 . The air conditioner  10  includes an outdoor unit  11 , and one or a plurality of indoor units  12  ( 12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c ). The air conditioner  10  is connected with the controller  60 . The controller  60  is connected to the server apparatus  40  via the communication network  50  such as the Internet. 
     In the air conditioning management system  1 , the controller  60  executes the management program  3  to manage the air conditioner  10 . Management herein indicates monitoring, operating, or the like of the air conditioner  10 . The controller  60  executes the management program  3  in accordance with the air conditioner data model  4  to acquire predetermined data from the air conditioner  10 . The air conditioner data model  4  is a collection of data on the air conditioner  10  (the outdoor unit  11  or the indoor unit  12 ). The air conditioner data model  4  is prepared for each type by a manager or the like of the air conditioning management system  1 , and is registered at the server apparatus  40 . When the air conditioner data model  4  is registered at the server apparatus  40 , the server apparatus  40  provides the controller  60  with the air conditioner data model  4 . The air conditioning management system  1  can thus manage a new type of the air conditioner  10 . 
     (2) Air Conditioner as Management Target 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic view depicting a configuration of the air conditioner  10 . As described above, the air conditioner  10  as the management target of the air conditioning management system  1  includes the outdoor unit  11 , and the one or the plurality of indoor units  12 . The outdoor unit  11  is disposed on a roof, in a basement, or the like. The indoor units  12  are dispersedly installed on a plurality of floors, in a plurality of rooms, or the like of the facilities  2 . 
     The outdoor unit  11  includes a compressor  21 , an outdoor heat exchanger  23 , an outdoor fan  24 , a sensor  25 , an outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X, and the like. Each of the indoor units  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  includes an indoor heat exchanger  33 , an indoor fan  34 , a sensor  35 , an indoor unit controlling unit  12 X ( 12 Xa,  12 Xb, and  12 Xc), and the like. The outdoor unit  11  (the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X) and the indoor unit  12  (the indoor unit controlling unit  12 X) are connected to each other via a dedicated communication line. The outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X and the indoor unit controlling unit  12 X cooperatively control operation of each unit in the air conditioner  10  in accordance with detection values of the sensors  25  and  35  or the like. The server apparatus  40  collects, via the communication network  50 , data on the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor unit  12  from the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X and the indoor unit controlling unit  12 X. The outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X transmits and receives the data on the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor unit  12  to and from the controller  60 . The air conditioner  10  is managed in accordance with a command inputted to the controlling units  11 X and  12 X from a remote controller or the like attached to each of the indoor units  12  or via the communication network  50 , the server apparatus  40 , and the controller  60 . 
     (3) Detailed Configuration of Air Conditioning Management System 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic view depicting functional blocks of devices constituting the air conditioning management system  1 . 
     (3-1) Controller 
     The controller  60  is connected to the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X of the outdoor unit  11  to manage the air conditioner  10 . The controller  60  is a computer for managing the air conditioner  10 , and is exemplarily called a gateway or an edge. The controller  60  may be constituted by a plurality of computers and devices connected via a network. The controller  60  includes a storage unit  61 , a communication unit  62 , a processing unit  63   a , and a connecting unit  64 . 
     The storage unit  61  is configured to store various information, and may include a ROM, a RAM, and/or a hard disk, etc. The storage unit  61  stores various programs for execution of various functions of the controller  60 , and various data for execution of the programs. Specifically, the storage unit  61  stores the management program  3  for management of the air conditioner  10 , the air conditioner data model  4  (to be described later) to be referred to in the management program  3 , and a conversion function for data conversion. The management program  3  may be provided from the server apparatus  40  via the communication unit  62  to be described later, or may be preliminarily included in the controller  60 . The conversion function is used for interconversion between data recognizable by the air conditioner  10  and data recognizable by the server apparatus  40 . The air conditioner data model  4  is linked with information on the conversion function for conversion of each piece of data, and the controller  60  uses the conversion function to process data interconversion. 
     The communication unit  62  is an interface or the like for communication with the communication network  50  via a public network, a router, or the like (not depicted). The communication unit  62  is functioned to achieve communication between the controller  60  and the server apparatus  40 , of data on the air conditioner  10  including various commands. The controller  60  receives the air conditioner data model  4  from the server apparatus  40  via the communication unit  62 . 
     A control unit  63  is constituted by a CPU, a cache memory, and the like. The control unit  63  cooperates with remaining constituents of the controller  60  to control the entire controller  60 . The control unit  63  includes the processing unit  63   a  that processes various information in the controller  60 . For example, the processing unit  63   a  acquires data from the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor unit  12  via the connecting unit  64  to store the data in the storage unit  61 . The processing unit  63   a  processes, with use of the conversion function, interconversion between data recognizable by the air conditioner  10  and data recognizable by the server apparatus  40 . The processing unit  63   a  causes the communication unit  62  to transmit various commands received from the server apparatus  40  to the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor unit  12  at predetermined timing. 
     The connecting unit  64  is an interface to be connected to the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X. The controller  60  can thus transmit various commands to the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X and receive data from the outdoor unit controlling unit  11 X via the connecting unit  64 . 
     (3-2) Server Apparatus 
     The server apparatus  40  is connected to the controller  60  via the communication network  50  to manage the air conditioner  10 . The server apparatus  40  is a computer that manages the air conditioner  10 , such as a supercomputer, a workstation, a personal computer, or cloud computing. The server apparatus  40  includes a storage, unit  41 , a communication unit  42 , a processing unit  43   a , an input unit  45 , and an output unit  46 . 
     The storage unit  41  is configured to store various information, and includes a ROM, a RAM, and/or a hard disk, etc. For example, the storage unit  41  stores various programs for execution of various functions of the server apparatus  40 , and various data for execution of the programs. Specifically, the storage unit  41  stores the management program  3 , and the air conditioner data model  4  to be referred to in the management program  3 . The air conditioner data model  4  is stored (registered) at the storage unit  41  via the input unit  45  to be described later or the communication unit  42  to be described later. When the air conditioner data model  4  is registered at the storage unit  41  of the server apparatus  40 , the processing unit  43   a  provides the air conditioner data model  4  to the controller  60  via the communication unit  42 . 
     The communication unit  42  is an interface or the like for communication with the controller  60  and the like via a public network, a router, or the like (not depicted). Specifically, the communication unit  42  executes communication with the controller  60 , of data on the air conditioner  10  including various commands. 
     A control unit  43  is constituted by a CPU, a cache memory, and the like. The control unit  43  cooperates with remaining constituents of the server apparatus  40  to control the entire server apparatus  40 . The control unit  43  includes the processing unit  43   a  that processes various information in the server apparatus  40 . For example, the processing unit  43   a  stores, in the storage unit  41 , data on the air conditioner (the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor unit  12 ) as a management target, the data acquired from the controller  60 . The processing unit  43   a  further manages the air conditioner in accordance with the data stored in the storage unit  41 . 
     The input unit  45  is an interface for input of information to the server apparatus  40 . The input unit  45  is implemented by a keyboard, a mouse, and/or a touch screen, etc. 
     The output unit  46  is configured to output various information and is constituted by any type of a display, a speaker, and the like. 
     (4) Air Conditioner Data Model 
     The air conditioner data model  4  is a collection of data on each type of the air conditioners  10 . Each type of the air conditioners  10  indicates each model of the outdoor unit  11  or the indoor unit  12 , and a different model is set for different horse power, capacity, or the like of the outdoor unit  11  or the indoor unit  12 . 
     For example,  FIG.  4    is a schematic chart indicating the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   a . The indoor unit  12   a  is a single flow indoor unit (type A), and the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   a  includes data on start and stop, set temperature, and suction temperature.  FIG.  5    is a schematic chart indicating the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   b . The indoor unit  12   b  is a four-way blowable cassette indoor unit (type B), and the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   h  includes data on start and stop, set temperature, suction temperature, and a human detection state.  FIG.  6    is a schematic chart indicating the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   c . The indoor unit  12   c  is a floorstanding indoor unit (type C), and the air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12   c  includes data on start and stop, set temperature, suction temperature, and floor temperature. The air conditioner data model  4  for the indoor unit  12  can obviously include any other data. Each piece of data is linked with items such as “Input/Output”, “Data Type”, and “Property (Attribute)” to indicate data on the indoor unit  12   a ,  12   b , and  12   c  in more detail. 
     Specifically, the item “Input/Output” indicates that the data is an input value or an output value. The item “Data Type” indicates whether acquired data is analog data or binary data. 
     The item “Property (Attribute)” includes a current value indicating a current state of the air conditioner  10 , an environmental state around the air conditioner  10 , and a set value. The current value includes data acquired by the controller  60  from the air conditioner  10  via the connecting unit  64 . A minimum value and a maximum value indicates a minimum value and a maximum value of a manageable value for the type. The minimum value and the maximum value exemplarily indicates a minimum value and a maximum value of the set temperature for the air conditioner  10 . An initial value indicates a value initially set for the type. A stride indicates a stride of a manageable set value for the type. OPC indicates a communication command set for the type. Type of OPC indicates information for specification of the air conditioner  10  in accordance with the communication command. Data Converter indicates information on the conversion function used for conversion of the data item. 
     The information on the conversion function enables selection of one of a plurality of conversion functions stored in the controller  60 . Examples of the information on the conversion function include a function ID preliminarily set for each of the conversion functions. 
     (5) Provision of Air Conditioner Data Model  4   
     Described hereinafter is a method of providing the air conditioner data model  4 . 
     In the air conditioning management system  1 , the controller  60  stores, in the storage unit  61 , the management program  3  for management of the air conditioner  10 . The manager or the like of the air conditioning management system  1  prepares the air conditioner data model  4  on an air conditioner newly introduced, and stores the air conditioner data model  4  thus prepared in the storage unit  41  of the server apparatus  40 . The model is stored in the storage unit  41  of the server apparatus  40  when the manager or the like transmits the air conditioner data model  4  from a computer, a tablet terminal, or the like for the manager to the communication unit  42  of the server apparatus  40  via the communication network  50  such as the Internet. When the new air conditioner data model  4  is stored (registered) at the storage unit  41 , the processing unit  43   a  of the server apparatus  40  transmits the air conditioner data model  4  from the communication unit  42  to the communication unit  62  of the controller  60  via the communication network  50  such as the Internet. The processing unit  63   a  of the controller  60  stores the air conditioner data model  4  thus received in the storage unit  61 . The controller  60  can thus execute the management program  3  with reference to the air conditioner data model  4 . At this time, the controller  60  may acquire the conversion function as information for execution of the program. 
     (6) Execution of Management Program  3   
     The controller  60  acquires data from the air conditioner  10  via the connecting unit  64 . The data thus acquired is stored in a predetermined region of the air conditioner data model  4  indicated in  FIG.  4    to  FIG.  6   . 
     The server apparatus  40  communicates with the controller  60  upon receipt of a request acquired via the input unit  45  or the communication unit  42  or at intervals of predetermined time, and manages the air conditioner  10  in accordance with the air conditioner data model  4  stored in the controller  60 . Managing the air conditioner  10  includes monitoring the air conditioner  10  or transmitting a command or the like to the air conditioner  10  or a different device. At this time, the processing unit  63   a  of the controller  60  refers to the information on the conversion function included in the air conditioner data model  4  to convert data in accordance with the conversion function. Specifically, the processing unit  63   a  convers data stored in the predetermined region of the air conditioner data model  4  to data recognizable by the server apparatus  40  in accordance with the conversion function included in the air conditioner data model  4 . 
     (7) Features 
     (7-1) 
     The air conditioning management system  1  according to the present disclosure manages the plurality of air conditioners  10  (the outdoor unit  11  and the indoor units  12 ) as management targets. The air conditioning management system  1  includes the controller  60  and the server apparatus  40 . The controller  60  is connected to the air conditioners  10 . The controller  60  executes the management program  3  for management of the air conditioners  10 . The controller  60  is connected to the server apparatus via the network. The server apparatus  40  is connected to the controller  60 . The server apparatus  40  provides the controller  60  with the air conditioner data model  4  as a collection of data on the air conditioners to be referred to in the management program  3 . The air conditioner data model  4  is provided for each type of the air conditioners  10 . The air conditioner data model  4  includes the information on the conversion function for interconversion between data acquired from the air conditioners and data recognizable by the server apparatus. 
     When the air conditioner data model  4  is registered at the server apparatus  40  in the air conditioning management system  1 , the server apparatus  40  provides the controller  60  with the air conditioner data model  4 . 
     A different program for management of an air conditioner may be applied to each air conditioner as a management target. In an exemplary case where a new air conditioner is introduced, the existing management program included in the controller may fail to achieve sufficient management. Conventional technology needs development of a corresponding management program for management of a newly introduced air conditioner. Development of a management program problematically requires enormous work time and processes. 
     In a conventional air conditioning management system, the management program  3  has been prepared in accordance with information (the air conditioner data model  4 ) unique to the air conditioners. The existing management program  3  thus prepared may occasionally fail to achieve sufficient management when a new air conditioner is introduced to the air conditioning management system. In an exemplary case where a new type of the air conditioners is introduced to the air conditioning management system, it has been necessary to develop a management program for the new type of the air conditioners. Development of a management program problematically requires enormous work time and processes. 
     In view of this, the air conditioning management system  1  according to the present disclosure is configured as described above to start management of a new air conditioner  10  added to the air conditioning management system  1 , without development of any new management program  3 . Accordingly, the air conditioning management system  1  can continuously manage the air conditioners  10 . 
     In the air conditioning management system  1 , the server apparatus  40  provides the air conditioner data model  4  to enable management with use of an identical management program  3  even when a new air conditioner  10  is introduced. 
     The air conditioning management system  1  can manage a new type of the air conditioners  10  introduced to the air conditioning management system  1  with use of the identical management program  3 . 
     The air conditioner data model  4  includes the information on the conversion function, which can achieve interconversion between data acquired from the air conditioners and data recognizable by the server apparatus. 
     The controller  60  and the server apparatus  40  can achieve data conversion in a recognizable language. 
     (8) Modifications 
     In the air conditioning management system  1  according to the present disclosure, the controller  60  may provide the air conditioner data model  4  in the following manner. 
     Initially, the manager or the like of the air conditioning management system  1  prepares the air conditioner data model  4  for an air conditioner newly introduced, and stores the air conditioner data model  4  thus prepared in the storage unit  41  of the server apparatus  40 . The model is stored in the storage unit  41  of the server apparatus  40  when the manager or the like transmits the air conditioner data model  4  from a computer, a tablet terminal, or the like for the manager to the communication unit  42  of the server apparatus  40  via the communication network  50  such as the Internet. 
     Subsequently, the air conditioner is installed in one of the facilities  2 , and the outdoor unit controlling unit of the air conditioner and the connecting unit  64  of the controller  60  are connected to each other. The controller  60  acquires type information on the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of the air conditioner via the connecting unit  64 . The controller  60  transmits the type information acquired from the air conditioner to the server apparatus  40  via the communication network  50 , to request transmission of the air conditioner data model corresponding to the type information. When the server apparatus  40  transmits the air conditioner data model to the controller  60  in response to this request, the controller  60  is provided with the air conditioner data model for the new air conditioner. 
     (9) 
     The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. Various modifications to modes and details should be available without departing from the object and the scope of the present disclosure recited in the claims.