System and method for playing back wireless fire system history events
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a control panel coupled to a plurality of environmental sensors via a communication system, wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors is located within a protected area, and wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors detects fires;
storing a sequence of events and a respective time of each of the sequence of events in a history buffer of a memory of the control panel, wherein each of the sequence of events is detected within the protected area by at least some of the plurality of environmental sensors, and wherein the sequence of events includes alarm events, arm and disarm events, supervisory events, trouble conditions, loss of communication with a first of the plurality of environmental sensors, and reconnection with the first of the plurality of environmental sensors;
depicting the plurality of environmental sensors as a plurality of icons on a display of the control panel;
receiving input from a user to move a first of the plurality of icons to a new location on the display;
depicting a time line and a tab on the time line, wherein the tab moves along the time line as the sequence of events is played back, and wherein a position of the tab on the time line indicates an instant of time within a time period;
receiving user input activating a start button to begin advancing time such that the tab moves along the time line at a predetermined rate;
comparing a time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line with the history buffer to determine whether any of the respective times of the sequence of events matches the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line; and
displaying one of the plurality of icons depicted on the display in an activated state when the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line matches one of the respective times of the sequence of events and in a deactivated state otherwise.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for displaying alarm and communication system events. The method includes the steps of providing a control panel coupled to a plurality of environmental sensors within a protected area, storing a sequence of events detected within the protected area by a communication system and at least some of the plurality of environmental sensors along with a time of the respective event in a history buffer of a memory of the control panel, depicting the plurality of environmental sensors and communication system on a display of the control panel and playing back the sequence of detected sensor and communication system events for a selected time period from the history buffer on the display where each of the plurality of depicted environmental sensors on the display is shown in an activated state for each instant of time of the selected time period that the history buffer indicates that the sensor was in the activated state and a deactivated state otherwise.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a control panel coupled to a plurality of environmental sensors via a communication system, wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors is located within a protected area, and wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors detects fires; storing a sequence of events and a respective time of each of the sequence of events in a history buffer of a memory of the control panel, wherein each of the sequence of events is detected within the protected area by at least some of the plurality of environmental sensors, and wherein the sequence of events includes alarm events, arm and disarm events, supervisory events, trouble conditions, loss of communication with a first of the plurality of environmental sensors, and reconnection with the first of the plurality of environmental sensors; depicting the plurality of environmental sensors as a plurality of icons on a display of the control panel; receiving input from a user to move a first of the plurality of icons to a new location on the display; depicting a time line and a tab on the time line, wherein the tab moves along the time line as the sequence of events is played back, and wherein a position of the tab on the time line indicates an instant of time within a time period; receiving user input activating a start button to begin advancing time such that the tab moves along the time line at a predetermined rate; comparing a time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line with the history buffer to determine whether any of the respective times of the sequence of events matches the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line; and displaying one of the plurality of icons depicted on the display in an activated state when the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line matches one of the respective times of the sequence of events and in a deactivated state otherwise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a control panel coupled to a plurality of environmental sensors via a communication system, wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors is located within a protected area, and wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors detects fires; a memory of the control panel that stores a sequence of events and a respective time of each of the sequence of events in a history buffer of the memory, wherein each of the sequence of events is detected within the protected area by at least some of the plurality of environmental sensors, and wherein the sequence of events includes alarm events, arm and disarm events, supervisory events, trouble conditions, loss of communication with a first of the plurality of environmental sensors, and reconnection with the first of the plurality of environmental sensors; and an event processor that depicts, on a display, a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of environmental sensors, a time line, and a tab on the time line, wherein the event processor receives, from a user, an input to move a first of the plurality of icons to a new location on the display, wherein the tab moves along the time line as the sequence of events is played back, wherein a position of the tab on the time line indicates an instant of time within a time period, wherein the event processor receives user input activating a start button to begin advancing time such that the tab moves along the time line at a predetermined rate, wherein the events processor compares a time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line with the history buffer to determine whether any of the respective times of the sequence of events matches the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line, and wherein the events processor displays one of the plurality of icons depicted on the display in an activated state when the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line matches one of the respective times of the sequence of events and in a deactivated state otherwise. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a control panel coupled to a plurality of environmental sensors via a communication system, wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors is located within a protected area, and wherein each of the plurality of environmental sensors detects fires; a memory of the control panel that stores a sequence of events and a respective time of each of the sequence of events in a history buffer of the memory, wherein each of the sequence of events is detected within the protected area by at least some of the plurality of environmental sensors, and wherein the sequence of events includes alarm events, arm and disarm events, supervisory events, trouble conditions, loss of communication with a first of the plurality of environmental sensors, and reconnection with the first of the plurality of environmental sensors; a file processor that retrieves the sequence of events; and an event processor that depicts a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of environmental sensors, a time line, and a tab on the time line on a display, wherein the event processor receives, from a user, an input to move a first of the plurality of icons to a new location on the display, wherein the tab moves along the time line as the sequence of events is played back, wherein a position of the tab on the time line indicates an instant of time within a time period, wherein the event processor receives user input activating a start button to begin advancing time such that the tab moves along the time line at a predetermined rate, wherein the events processor compares a time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line with the history buffer to determine whether any of the respective times of the sequence of events matches the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line, and wherein the events processor displays one of the plurality of icons depicted on the display in an activated state when the instant of time corresponding to the position of the tab on the time line matches one of the respective times of the sequence of events.
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Specification