HVAC control system comprising a mobile communication device and method for configuring a field device in an HVAC control system

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system comprising: at least one field device comprising a control device having a memory and a first short range wireless connection/ communication interface; a mobile communication device comprising a second short range wireless connection/ communication interface for establishing a short range connection between the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the control device of the field device and the second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device, and a first long range connection/ communication interface; and a data server having a second long range connection/ communication interface for establishing a long range connection between the second long range connection/ communication interface of the data server and the first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device, and a memory storing at least one application program. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for managing the operation of or configuring a field device in an HVAC control system, particularly in an HVAC system as mentioned above.

PRIOR ART

In the field of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, called HVAC systems, in buildings, in particular in residential buildings, office buildings, commercial buildings and industrial buildings, automatic fluid flow regulation has become more and more important. To this end, a plurality of field devices (regulating devices, sensor devices), like actuators for regulating the flow of fluid, in particular the flow of liquids such as water and gases such as air, in pipes, and sensors are integrated and distributed in the HVAC system.

In many of such systems, the field devices are controlled by a central control unit or by a master field device. In addition, most field devices have a decentral controller integrated in the field device. Since the requirements of a field device depend on the function and location of the field device in the HVAC system, the field devices require individual parameter settings which may be set up when commissioning, maintaining or adapting the field devices. The decentral controllers comprise at least a CPU and a memory.

For setting up the decentral controller of a field device switches and buttons are provided on the housing of the field device. In more recent applications, switches and buttons have been replaced by remote control, such that wireless setup and/or control of the filed device is facilitated. As an example, document EP 2962163 Bl discloses actuators having NFC transponders which, prior to turning on power, communicate a unique identifier to a mobile device and receive drive parameters from the mobile device.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system facilitating comfortable set-up and operation of field devices of a HVAC system, and a corresponding method for managing and setting up a field device.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

This object is attained by providing an HVAC control system according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 6. The features of the dependent claims refer to preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention relates to any combination of any features described in this application.

A HVAC control system according to the invention comprises: at least one field device comprising a control device having a memory and a first short range wireless connection/ communication interface; a mobile communication device comprising at least one of

(i) a second short range wireless connection/ communication interface for establishing a short range connection between the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the control device of the field device and the second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device and

(ii) a camera; and a first long range connection/ communication interface; and a data server having a second long range connection/ communication interface for establishing a long range connection between the second long range connection/ communication interface of the data server and the first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device, and a memory storing at least one application program (app); wherein the system is configured for transmitting the application program from the data server to the mobile communication device via the long range connection when a download of the application program is triggered by the mobile communication device.

The HVAC control system provides comfortable set-up and easy operation of field devices of a HVAC system, since the most commonly used functionalities and processes are made available with a few operations, particularly with as few actuations of interactive elements (control elements, like switches, buttons, etc.) and with low navigation depth. Therefore, the concept is designated a “zero-press application”. Particularly, the set-up, setting of operation parameters, configuration and/or control of operation could be provided with a minimum of interference by a user. In the best case the user only has to hold the mobile communication device close to the field device and then a virtual interface appears on the screen of the mobile communication device. The user can operate, set-up or set parameters of the field device by actuating virtual interactive elements of the virtual interface, without having contact to the field device and without having to download a program actively. In some cases the program may open automatically after it has been downloaded, or a user may start the program by initiating a start signal in the mobile communication device. The start signal may be a confirmation to open and/or execute the program. The virtual interactive elements may be modelled according to real-world physical embodiments of such interactive elements. Physical interactive elements of the field device can be omitted.

A HVAC system has a plurality of pipes, field devices like controllers, regulators, etc., and sensors integrated in the pipe system. The field device may be a flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid, in particular the flow of liquids such as water and gases such as air, through pipes of the HVAC system. At least some of the field devices comprise an actuator. Field devices may include other applications like sensors or measuring devices (flow meters, etc.). The field devices are not limited to any particular application.

The field device has a mechanical/ physical part and a control device. The control device includes at least a CPU, a memory and a short range connection/ communication interface. The mobile communication device may be any mobile device having at least a CPU, a memory and a short range connection/ communication interface. It may be any device like a smartphone, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet, but is not limited to these devices.

Short range connection/ communication interfaces are defined as interfaces that provide oneway or bidirectional communication (including transfer of data and/or information) as soon as the communication module approaches the field device to a certain degree or is placed in a position and/or adjusted to be able to communicate with the short range communication interface of the field device. It is preferred that short-range connection/ communication is wireless. In this context, short-range connection/ communication may include technologies and standards like Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth low energy BLE, Thread, UWB and/or Zigbee, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Near Field Communication NFC. Alternatively or additionally a camera (mostly used in combination with Bluetooth) may be provided, particularly for reading a QR code placed on the field device,

For the application of a camera and QR code reader, particularly in combination with Bluetooth connection, a short-range connection/ communication interface of the field device may include a QR code, and particularly a Bluetooth interface. For any other short/close range connection/ communication the short-range connection/ communication interface may include a passive element, like an RFID chip, etc.

For example, short range connection/ communication may include near field communication (NFC). NFC is based on RFID technology and consists of a set of communication protocols that enables communication between two electronic devices over small distances. Even when the short range connection/ communication interface (RFID chip) of the field device is not powered (powerless mode), communication using NFC may be possible. In this way the NFC chip may be used for storing data in an EEPROM on the NFC chip, which can be read by the control device of the field device once the field device being powered. In other applications, if the field device is not powered, bidirectional communication may be disabled.

NFC is a good alternative for the present invention, however, other protocols than NFC may be used and the term “short range connection/ communication” is deemed to include all these protocols.

When the mobile communication device approaches a field device an identifier of the field device, an identifier like an NFC tag, a QR code or similar (mostly passive) identification is detected and read out by the (active) NFC module of the mobile communication device. If the application program or a particular version of the application program that provides an interface for setting up and managing the field device is already installed in the mobile communication device, the application program may open automatically, or it may display the virtual interface for setting up and managing, respectively, the field device for a predetermined time, both triggered by the identifier. If the application program or a particular version of the application program is not installed, the identifier triggers download of the app from a data server automatically. Therefore, an URL or any other source for retrieving the application program is provided by the identifier. Besides the URL of the app, other parameters may be stored on the tag (e.g. direction of rotation) in order to reduce the number of read cycles.

There may be different trigger conditions for establishing the short range connection, e.g. based on a position or distance determination (e.g., via UWB respectively time of flight measurement, Bluetooth respectively signal strength) between the mobile communication device and the device identifier of the short range connection/ communication interface. Another trigger may be that the mobile communication device (2) identifies an identifier of the field device (1), e.g. an identifier captured by the camera of the mobile communication device (2). In the case a camera and an image processing device of the mobile communication module is used, establishing the short range connection means coming as close and having an unobstructed optical path between the camera and the object such that the object may be captured by the camera.

The identifier (and/or the short range connection/ communication device) may be arranged in/on the field device or in a distance from the field device. For example, when the actuator or sensor of the field device is not (easily) accessible, the identifier may be arranged easily accessible for a user.

The download may be performed via a long range connection/ communication between the mobile communication device and a data server. Long range connection/ communication may include Bluetooth technology, UWB, Thread and/or Zigbee, without or via Gateways, WLAN, wire connection (LAN), mobile communications technology (Wide Area Network communication (such as GSM, LTE, 3G, 4G or 5G mobile communication), Low Power Wide Area Network communication (such as Narrowband Internet of Things NB-IoT, Long Range LoRa/ LoRaWAN, SigFox, or Long Term Evolution Category Ml LTECatMl), or a combination of any transmission technologies. Long range connection/ communication in the context of the invention means that there is no necessity that the data server is in any proximity to the mobile communication device. The server may be located near the field device or remote from it. It may be installed in a cloud or in a local server. The system may include one or any number of data servers, e.g. a company server that receives an URL from the mobile communication device and then initiates and accomplishes download of the app from another server to the mobile communication device.

The application program, after having been downloaded from a server, can be uploaded to a memory of the mobile communication device and launched. It can be at least one of downloaded, stored and installed (automatically) in the mobile communication device.

It is an advantage of the invention that the identifier provides the download data of the application program. Therefore, a suitable app can be retrieved for different field devices, without having to store a library of apps in the mobile communication device. Furthermore, the app can be easily and centrally adapted/ updated to fit new versions of field devices or applications.

When being executed the (temporary) application program may display a virtual operating interface for managing or configuring the field device. Particularly, a virtual landing screen may be opened on a display of the mobile communication device, showing virtual interaction elements like buttons and switches providing simple handling while only requiring a minimum of interaction of the user with the system. Mechanical operating elements are replaced by virtual single touch or multi touch elements shown on the display of the mobile communication device. The app may provide various settings and operations, e.g. pre-setup of bus data of the data bus of the HVAC system, configuration data, etc. Further setups may be the rotary direction of a flow controller, failsafe position, etc.

The application program may facilitate display of a first screen showing interaction elements. Alternatively, cumulatively (e.g. by split screen, overlapping) a second screen may be requested by the user (e.g. by swiping from the top) which e.g. includes alternative important controls based on real controls, or which has different arrangements of interaction elements (e.g. virtual interaction elements arranged according to a physical arrangement of interactive elements on a field device control interface, a list of setting parameters with virtual sliders, toggle bars, etc.).

It is preferred that the application program is a temporary app, i.e. the app is de-installed or deleted after the app has been used, in order to avoid overload of the mobile communication device with various apps and data, respectively. The deinstallation could be triggered by the user, and/or be initiated automatically after a certain time has lapsed or after a certain “event”, or by the operating system of the mobile communication device. An “event” may be closing the app, interrupting the short range connection, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mobile communication device may be configured for triggering the download of the (temporary) application program automatically when a short range connection between the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the control device of the field device and the second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device is established. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the download may be triggered by recognition of an identifier (e.g. URL), e.g. in a QR code or in an RFID chip, when the communication device reads the content of the QR code or RFID chip.

The mobile communication device may be configured for (automatically) establishing a short range connection between the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the control device of the field device and the second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device is located in a distance d from the control device less than a predetermined distance D. The distance D may depend on the range of the antenna of the NFC device of the communication device. It may vary depending on the relative arrangement of the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the control device of the field device and the second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device. The distance D may be determined by a position or distance detection (e.g. by UWB) of the mobile communication device relative to the identifier or the first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the field device. The distance D may be in a range of a few mm up to some meters, whatever operating distance the short range connection/ communication technology provides.

The mobile communication device may be configured for automatically starting execution of the application program after the download of the application program to the mobile communication device has been accomplished.

A method for managing the operation of or configuring a field device in an HVAC control system according to the invention, particularly in a system as described above, including a field device and a mobile communication device, comprises the following steps:

SI a) Establishing, particularly automatically, a short range connection between a first short range wireless connection/ communication interface of a control device of the field device and a second short range wireless connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device, and receiving the content of an identifier attributed to the field device by the mobile communication device;

S2a) establishing or using an established long range connection between a second long range connection/ communication interface of the data server and a first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device; and

S3 a) downloading an application program from a memory of a data server via said long-range connection.

Another inventive method for managing the operation of or configuring a field device in an HVAC control system according to the invention, particularly in a system as described above, including a field device and a mobile communication device, comprises the following steps: Sib) Reading the content of an identifier attributed to the field device by the mobile communication device;

S2b) establishing or using an established long range connection between a second long range connection/ communication interface of the data server and a first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device; and

S3b) downloading an application program from a memory of a data server via said long-range connection.

Steps Sla and Sib may include reading an invocation identifier, e.g. an invocation URL, from a memory of the control device of the field device via the short range connection, or from an identifier attributed to the field device, e.g. from a NFC chip or from a QR code.

The invocation URL is particularly provided as content of the NFC tag (or content of the QR code). The functions of the invocation URL are (a) authentication via a server e.g. of a company using AASA file, (b) making sure that the correct app is downloaded and opened, and (c) transferring, besides the URL, operation parameters contained in the identifier to the app.

One or more of steps S2a, S2b, S3a and S3b may be performed automatically, i.e. without being triggered by a user. Alternatively, one or more of steps S2a, S2b, S3 a and S3b may have to be triggered or initiated by the user, e.g. by operating an interactive element on the mobile communication device. For example, the application program may be downloaded automatically when the short range connection has been established. In another preferred embodiment the application program may be downloaded after confirmation by the user via the communication device. The methods may include further steps Sla’ and Sib’, respectively, following steps Sla and Sib, respectively:

Sla’), Sib’) establishing or using an established long range connection between a first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device and an external server, and checking the authenticity of the application program to be downloaded.

The methods may include further steps S4a and S4b, respectively, following steps S3 a and S3b, respectively:

S4a), S4b) launching the application program.

Steps S4a and S4b may include, upon launch, receiving a URL, then extracting path components and query parameters and using them to update the user interface so that it corresponds to the URL and matches the user’s context.

The methods may include a further step S2a’ and S2b’, respectively, following steps S2a and S2b, respectively:

S2a’), S2b’) downloading an interactive element on the mobile communication device, and, when the interactive element is operated, proceeding to step 3a and 3b, respectively.

The methods may include a further step S2a” and S2b”, respectively, following steps S2a, S2a’, S2b or S2b’ :

S2a”), S2b”) checking whether the version of the application program has to be updated.

The methods may include a further step S4a’ and S4b’, respectively, following steps S4a and S4b, respectively:

S4a’), S4b’) displaying a representation of a user interface on a screen of the mobile communication device and/or updating the representation of a user interface on a screen of the mobile communication device.

In other words: a virtual operating interface for managing the field device is provided.

The communication device may display at least two representations of alternative representations of virtual operating interface for managing the field device. I.e. there may be redundant representations of the same operating interface. The specified method steps may be performed in the order as specified, or in any other useful order.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the application program may be a temporary application program which, in a further step S5a and S5b, respectively, following steps S3a, S3a’, S4a, S3b, S3b’ or S4b, is automatically removed from the mobile communication device after a predetermined time has lapsed. Alternatively, the temporary application program may be removed, i.e. deleted, de-installed, etc., when triggered by the user or triggered by a particular “event”. For example, when the short-term communication is terminated, the application program may be deleted or de-installed automatically or after a certain time has lapsed. In another embodiment the trigger for removal of the application program may be termination of the application, e.g. by closing the application or operating an interactive element. A temporary application program may be a small version of an application program that may run without installation. Users may execute the application program by clicking the URL retrieved from the identifier attributed to the field device. I.e. a temporary apps is accessible via the URL and instantly opens when the user clicks the URL, even (in particular applications) without installing the application program.

After removal the communication device no longer provides access to the application program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the physical components according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a method according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a method according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a representative example of a virtual user interface of a field device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a combination of a field device 1 and a mobile communication device 2 of a HVAC control system according to the invention, and a cloud system 3.

The field device 1 comprises at least a mechanical and/or sensory part 10 including e.g. an actuator, a sensor or any other device for managing the flow of fluid in a pipe of the HVAC system. Furthermore, the field device 1 has a control device 11 which may include a central processing unit (CPU) 110 and a memory 111, e.g. an EPROM (erasable programmable readonly memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) or flash memory. The memory 111 may store configuration data (e.g. direction of rotation, run-time open-close, bus address, maximum and minimum values e.g. of flow rate, measurement range, etc.) and setting data (fail-safe position, etc.) of the field device 1. The system and method according to the invention are particularly suitable for managing the direction of rotation (of a valve) and the fail-safe position.

Furthermore, the control device 11 includes a first short range wireless connection/ communication interface 112, for example a near field communication (NFC) device. NFC devices are based on RFID technology and provide contactless short range data transfer between at least two NFC devices. The NFC transponder (or NFC chip) may be an active transponder (NFC module) or a passive transponder (NFC transponder).

The mobile communication device 2, e.g. a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. comprises a CPU 20, a memory 21, a second short range wireless connection/ communication interface 22 and a first long range connection/ communication interface 23. The second short range wireless connection/ communication interface 22 may be for example a near field communication (NFC) device. The first long range connection/ communication interface 23 may provide data exchange between the interface 23 and a second long range connection/ communication interface 30 via a wire connection, a wireless connection or a combination of both. The long range connection connects the mobile communication device 2 to a data server 3, e.g. a website, a cloud system, a server, etc., which store application data, e.g. a (temporary) application program (app). The application program is downloaded from the data server 3, possibly stored in the memory of the mobile communication device 2 and executed in the mobile communication device 2. The download of the (temporary) application program is automatically triggered by the mobile communication device 2. The application program in the system according to this embodiment of the invention is a temporary application program. The temporary application program is characterized by the fact that it remains in the memory 21 only for a predetermined (pre-set or calculated) time before it is deleted by an automated process. This prevents the mobile communication module from being overloaded with apps that have been installed substantially for single use or limited use.

Fig. 2 shows a method for managing the operation of a field device in a HVAC control system, e..g. of the field device 1 of Fig. 1, using a mobile communication device, e. g. the mobile communication device 2 of Fig. 1.

In a first step SI the mobile communication device 2 approaches the control device 11 of the field device 1. When the distance d between the first short range connection/ communication interface 112 and the second short range connection/ communication interface 22 is smaller than a predetermined distance D, data transfer between the first connection/ communication interface 112 and the second connection/ communication interface 22 is initiated automatically (e.g. using NFC protocols). In step S2, when the field device 1 is detected and the content of the identifier, preferably an NFC tag, or a QR code, of the field device 1 is read out by the mobile communication module 2.

Besides the URL of the app other parameters may be stored in the tag (e.g. the direction of rotation) in order to reduce the number of read cycles necessary for setting up the field device 1.

In step S3 a long range connection between a second long range connection/ communication interface of the data server and a first long range connection/ communication interface of the mobile communication device is established. An authentication of the app may be performed in step S3’.

In order to initiate a download of the app, a confirmation by the user (optional step S3”) is required or not.

In step S4 the system checks whether the version of the app has to be updated. If yes, the app or the latest version of the app is downloaded in step S5. If the latest version is available on the mobile communication device, download can be omitted. The application program is usually downloaded from the memory of a data server 3. Particularly, a temporary version of the application program is downloaded temporarily after the long range connection has been established. If the application program is available in the mobile communication device 2 the method proceeds to step S6, wherein the application program in the mobile communication device is launched and executed, respectively, particularly automatically.

In step S7, after use the application program has been terminated, the application program is removed from the memory of the mobile communication device 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a method according to the invention which includes steps S2, S3, S3’, S3”, S4, S5, S6.

In the embodiment of the invention the application program is an application program which allows managing a field device 1 of a HVAC system, e.g. by setting up parameters (like bus parameters for a communication bus of the filed device 1), setting operating parameters, reading sensor values provided by the field device 1, etc. Particularly, a virtual landing screen 4 (see Fig. 4) opens on the smart phone 2 showing virtual interactive elements. The “landing screen” shows the most relevant information / settings without the need to scroll down, toggle screens or navigate between screens. No other interaction is required (“zero press” functionality).

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the application program when being executed displays a virtual operating interface 4 for managing the field device 1 (left side of Fig. 4). The virtual operating interface 4 of Fig. 4 has an additional overlay representation which makes the operating elements correspond to physical operating interfaces of a corresponding conventional filed device (right side of Fig. 4). The physical operating elements of the actuator shown on the right side of Fig. 3 are replaced by virtual operating elements (shown on the left side of Fig. 4) using a smartphone app.

Examples of operating elements are a direction switch 40, a failsafe position switch 41, etc. For example, the failsafe position switch 41 may be a virtual rotary knob/dial or a slider bar to adjust the failsafe position in a number of (e.g. 10) increments. The direction switch 40 implemented as toggle-button (CCW/CW) may be a virtual rotary switch to select between clockwise and counter-clockwise direction of rotation of an actuator.

Fig. 4, right side, represents a redundant view of some of the elements that were already present on the landing screen of the application program. There may be at least two different representations which may be arranged alternatively on the screen, or overlapping, or cumulatively. In other embodiments the switches may be replaced by virtual control gliders. Another mechanical operating element 44 of the conventional field device is an LED button allowing to start an auto-adjustment cycle. The auto-adjustment cycle determines the mechanical angle of rotation and adjust the operation range accordingly. The analogue input and output signals are automatically matched to the adjusted mechanical angle of rotation. Any mechanical elements may be replaced by virtual elements. The virtual elements may as well replace mechanical endstops.

By operating another virtual button 42 the user may trigger a timer for deinstallation of the app from the mobile communication module 2 or trigger de-installation of the app immediately.

Field 43 indicates, whether the field device 1 is electrically powered or not. Even when not being electrically powered, the short range connection/ communication interface 112 may be configured as a passive component which can communicate at least an identifier to the short- range connection/ communication interface 22 of the mobile communication module 2. The communication between the field device 1 and the mobile communication module 2 is provided via an NFC interface.

As a result of the method, since all the method steps are initiated automatically (until the system is ready for the operating parameters to be entered), the user does not have to press any buttons. Therefore, the operating system may be called a “zero press functional device”.

It is an important feature of the invention that the application program is a temporary (instant) application program which is automatically removed from the mobile communication device 2 after a predetermined time T has lapsed or after termination of the application. The application program is particularly removed by deleting or de-installing it from the memory 21. The lapsed time T before removal may be calculated and counted starting at a particular event, e.g. the time when a download of the application program has been initiated, when a download has been accomplished, when the application program has been executed for the last time, a.s.o. The lapsed time T between the event and the removal of the application program from the mobile communication module 2 may be an absolute pre-set time (e.g. x days), a calculated time, e.g. a time calculated as a function of how often the program has been executed in the past, when it has been used for the last time, or any other useful parameters of the system. In an alternative embodiment the de-installation may be triggered by an event, e.g. a command entered by the user, by actuation of a virtual button, by interrupting the short range communication, at certain intervals, e.g. on a particular day of the week or a particular time of a day, etc.