Patent ID: 8091373

Claim:
A method of controlling operation of multiple air conditioning units in an air conditioning system, the method comprising: detecting whether at least one air conditioning unit is operatively connected to a common controller; operating a first air conditioning unit if at least two air conditioning units are not detected after detecting the first air conditioning unit; the common controller performing a verification test if at least a second air conditioning unit is detected to determine whether to permit operation of one or both of the first and the second air conditioning units, the verification test comprising: communicating information between the common controller and a first controller and a second controller associated with the first and second air conditioning units, respectively, to determine compatibility between the first and second air conditioning units, comparing information communicated to the common controller by the first controller and the second controller, and the common controller determining whether the first and the second air conditioning units are compatible based on the information communicated by the first and the second controllers; permitting operation of the first and the second air conditioning units if the common controller determines both first and second air conditioning units are compatible, each of the first and second air conditioning units being operable to circulate conditioned air to an enclosed space via a common duct; and preventing operation of one or both of the first and second air conditioning unit if the common controller determines both air conditioning units are incompatible.