Hvac sensor information and sensor communication over relay-controlled power line

Abstract

Provided are embodiments for a wireless gateway device for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for providing sensor information and sensor communication over relay-controlled power line. The wireless gate device includes an input/output (I/O) interface, a communication unit, and a controller. The controller is communicably coupled with the I/O interface and the communication unit. The controller is configured to receive operational data from at least one of one or more sensors and a thermostat of the HVAC system over the power line. The controller is also configured to control one or more components of the HVAC system based on the operational data associated with the HVAC system. The controller can also transmit the operational data to a remote server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless gateway device for a Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 an Input/Output (I/O) interface;   a communication unit; and   a controller communicably coupled with the I/O interface and the communication unit, the controller being configured to:
 receive, via at least one power converter, operational data associated with the HVAC system from at least one of one or more sensors or a thermostat of the HVAC system over a power line, wherein the at least one power converter is disposed on the power line to act as an interface between the at least one of the one or more sensors or the thermostat, and the wireless gateway device; and 
 perform at least one of:
 control one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received operational data associated with the HVAC system, wherein the one or more components of the HVAC system comprise at least one of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit; and 
 transmit, to a remote server, the received operational data associated with the HVAC system. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 generate one or more user interfaces via a display device to receive one or more user inputs from a user of the HVAC system, and   control the one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received operational data and the received one or more user inputs.   
     
     
         3 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 generate one or more control signals based on the received operational data associated with the HVAC system; and   transmit, to the thermostat via the power line, the one or more control signals to control the one or more components of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive, from the server, one or more operational characteristics of the HVAC system in response to the transmitted operational data; and   control the one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received one or more operational characteristics of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         5 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is communicably coupled to the at least one power line converter for transmitting the one or more control signals over the power line, and wherein the at least one power line converter is configured to convert the one or more control signals into one or more communication messages for transmission onto the power line. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is communicably coupled to the at least one power line converter to receive the operational data via the power line, wherein the at least one power line converter is configured to convert one or more communication messages associated with sensor data that are transmitted over the power line into the operational data. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to establish a serial bus line communication for exchanging information with the at least one power line converter. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor power line signals being transmitted over to the power line for determining at least a run-time of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         9 . A method for operation of a wireless gateway device for a Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:
 receiving operational data associated with the HVAC system from at least one of one or more sensors and a thermostat of the HVAC system over a power line, wherein the at least one power converter is disposed on the power line to act as an interface between the at least one of the one or more sensors or the thermostat, and the wireless gateway device; and   performing at least one of:
 controlling one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received operational data associated with the HVAC system, wherein the one or more components of the HVAC system comprise at least one of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit; and 
 transmitting, to a remote server, the received operational data associated with the HVAC system. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 generating one or more user interfaces via a display device to receive one or more user inputs from a user of the HVAC system, and   controlling the one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received operational data and the received one or more user inputs.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 generating one or more control signals based on the received operational data associated with the HVAC system; and   transmitting, to the thermostat via the power line, the one or more control signals to control the one or more components of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the server, one or more operational characteristics of the HVAC system in response to the transmitted operational data; and   controlling the one or more components of the HVAC system based on the received one or more operational characteristics of the HVAC system.