Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090146801 | Tuning algorithm for clock source frequency drift - An emergency evacuation and fire safety system has a plurality of signal devices. The clock source frequencies are tuned using the method and system such that the signals flash in synchronization continuously at a preset flashing interval upon detecting an alarm condition. A synchronization signal including a calibrated time position is broadcast at each predetermined time interval to all notification appliances. A time difference is computed between a local time position and the received calibrated time position by each of the notification appliances at each predetermined time interval and tuning the flashing of each of the one or more notification appliances by adjusting the preset flashing interval based on the computed time difference by each of the one or more associated notification appliances. | 06-11-2009 |
20120068841 | PSEUDO NON-ADDRESSABLE ALARM SYSTEM - A pseudo non-addressable alarm system that uses addressable notification appliances and/or detectors is disclosed. In one aspect, the addressable notification appliances and/or detectors may be entirely automatically (or partially automatically) grouped. One manner of automatic grouping is to use the wiring of the pseudo non-addressable system in order to automatically form the groupings of notification applications, such as grouping the notification appliances based on the signal line circuit to which they are connected. In another aspect, labels for the notification appliances and/or detectors in the pseudo non-addressable system may be entirely automatically (or partially automatically) generated. The labels may be automatically generated based on wiring of the pseudo non-addressable system and/or based on grouping information (such as grouping based on the particular signal line circuit to which the notification appliance is connected). | 03-22-2012 |
20120068842 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF INITIATING DEVICES - A method and system for configuring initiating devices in a fire alarm system is provided. Groupings of the initiating devices in the fire alarm system are determined entirely automatically (or partially automatically). For example, the fire alarm control panel may communicate with the initiating devices to receive grouping information from the initiating device (which may be input at the initiating device), and determine the grouping based on the communication. As another example, the fire alarm control panel may communicate with the initiating devices in order to determine some aspect of the fire alarm system (such as the wiring), and automatically determine the grouping based on the communication. Moreover, labels for the initiating devices in the fire alarm system may be generated entirely automatically (or partially automatically). Further, reporting of the alarm events by the fire alarm control panel may be based on grouping. For example, the fire alarm control panel may determine the grouping information for the one or more initiating devices that sent an alarm communication, organize presentation of the indication of the alarm event based on the determined grouping information, and present, on an output device, the organized presentation of the indication of the fire alarm event. | 03-22-2012 |
20120154141 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS CONFIGURATION, CONTROL, AND STATUS REPORTING OF DEVICES IN A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM - A method and system for configured one or more fire alarm system devices in a fire alarm system are disclosed. The fire alarm system includes the fire alarm system devices, a fire alarm panel, and a wireless handheld device. The fire alarm system devices communicate with the fire alarm panel via a first communications interface (such as a wired communications interface), and the wireless handheld device communicates with the fire alarm panel via a second communications interface (such as a wireless communications interface). In operation, the fire alarm control panel receives an indication from one of the fire alarm system devices of a user input. In response, the fire alarm panel sends a communication (such as a form) to the wireless handheld device. In response to the communication, the wireless handheld device sends a response to the fire alarm control panel (such as including information in the form). The fire alarm panel may then update its memory with the information sent from the wireless handheld device in order to control the operation of the fire alarm system device. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154160 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING FIRE ALARM DEVICE GROUPINGS AT THE FIRE ALARM DEVICE - A notification appliance that communicates with a fire alarm control panel is provided. The notification appliance includes a grouping input device that is configured to receive operator input grouping information (such as a manual input from the operator). The operator input grouping information may be indicative of at least one grouping for the notification appliance in the fire alarm system, such as a type of grouping (e.g., “mass notification” or “fire alarm notification”) or a number indicative of a grouping (e.g., in a system with groupings from | 06-21-2012 |
20130027198 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH NON-ADDRESSABLE NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES - A non-addressable fire alarm system, with a fire alarm control panel and one or more non-addressable devices, is provided. The fire alarm control panel sends a broadcast command to the one or more non-addressable devices in the fire alarm system. In response thereto, the one or more non-addressable device modify at least one aspect of one or more communication lines in the fire alarm system. For example, the non-addressable device may generate an open circuit, a closed circuit, or put a current on the one or more communication lines. As another example, the non-addressable device may send a communication back to the fire alarm control panel. | 01-31-2013 |
20130285808 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS CONFIGURATION, CONTROL, AND STATUS REPORTING OF DEVICES IN A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM - A method and system for configured one or more fire alarm system devices in a fire alarm system are disclosed. The fire alarm system includes the fire alarm system devices, a fire alarm panel, and a wireless handheld device. The fire alarm system devices communicate with the fire alarm panel via a first communications interface (such as a wired communications interface), and the wireless handheld device communicates with the fire alarm panel via a second communications interface (such as a wireless communications interface). In operation, the fire alarm control panel receives an indication from one of the fire alarm system devices of a user input. In response, the fire alarm panel sends a communication (such as a form) to the wireless handheld device. In response to the communication, the wireless handheld device sends a response to the fire alarm control panel (such as including information in the form). The fire alarm panel may then update its memory with the information sent from the wireless handheld device in order to control the operation of the fire alarm system device. | 10-31-2013 |
20140047080 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING RENDEZVOUS SERVER TO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO FIRE ALARM PANELS - A method and system for using a rendezvous server to make connections to fire alarm panels. In one aspect, an external computer is used to communicate with an authentication computer in a secure overlay network in order for the external computer to establish a secure connection with the secure overlay network and to communicate with a rendezvous server in order for the external computer to, in turn, communicate with the target alarm panels in the secure overlay network. In another aspect, the rendezvous server receives a communication from the electronic device, with the communication indicative of the electronic device seeking to communicate with only devices in the secure overlay network, in response to the communication, accesses information to communicate with the target fire alarm panels and uses the accessed information in order for the electronic device to communicate with the target fire alarm panels. | 02-13-2014 |
20140145855 | USER INTERFACE BROKER FOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS - An interface system for providing a comprehensive user interface for alarm systems. The interface system may include two or more alarm system workstations, each having a user interface application installed thereon. One or more alarm panels may be connected to each of the alarm system workstations, and one or more points may be connected to each of the alarm panels. A broker workstation may be connected to the two or more alarm system workstations, and one or more client workstations may be connected to the broker workstation. A user interface broker may be installed on the broker workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to provide the one or more client workstations with a user interface that presents the status of, and that provides control over, all of the points. | 05-29-2014 |
20140266675 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING AND TESTING NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES IN ALARM SYSTEMS - A method for inspecting notification appliances in an alarm system. The method may include placing the alarm system in an inspection mode, whereby a verification indicium on each notification appliance being inspected is activated. The method may further include performing a physical inspection of a notification appliance, as well as actuating an input device on the notification appliance whereby the verification indicium on the notification appliance is deactivated. A first alternative method may include placing the alarm system in a test mode, whereby a verification indicium on each notification appliance being inspected and tested is activated. The first alternative method may further include performing a physical inspection of a notification appliance, as well as actuating an input device on the notification appliance whereby the verification indicium on the notification appliance is deactivated and a notification feature of the notification appliance is activated for a predefined amount of time. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266676 | METHOD FOR SELF-TESTING NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES IN ALARM SYSTEMS - A method for self-testing notification appliances in an alarm system by determining whether the performance of the notification appliances has degraded over time. The method may include the steps of measuring and recording initial output levels of notification features of the notification appliances at a first time, measuring test output levels of the notification features at a second time after the first time, and comparing the test output levels to respective threshold output levels that are derived from the initial output levels. The method may further include recording a pass result for notification appliances whose notification features produced test output levels that exceeded the respective threshold output levels, and recording a fail result for notification appliances whose notification features produced test output levels that did not exceed the respective threshold output levels. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266677 | METHOD FOR TESTING NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES IN ALARM SYSTEMS - A method for testing notification appliances in an alarm system and creating a record of such testing including the steps of placing an alarm system in a test mode, actuating an input device of a notification appliance in the alarm system a first time, whereby a notification feature of the notification appliance is activated for a test period, and automatically entering a waiting period after expiration of the test period. The method may further include actuating the input device of the notification appliance a second time during the waiting period, whereby a pass signal is transmitted from the notification appliance, and creating a record of the pass signal. The method may further include transmitting a fail signal from the notification appliance after expiration of the waiting period if the input device of the notification appliance was not actuated during the waiting period and creating a record of the fail signal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140333430 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING CUSTOMER DATA NETWORKS FOR ALARM SYSTEMS - An alarm system is disclosed for transmitting data over a data network at a monitored site. The alarm system may include at least two alarm panels operatively connected to the data network and connected to one another by an alternate data path. The alarm panels may be configured to communicate with one another via the data network if the data network is able to facilitate such communication. The alarm panels may further be configured to communicate with one another via the alternate data path if the data network is not able to facilitate such communication. A method of operating the disclosed system is also disclosed. | 11-13-2014 |
20140340215 | METHOD FOR SELF-TESTING NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES IN ALARM SYSTEMS - A method for self-testing notification appliances in an alarm system, including the steps of measuring ambient noise at a notification appliance, comparing the measured ambient noise to a threshold ambient noise level, and performing a self-test of the notification appliance if the measured ambient noise does not exceed the threshold ambient noise level. The method may further include the step of recording a fail result for the notification appliance if the measured ambient noise exceeds the threshold ambient noise level. Performing the self-test of the notification appliance may include the steps of activating a notification feature of the notification appliance, measuring output of the notification feature, comparing the measured output to a predefined value, recording a pass result for the notification appliance if the measured output exceeds the predefined value, and recording a fail result for the notification appliance if the measured output does not exceed the predefined value. | 11-20-2014 |
20140375449 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN INTIATING DEVICES AND NOTIFICATIONS APPLICANCES IN ALARM SYSTEMS - A method for verifying associations between initiating devices and notification appliances in an alarm system. The method may include including actuating an initiating device of the alarm system, thereby activating one or more notification appliances that are associated with the initiating device. The method may further include deactivating each notification appliance that is expected to be associated with the actuated initiating device and, at an alarm panel, providing an indication of whether there are any notification appliances that are still active. | 12-25-2014 |