Techniques for communicating data amongst controllers in a power supply system

1. A computer-implemented method for communicating data amongst controllers in a power supply system, comprising:

receiving, by a local controller, a present measure of a parameter indicative of an operating state of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS);

comparing, by the local controller, the present measure to a control window for the parameter, where the control window defines a range of multiple values between a minimum value for the parameter and a maximum value for the parameter;

adjusting, at the local controller, the range of values in the control window based on the present measure only in response to the present measure falling outside of the control window; and

transmitting, by the local controller, the present measure via a controller area network to a managing controller only in response to the present measure falling outside of the control window.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises

receiving, by the local controller, a synchronization signal from the managing controller, thereby defining a reporting time interval; and

transmitting, by the local controller, the present measure to the managing controller when the present measure falls outside of the control window and in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprises

receiving, by the local controller, an earlier measure of a parameter prior to receiving the present measure

comparing, by the local controller, the earlier measure to the control window for the parameter;

storing, by the local controller, the earlier measure as either a maximum value or a minimum value for the parameter during the reporting time interval when the earlier measure falls outside of the control window; and

transmitting, by the local controller, the earlier measure to the managing controller in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprises

comparing, by the local controller, the present measure to a value for the parameter transmitted during a preceding reporting time interval; and

transmitting, by the local controller, the present measure to the managing controller only when the present measure differs from the value of the parameter transmitted during the preceding time interval.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the control window further comprises setting the minimum value and the maximum value for the control window so that the updated control window is centered around the present measure.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprises

maintaining, by the local controller, a local timer during the reporting time interval;

transmitting, by the local controller, the present measure and value of the local timer to the managing controller, when the present measure falls outside of the control window and in response to receiving the synchronization signal; and

resetting, by the local controller, the local timer in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the UPS having an output terminal selectively coupled to at least one of a bypass voltage source and an uninterruptible power source; a bypass switch electrically connected between the bypass voltage source and the output terminal; and a UPS switch electrically connected between the uninterruptible power source and the output terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the parameter is further defined as one of a voltage of the signal from a primary voltage source to the UPS, a frequency of the signal from the primary voltage source to the UPS, a voltage of the signal from a bypass voltage source to the UPS, a frequency of the signal from the bypass voltage source to the UPS.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the parameter is further defined as one of an output voltage from the UPS, an output current from the UPS and a temperature of an inverter comprising the UPS.

10. A power supply system, comprising

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) having an output terminal selectively coupled to at least one of a bypass voltage source and an uninterruptible power source;

a bypass switch electrically connected between the bypass voltage source and the output terminal;

a UPS switch electrically connected between the uninterruptible power source and the output terminal,

a first local controller interfaced with the uninterruptible power supply and configured to receive a present measure of a parameter associated with the UPS; and

a managing controller in data communication with the first local controller, wherein the local controller is operable to compare the present measure to a control window and transmit the present measure to the managing controller only in response to the present measure falling outside of the control window, where the control window defines a range of multiple values between a minimum value for the parameter and a maximum value for the parameter and the local controller adjusts the range of values in the control window based on the present measure only in response to the present measure falling outside of the control window.

11. The power supply system of claim 10 wherein the managing controller is interconnected by a controller area network to the local controller.

12. The power supply system of claim 10 wherein the managing controller is configured to periodically transmit a synchronization signal to the local controller; and the local controller transmits the present measure to the managing controller when the present measure falls outside the control window and in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

13. The power supply system of claim 10 wherein is configured to receive an alternating current (AC) input signal from the bypass voltage source and the uninterruptible power source.

14. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the UPS includes a converter configured to receive the AC input signal from the uninterruptible power source, where the converter includes a rectifier, an inverter, a boost circuit and a battery.

15. The power supply system of claim 10 wherein the parameter is further defined as one of a voltage of the signal from the uninterruptible power source to the UPS, a frequency of the signal from the uninterruptible power source to the UPS, a voltage of the signal from the bypass voltage source to the UPS, a frequency of the signal from the bypass voltage source to the UPS.

16. A power supply system, comprising

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured to receive an alternating current (AC) input signal from a bypass voltage source and a uninterruptible power source and having an output terminal selectively coupled to at least one of the bypass voltage source and the uninterruptible power source, wherein the UPS includes

a bypass switch electrically connected between the bypass voltage source and the output terminal;

a converter circuit configured to receive the AC input signal from the uninterruptible power source;

a UPS switch electrically connected between the converter circuit and the output terminal,

a first local controller interfaced with the uninterruptible power supply and configured to receive a present measure of a parameter associated with the UPS; and

a managing controller in data communication with the first local controller, wherein the local controller is operable to compare the present measure to a control window and transmit the present measure via a controller area network to the managing controller only in response to the present measure falling outside of the control window, where the control window defines a range of multiple values between a minimum value for the parameter and a maximum value for the parameter.

17. The power supply system of claim 16 wherein local controller adjusts the range of value in the control window based on the present measure when the present measure falls outside of the control window.

18. The power supply system of claim 16 wherein the managing controller is configured to periodically transmit a synchronization signal to the local controller; and the local controller transmits the present measure to the managing controller when the present measure falls outside the control window and in response to receiving the synchronization signal.