A METHOD OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A REMOTE COMPUTER AND HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING HVAC DEVICES

Abstract

A method of communication between a remote computer and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC devices includes communicatively connecting the HVAC devices to a communication bus via a bus communication interface of each HVAC device, selecting one of the HVAC devices having a remote communication interface as a gateway device, communicatively connecting the remote computer to the remote communication interface of the gateway device, identifying, by the HVAC gateway device, one or more of the HVAC devices connected to the communication bus by retrieving respective identification data of the HVAC devices via the bus communication interface, retrieving, by the gateway device, one or more device profiles corresponding to the identification data of the one or more identified HVAC devices, and enabling, by the gateway device using the retrieved one or more device profiles, data communication between the one or more identified HVAC devices and the remote computer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2023/052617 filed on Feb. 2, 2023, claiming priority based on Swiss Patent Application No. CH000106/2022 filed on Feb. 7, 2022, the contents of each of which being herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of communication between a remote computer and one or more Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC devices. The present invention further relates to an HVAC gateway device for enabling communication between a remote computer and one or more HVAC devices. The present invention even further relates to an HVAC system and a computer program product comprising instructions to be executed by a processor of an HVAC gateway device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, HVAC systems typically comprise a fluid transportation system and a plurality of HVAC devices, including motorized HVAC devices, such as actuators, valves, dampers, pumps, and fans, and other devices connected to the HVAC system, such as flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, rotation sensors, position sensors, humidity sensors, etc. In the field of HVAC, the electric motor is coupled, through gears and/or other mechanical coupling, to an actuated part, such as a valve or damper for controlling the flow of a fluid such as water or air. In addition to an electric motor, motorized HVAC devices or HVAC actuators, respectively, are typically provided with a controller having a processing unit and a data store for storing data content comprising configuration data for operating the HVAC device, and for operation-related data recorded by the HVAC device. The configuration data includes configuration parameters such as motor speed, closing time, closing torque, opening time, opening torque, valve type, etc. The operation-related data includes values such as number of cycles, number of movements, maximum travel angle, minimum travel angle, etc. In HVAC applications, the controller is connected to sensors, such as flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, air quality sensors, rotation sensors, position sensors, etc., and the configuration data further includes configuration parameters such as a target value of flow rate, a set value of altitude for adjusting the measurement of a flow sensor, etc. Moreover, a section of the data store further has stored therein program code for controlling the processing unit. In HVAC applications, the program code includes various control algorithms such as for controlling the motor to open and close an orifice of the valve or damper to regulate the flow of fluid, e.g. with regards to differential pressure, room temperature, flow of energy, etc.

The management and operation of HVAC systems comprising HVAC devices can be greatly improved by storing of configuration data, program code, and/or operation-related data at a central/remote location on a remote computer.

In order to improve management and operation of HVAC systems and their HVAC devices, HVAC systems have been recently developed, wherein the HVAC devices are configured to receive control and/or configuration data for operating the HVAC device, as well to transmit operation-related data recorded by the respective HVAC device from/to a remote computer.

HVAC devices may be configured to transmit data content to a remote computer either directly and/or via a separate, dedicated gateway device, the HVAC devices being connected to the gateway device via (local) bus communication interfaces. Implementations wherein the HVAC devices transmit data content directly to the remote computer have certain limitations due to the fact that not all HVAC devices are equipped or configured for communication with a remote computer. On the other hand, installing a separate, dedicated gateway device for communication with the remote computer involves additional installation effort and costs.

Installing, configuring, reconfiguring and replacing of HVAC devices is particularly time and cost intensive in HVAC systems where the HVAC devices are installed in locations which are not often accessed and/or are not easily accessible. Furthermore, installing and configuring new HVAC devices (also referred to as commissioning) is quite time intensive since often device-specific processing data is to be considered to enable communication with the newly installed HVAC device.

Even further, (re) configuring of HVAC devices for a specific application is also time consuming and inefficient since often each HVAC device needs to be individually (re) configured depending on the specific application.

Furthermore, replacing HVAC devices, such as defective HVAC devices or due to upgrades, is also time consuming since device-specific processing data of the replaced HVAC device needs to be transferred to the newly installed HVAC device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of embodiments disclosed herein to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it is an object of embodiments disclosed herein to provide a method of communication between a remote computer and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC device(s) which overcomes the limitation posed by the fact that not all HVAC devices are equipped or configured for communication with a remote computer, and at the same time reduces the installation and configuration efforts associated with an additional, dedicated gateway device.

According to the present disclosure, this object is achieved by the features of the independent claim 1. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description.

In particular, the above objective is addressed by a method of communication between a remote computer and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC device(s) according to embodiments disclosed herein. In a preparatory step of the method, the plurality of HVAC devices are communicatively connected to a communication bus via each respective HVAC device's bus communication interface. The communication bus, respectively the bus communication interface may a wired or wireless local interface such as MP-Bus, Modbus, BACnet, KNX, BLE, Thread, ZigBee or Z-Wave. One of the plurality of HVAC devices which is equipped with a remote communication interface is selected as the HVAC device to act as HVAC gateway device. The selection of one of the plurality of HVAC devices as HVAC gateway device may be an automatic selection of a first HVAC device comprising a remote communication interface. Alternatively, or additionally, one of the plurality of HVAC devices is selected as HVAC gateway device by a configuration, either by input received by the respective HVAC device or configuration prerecorded into a data store of the HVAC gateway device.

In a further preparatory step of the method, subsequent, preceding or parallel to the previously described steps (connecting and identifying HVAC devices), the remote computer is communicatively connected to a remote communication interface of the HVAC gateway device.

After an HVAC device has been selected as HVAC gateway device, the HVAC gateway device identifies each of the HVAC devices connected to the communication bus (or communication busses, e.g. a combination of wired and wireless with MP bus and BLE mesh) by retrieving respective identification data of the HVAC devices. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the identification data may be a mere ID number of the HVAC device. Alternatively, or additionally, the identification data may further comprise data descriptive of the device type and/or functionalities supported by the respective HVAC device.

After having identified the HVAC device(s) connected to the communication bus, the HVAC gateway device retrieves device profile(s) corresponding to the identification data of the HVAC devices. The device profiles comprise a set of computer executable instructions, which-when executed-enable data communication with the HVAC device and enable processing/interpretation of data communication therefrom. In other words, the device profiles comprise a device driver and—depending on the embodiment—also device-specific configuration and/or calibration and/or conditioning data. According to embodiments disclosed herein, the device-specific processing data comprises: a) data specific to a particular instance of an HVAC device (such as specific calibration and/or conditioning data, offset value(s)) which are determined for a single HVAC device (e.g. a single serial number); and/or b) configuration data applicable to a specific type/model of HVAC devices (such as a selection of a sensor value to be output) selected for a particular physically installed HVAC device.

Once the device profile(s) have been retrieved, data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices is enabled by the HVAC gateway device. Enabling data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices comprising routing data communication to and from the remote computer to the appropriate HVAC device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, before data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices is enabled, as a safety measure, manual user interaction is required, such as the entry of a password.

In summary, the object to enable communication between a remote computer and HVAC devices while overcoming the limitations posed by not all HVAC devices being equipped for remote communication, and at the same time reducing the installation and configuration efforts associated with an additional, dedicated gateway device is addressed according to the present invention by using one of the HVAC devices (having a remote communication interface) as a gateway and configuring the HVAC device which is used as a gateway to enable communication with connected HVAC devices using appropriate device profiles.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the HVAC gateway device retrieves device profile(s) from a remote computer based on the identification data of the HVAC device(s). Alternatively, or additionally, the HVAC gateway device is configured to receive device profile(s) via a configuration device and/or via a secondary communication interface comprised by and/or communicatively connected to the HVAC gateway device. The configuration device may one or more of a portable device, such as a general purpose mobile computing device (e.g. a smartphone) or a dedicated configuration tool. The configuration device may be connected directly to the HVAC gateway device, by a local area network communication link (such as Ethernet, or Wireless LAN) and/or a short range wireless communication link (such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy BLE, Thread and/or Zigbee) and/or a close-range wireless communication link (such as Radio Frequency Identification RFID or a Near Field Communication NFC). Alternatively, or additionally, the configuration device may be connected indirectly—via a communication provider—to the HVAC gateway device via Wide Area Network communication (such as GSM, LTE, 3G, 4G or 5G mobile communication) and/or a Low Power Wide Area Network communication (such as Narrowband Internet of Things NB-IoT, Long Range LoRa/LoRaWAN, SigFox, or Long Term Evolution Category M1 LTECatM1).

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the device profile(s) comprise device-specific processing data corresponding to the HVAC devices identified by the identification data.

Enabling data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices comprises processing, by the HVAC gateway device, operational data received from the HVAC devices, in particular from sensors, using the device-specific processing data and forwarding the thereby processed operational data to the HVAC application. Alternatively, or additionally, enabling data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices comprises processing, by the HVAC gateway device, setpoint data generated by the HVAC application using the device-specific processing data and forwarding the thereby processed setpoint data to the respective HVAC devices.

The device-specific processing data comprises-according to embodiments of the present disclosure, calibration and/or conditioning data specific to the HVAC devices identified by the identification data, wherein the processing by the HVAC gateway device comprises applying the calibration and/or conditioning data to operational data received from the HVAC devices and/or applying the calibration and/or conditioning data to setpoint data generated by the HVAC application (e.g. calibration and/or conditioning data determined by manufacturer, supplier, installer of the HVAC devices). According to a particular embodiment, calibration and/or conditioning data is applied to operational data received from the HVAC devices such as to compensate a non-linearity, an offset and/or scaling error of a sensor. Analogously, according to a particular embodiment, conditioning data is applied by the HVAC gateway device to setpoint data before being forwarded to the HVAC devices such as to compensate a non-linearity of an HVAC actuator, such as a non-linearity of a flow characteristic of a valve for regulating a flow rate of a fluid, or a non-linear heat transfer characteristic of a heat exchanger.

Alternatively, or additionally, the device-specific processing data comprises conversion data including conversion parameters and/or conversion formulae, wherein the processing by the HVAC gateway device, comprises applying the conversion parameters and/or conversion formulae to operational data received from the HVAC devices (e.g. converting a resistance measured by a temperature sensor into a temperature value based on a formula and/or a look-up table, or converting a pressure differential into a flow rate of a fluid). According to embodiments, the conversion parameters and/or conversion formulae are determined by a user depending on the specific application (e.g. type of fan or fan manufacturer or measurement range of an HVAC device) and made available to the remote computer or the gateway device via a configuration device.

According to even further embodiments, device-specific processing data enables the HVAC gateway device to compute new operational values by processing operational values from a plurality of different HVAC devices, such as computing a power or energy consumed/delivered by an HVAC system based on one or more temperature value(s) and one or more flow rate(s) measured by one or more HVAC device(s).

Depending on the connected HVAC devices, the operational data comprises status data of the respective HVAC devices and/or sensor values measured by one or more sensor(s) of the respective HVAC devices. Alternatively, or additionally, the setpoint data comprises actuator values, the method further comprising: actuating, by actuator(s) of the respective HVAC devices, of one or more mechanically connected actuated parts, e.g. flow regulating valves, in accordance with the actuator values as processed and forwarded by the HVAC gateway device. According to further embodiments, the HVAC gateway device computes specific actuator values for a plurality of connected HVAC devices based on a single control value comprised by the setpoint data. For example, controlling a plurality of valve actuators in order to regulate a power output of an HVAC system in view of operational data, such as flow or pressure data received from other HVAC devices.

According to embodiments disclosed herein, the device profile(s) comprise addressing information related to HVAC device(s) identified by the identification data, wherein enabling data communication between the HVAC device(s) and the remote computer comprises: forwarding data to and/or from the remote communication interface of the HVAC gateway device and a respective bus interface of the HVAC device(s) identified by the addressing information, via the bus communication interface of the HVAC gateway device.

It is an object of further embodiments of the present disclosure to provide an improved method of replacement of an HVAC device—either due to a malfunction or due to an upgrade thereof. This further object is achieved by an assisted device replacement, wherein the HVAC gateway device identifies an (missing/defective) HVAC device C1 to be replaced and a replacement HVAC device. Identification of an HVAC device to be replaced may be performed automatically by the HVAC gateway device by detecting a malfunctioning HVAC device and/or by detecting an HVAC device being disconnected from the communication bus. Alternatively, or additionally, identification of an HVAC device to be replaced may be performed by the HVAC gateway device by receiving user input indicative of an HVAC device to be replaced.

Identification of a replacement HVAC device C2 may be performed automatically by the HVAC gateway device by detecting an HVAC device being connected to the communication bus, the newly connected HVAC device having a device type compatible with the device type of the HVAC device to be replaced. Alternatively, or additionally, identification of a replacement HVAC device may be performed by the HVAC gateway device by receiving user input indicative of a replacement HVAC device.

After having identified both an HVAC device to be replaced and a replacement HVAC device, the HVAC gateway device retrieves, data—such as operational and/or configuration data—from the HVAC device to be replaced. Thereafter, the HVAC gateway device transmits the retrieved data to the replacement HVAC device. Alternatively, or additionally, the HVAC gateway device updates parameters of the device profile of the replacement HVAC device using parameters of the device profile of the (missing/malfunctioning) HVAC device to be replaced. Alternatively, or additionally, the HVAC gateway device combines parameters of the device profile of the replacement HVAC device with parameters of the device profile of the (missing/malfunctioning) HVAC device to be replaced. Hence, the replacement HVAC device takes over seamlessly the place of HVAC device to be replaced.

It is a further object of embodiments disclosed herein to provide an improved HVAC gateway device for enabling communication between a remote computer and HVAC devices not equipped for remote communication. According to the present disclosure, this object is achieved by the features of the independent claim 10. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description. In particular, this object is achieved by an HVAC gateway device comprising a bus communication interface for communicatively connecting to a communication bus; a remote communication interface for communicatively connecting to a remote computer; and a processor configured to control the HVAC gateway device to carry out the method according to one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

It is a further object of embodiments disclosed herein to provide an HVAC system enabling communication between a remote computer and HVAC devices not equipped for remote communication. According to the present disclosure, this object is achieved by the features of the independent claim 12. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description. In particular, this object is achieved by an HVAC system comprising an HVAC gateway device, one or more HVAC devices comprising one or more actuator(s) for actuating mechanically connected actuated part(s) and/or one or more sensor(s) configured to measure a parameter of the HVAC system, wherein the HVAC gateway device and the one or more HVAC devices are communicatively connected by a communication bus via respective bus communication interfaces and wherein the HVAC gateway device is communicatively connected to a remote computer using a remote communication interface. The sensor is configured to measure a parameter of the HVAC system, in particular an environmental parameter, such as a temperature, humidity, particulate matter (PM) and/or CO₂ level of an environment controlled by the HVAC system. Alternatively, or additionally, the sensor is provided to measure operational parameters of various components of the HVAC system such as an actuated position of actuated part(s) and/or the operational state of the HVAC device and/or other parameters of the HVAC system, such as a flow rate or differential pressure at locations of a liquid through a fluid transportation system.

It is a further object of embodiments disclosed herein to provide a computer program product, which-when executed by a processor of an HVAC device of an HVAC system-enable communication between a remote computer and HVAC devices not equipped for remote communication. According to the present disclosure, this object is achieved by the features of the independent claim 13. In addition, further advantageous embodiments follow from the dependent claims and the description. In particular, this object is achieved by a computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of an HVAC gateway device, cause the HVAC gateway device to carry out the method according to one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous since users can very easily add additional HVAC devices via their respective bus communication interfaces to an already installed and operating bus system. Furthermore, with almost no configuration effort, the data of the added HVAC device(s) is made available in the remote computer, e.g. in a cloud computing environment. Over an Application Programming Interface API of the remote computer, data from the HVAC devices become available to other HVAC systems connected to the same remote computer. Data transfer is possible from device to remote computer (cloud) and as well from the remote computer (cloud) to the HVAC devices.

Embodiments of the present invention are further advantageous as also temporary installation of HVAC devices is significantly simplified, allowing the installation of temporary sensor-type HVAC devices in a commissioning phase of an HVAC system for measuring characteristics of the HVAC system, e.g. to optimize parameters (device-specific processing data) affecting the efficiency, accuracy, reaction-time of the HVAC system.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the concepts disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The herein described disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the disclosure described in the appended claims. The drawings which show:

FIG. 1: a schematic block diagram of an HVAC system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2: a flowchart illustrating a method of communication between a remote computer and a plurality of HVAC devices according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3: a flowchart illustrating a method of communication between a remote computer according to the present disclosure, in particular the substeps of enabling communication between the remote computer and HVAC devices using device profiles; and

FIG. 4: a flowchart illustrating a method of communication between a remote computer according to the present disclosure, in particular the step of assisted replacement of an HVAC device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts or steps.

In the following figures, like elements of which one or more are part of embodiments disclosed herein, are denoted with a reference numeral followed by an index range, such as .1-n, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 1, an x denotes any one of the like elements in the range of 1-n.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an HVAC system 1 according to the present disclosure. The HVAC system 1 comprises a plurality of HVAC devices C1, C2, C3, Cn, referred to hereafter in general as Cx. The HVAC devices Cx include one or more of motorized HVAC devices, such as actuators, valves, dampers, pumps, and fans, and other devices connected to the HVAC system, such as flow sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, rotation sensors, position sensors, humidity sensors, etc. Each HVAC device Cx comprises a respective bus communication interface 14 for being connected to the communication bus 40, such as an MP-Bus, Modbus, BACnet, KNX over BLE, Thread, ZigBee, Z-Wave, MiraOS or UWB.

One of the HVAC devices is selected as an HVAC gateway device 10. In order to be selectable as an HVAC gateway device, an HVAC device must comprise a remote communication interface and processing capabilities to enable the steps of identifying the HVAC devices connected to the communication bus 40, retrieving device profiles S50 and enabling data communication between the HVAC devices and a remote computer 100 (for a description of steps S10 to S60, please refer to the following paragraphs related to FIGS. 2 to 4). As shown on FIG. 1, the HVAC system 1 is connected to a remote computer 100 such as a Building Management System BMS, located on a server computer or in a cloud environment. The remote computer 100 is communicatively connected to the HVAC system 1 via a remote communication interface 12 of the HVAC device C1 selected as HVAC gateway device 10.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the HVAC device C1 selected as HVAC gateway device 10 comprises a processor 20, a data storage 30 and an actuator and/or sensor A/S. The data storage 30 stores a computer program product, which, when executed by the processor 20, causes the HVAC gateway device 10 to carry out the method of communication between a remote computer 100 and a plurality of HVAC devices according to one of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 to 4, steps of the method of communication between a remote computer and a plurality of HVAC devices shall be described.

FIG. 2 shows a method of communication between a remote computer and a plurality of HVAC devices. In a preparatory step S10 of the method, a plurality of HVAC devices Cx of the HVAC system 1 are communicatively inter-connected by a communication bus 40 via each respective HVAC device's Cx bus communication interface 14. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more of the plurality of HVAC devices Cx are automatically addressed upon being connected to the communication bus 40.

In a further step S20, one of the plurality of HVAC devices Cx is selected as the HVAC gateway device 10. The selection of one of the plurality of HVAC devices Cx as the HVAC gateway device 10 may be an automatic selection of a first HVAC device Cx comprising a remote communication interface 12 for connection to a remote computer 100. Alternatively, or additionally, one of the plurality of HVAC devices Cx is selected as HVAC gateway device 10 by a configuration, either by input received by the respective HVAC device Cx or configuration pre-recorded into a data store 30 of the HVAC gateway device 10.

In step S30, subsequent, preceding or parallel to the previously described steps (connecting HVAC devices), the remote computer 100 is communicatively connected to a remote communication interface 12 of the HVAC gateway device 10. According to embodiments disclosed herein, the remote computer 100 is communicatively connected to the HVAC gateway device 10 using a local area network communication link (such as Ethernet, or Wireless LAN). Alternatively, or additionally, the remote computer 100 is communicatively connected to the HVAC gateway device 10 via Wide Area Network communication (such as GSM, LTE, 3G, 4G or 5G mobile communication) and/or a Low Power Wide Area Network communication (such as Narrowband Internet of Things NB-IoT, Long Range LoRa/LoRaWAN, SigFox, or Long Term Evolution Category M1 LTECatM1).

After an HVAC device Cx has been selected as HVAC gateway device 10, the HVAC gateway device 10, in step S40, identifies each of the HVAC devices Cx connected to the communication bus 40 by retrieving respective identification data of the HVAC devices Cx. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the identification data may be an ID number of the HVAC device Cx. Alternatively, or additionally, the identification data may further comprise data descriptive of the device type and/or functionalities supported by the respective HVAC device Cx.

After the HVAC devices Cx connected to the communication bus 40 have been identified, in the step S40, the HVAC gateway device 10, in step S50, retrieves the device profile(s) corresponding to the identification data of the HVAC devices Cx. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the HVAC gateway device 10 retrieves the device profile(s) by way of a database query, stored either locally in the HVAC gateway device 10; on the remote computer 100 or a configuration device 200 communicatively connected to the HVAC gateway device 10.

Once the device profile(s) have been retrieved, in step S60, data communication between the remote computer 100 and the plurality of HVAC devices Cx is enabled by the HVAC gateway device 10.

Details of step S60—enabling data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices Cx—shall now be described with reference to FIG. 3. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the device profile(s) comprise device-specific processing data corresponding to the HVAC devices Cx identified by the identification data.

Correspondingly, step S60 of enabling data communication between the remote computer and the plurality of HVAC devices Cx comprises substep S62 of processing, by the HVAC gateway device 10, operational data received from the HVAC devices Cx, in particular from sensors, using the device-specific processing data.

In a subsequent substep S64, the thereby processed operational data is forwarded to the remote computer 100.

Alternatively, or additionally, step S60 of enabling data communication between the remote computer 100 and the plurality of HVAC devices Cx comprises substep S66 of processing, by the HVAC gateway device 10, setpoint data generated by the remote computer 100 using the device-specific processing data. Subsequently, in substep S68, the thereby processed setpoint data is forwarded to the respective HVAC device(s) Cx.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of communication between a remote computer 100 and a plurality of HVAC devices Cx according to the present disclosure, illustrating a step S70 of assisted replacement of an HVAC device Cx. In a first substep S72—of step S70—an HVAC device, e.g. C1, to be replaced is identified by the HVAC gateway device 10 (by automatic detection or user selection). In a further substep S74—of step S70—a replacement HVAC device, e.g. C2, is identified (by automatic detection or user selection). After having identified both an HVAC device to be replaced and a replacement HVAC device, in a further substep S76 the HVAC gateway device retrieves, data—such as operational and/or configuration data—from the HVAC device C1 to be replaced. Thereafter, as part of substep S76, the HVAC gateway device 10 transmits the retrieved data to the replacement HVAC device C2. Alternatively, or additionally, the HVAC gateway device 10 updates parameters of the device profile of the replacement HVAC device C2 using parameters of the device profile of the HVAC device C1 to be replaced. Hence, the replacement HVAC device takes over seamlessly the place of HVAC device to be replaced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • HVAC system 1
  • HVAC device. Cx
  • HVAC device to be replaced C1
  • replacement HVAC device C2
  • HVAC gateway device 10
  • remote communication interface (of HVAC gateway device) 12
  • bus communication interface (of HVAC devices) 14
  • processor (of HVAC gateway device) 20
  • data storage (of HVAC gateway device) 30
  • communication bus 40
  • remote computer 100
  • configuration device 200

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method of communication between a remote computer and a plurality of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC devices, the method comprising:

communicatively connecting the plurality of HVAC devices to a communication bus via a bus communication interface of each respective HVAC device;

selecting one of the plurality of HVAC devices having a remote communication interface as an HVAC gateway device;

communicatively connecting the remote computer to the remote communication interface of the HVAC gateway device;

identifying, by the HVAC gateway device, one or more of the plurality of HVAC devices connected to the communication bus by retrieving respective identification data of the plurality of HVAC devices via the bus communication interface;

retrieving, by the HVAC gateway device, one or more device profiles corresponding to the identification data of the one or more identified HVAC devices; and

enabling, by the HVAC gateway device using the retrieved one or more device profiles, data communication between the one or more identified HVAC devices and the remote computer.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

the HVAC gateway device retrieving the one or more device profiles from the remote computer and/or

the HVAC gateway device receiving the one or more device profiles via a configuration device and/or via a secondary communication interface comprised by and/or communicatively connected to the HVAC gateway device.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

identifying, by the HVAC gateway device, an HVAC device to be replaced and a replacement HVAC device; and

retrieving, by the HVAC gateway device, data from the HVAC device to be replaced and transmitting the retrieved data to the replacement HVAC device; and/or

updating, by the HVAC gateway device, parameters of the device profile of the replacement HVAC device using parameters of the device profile of the HVAC device to be replaced.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the one or more device profiles comprise device-specific processing data corresponding to the one or more identified HVAC devices identified by the identification data; and

wherein enabling the data communication comprises:

processing operational data received from the one or more identified HVAC devices using the device-specific processing data and forwarding the processed data to the remote computer and/or

processing setpoint data received from the remote computer using the device-specific processing data and forwarding the processed data to the respective HVAC device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the device-specific processing data comprises calibration data specific to the one or more identified HVAC devices identified by the identification data, and

wherein the processing comprises: applying the calibration data to operational data received from the one or more identified HVAC devices and/or applying the calibration data to the setpoint data received from the remote computer.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the device-specific processing data comprises conversion data including conversion parameters and/or conversion formulae, and

wherein the processing comprises applying the conversion parameters and/or conversion formulae to the operational data received from the one or more identified HVAC devices.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein, the operational data comprises sensor values measured by one or more sensors of the respective HVAC devices.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein, the setpoint data comprises actuator values, and

wherein the method further comprises: actuating, by one or more actuators of the respective HVAC devices, one or more mechanically connected actuated parts in accordance with the actuator values as processed and forwarded by the HVAC gateway device.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the one or more device profiles comprise addressing information related to one or more identified HVAC devices identified by the identification data, and

wherein enabling the data communication comprises: forwarding data to and/or from the remote communication interface of the HVAC gateway device and a respective bus interface of the one or more identified HVAC devices identified by the addressing information, via the bus communication interface.

23. An HVAC gateway device comprising:

a bus communication interface for communicatively connecting to a communication bus;

a remote communication interface for communicatively connecting to a remote computer; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is configured to control the HVAC gateway device to carry out the method according to claim 14.

24. The HVAC gateway device according to claim 10, further comprising one or more actuators for actuating one or more mechanically connected actuated parts and/or one or more sensors configured to measure a parameter of an HVAC system.

25. An HVAC system comprising:

the HVAC gateway device according to claim 23;

one or more HVAC devices comprising one or more actuators for actuating one or more mechanically connected actuated parts and/or one or more sensors,

wherein the HVAC gateway device and the one or more HVAC devices are communicatively connected by a communication bus via respective bus communication interfaces, and

wherein the HVAC gateway device is communicatively connected to a remote computer using a remote communication interface.

26. A computer program product comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of an HVAC gateway device comprising a bus communication interface and a remote communication interface, cause the HVAC gateway device to carry out the method according to claim 14.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable data storage comprising a computer program product which, when executed by a processor of an HVAC gateway device comprising a bus communication interface and a remote communication interface, cause the processor to carry out the method according to claim 14.