User interface for fire detection system

• US 20030097188A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Duran, Leonard John, Oye, Phil, Blatz, Jeremiah, OʼMahoney, Brian, Guyot, Noah, Morgan, Stuart, Strelecki, Paul, Lontka, Bruce J., Petro, Justin, Dulski, George
• Granted Patent: US 6,907,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23313 Load program to initial configure machine, then erase and install userprogram
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A user interface for controlling and displaying information about devices in a system is disclosed. The user interface is designed to meet the needs for different types of users. A user with no familiarity with the system is provided with a customized message on the display of the user interface. A user with limited experience using the interface may be provided with one or more dedicated input devices for obtaining further information about the system. For a more experienced user, a touch screen is provided allowing the user to control devices from the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information about a system and controlling a system comprising;

providing a user interface having a display for displaying information about a system, wherein said system is comprised of a plurality of elements;

displaying information on said display and displaying subsequent levels of information about said system in response to at least one user input until a desired level of information about said system is reached, and

providing at least one input device to control at least one system element after a predetermined level of information about said system has been displayed, and receiving a user input to control said at least one system element using said at least one input device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing said user interface with a plurality of dedicated input devices adjacent said display.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of displaying subsequent levels of information on said display screen about said system in response to at least one user input further comprises providing said user interface with a dedicated key adjacent said display for receiving at least one user input to display further levels of information about said system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said screen display is a touch screen display and the step of providing at least one input device for controlling an element in said system comprises displaying at least one touch screen cell on said display screen.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying an event screen when at least one element in said system detects a predetermined event.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising displaying a plurality of different types of system events on said display screen, wherein said system events are displayed according to a predetermined priority.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said events are displayed in a priority order according to time of occurrence.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said events are displayed in a priority order according to the event'"'"'s level of importance to the system.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said events are displayed in logical groupings.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein when a plurality of system events occur, said system events are displayed in the following order:

alarm, supervisory, security and trouble.

11. The method according to claim 6, further comprising providing a plurality of dedicated input devices adjacent said display screen, wherein a dedicated input device is provided for each type of system event, wherein when a user input is received using one of said dedicated input devices, information about the system event is displayed.

12. The method according to claim 5, further comprising displaying a scroll bar on said display and providing at least one dedicated input device adjacent said display for receiving inputs from a user to scroll through system events displayed on said display.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing at least one input device, adjacent to said display screen, for scrolling though a list of elements displayed on said display and for selecting an element from a list of elements displayed on said display.

14. The method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying information describing said system event.

15. The method according to 14, further comprising displaying the type of system event, a message about said event, the location of the event in the system and the time of occurrence of said event.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying subsequent levels of information about said system includes displaying a list of elements in said system in response to a user input.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving a user input to select an element and displaying information said element in response to said user input.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising displaying at least one touch screen cell in response to said user input to select an element, and controlling an element in said system in response to a user input using said at least one touch screen cell.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of displaying subsequent levels of information about said system includes displaying a list of nodes in said system in response to a user input.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising receiving a user input to select an node and displaying information about said element in response to said user input.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising displaying at least one touch screen cell in response to said user input to select a node and controlling said node in said system in response to a user input using said at least one touch screen cell.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of displaying subsequent levels of information about said system includes displaying a list of modules in said system in response to a user input.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising receiving a user input to select a module and displaying information about said module in response to said user input.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising displaying the address of the module and the sensitivity of the module.

25. The method according to claim 23, displaying at least one touch screen cell in response to said selection of said module and, in response to a user input using said at least one touch screen cell, controlling said module in said system.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step of displaying subsequent levels of information about said system includes displaying a list of devices in said system in response to a user input

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising receiving a user input to select a device and displaying information about said device in response to said user input.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising displaying the address of the device and the sensitivity of the device.

29. The method according to claim 27, displaying at least one touch screen cell in response to said selection of said device and, in response to a user input using said at least one touch screen cell, controlling said device in said system.

30. The method according to claim 17, further comprising controlling at least one element in said system in response to a user input using said at least one touch screen cell after a user has reached a desired level of information about said at least one element in said system.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising displaying two touch screen cells, one cell representing an arming function and one cell representing a disarming function, and in response to a subsequent user input using said touch screen cells, arming or disarming a selected element.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising arming all components associated with said selected element in response to a user input.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising displaying a plurality touch screen cells, each touch screen cell representing a component associated with said selected element, in response to a user input, and in response to at least one subsequent user input using said touch screen cells, arming only selected components associated with said selected element.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising disarming all components associated with said selected element in response to a user input.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising displaying a plurality of touch screen cells, each touch screen cell representing a component associated with said selected element, in response to a user input, and in response to at least one subsequent user input using said touch screen cells, disarming selected components associated with said selected element.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising displaying two touch screen cells, one cell representing an energizing function and one cell representing an deenergizing function, an in response to at least one subsequent user input using said touch screen cells, selecting components associated with said selected element to be energized or deenergized.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein only certain components may be energized or deenergized .

38. The method according to claim 4, further comprising displaying a map on said user interface for displaying where in said system an event is occurring.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising displaying NFPA fire service icons indicating availability of fire service equipment in said system.

40. The method according to claim 38, further comprising displaying hazmat icons to indicate the location of hazardous materials within a building said system is located in.

41. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a user request to place said user interface in an installment mode.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein information about system outputs is displayed without said outputs being activated.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein said interface instructs one or more devices detecting a system event to reset without receiving a user input.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein said interface can test device logic functions of one or more devices without activating said devices.

45. The method according to claim 41, further comprising receiving a user request to debug a device loop, wherein said user interface is operational for device loops not being debugged.

46. The method according to claim 41, further comprising receiving a user request to debug a device loop, wherein said user interface only displays information about the device loop being debugged.

47. A method for providing a user interface, for displaying information about a system and controlling a system, having different levels of complexity depending upon the user of the interface comprising:

providing a user interface having a display;

displaying customized information on said display, when said user interface is not receiving a user input or is not displaying a system event, for users not familiar with said user interface;

displaying further information about said system in response to a user input using a dedicated input device, said dedicated input device provided for users with limited familiarity with said user interface; and

displaying at least one input device on said display for controlling at least one system element, said at least one input device tailored for a user familiar with said system and said user interface.

48. A facility monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of devices distributed throughout a facility, each device adapted to generate a signal indicating that a predetermined system event is occurring; and

a facility monitoring station having a memory operatively connected to said plurality of devices, said facility monitoring station further provided with a user interface having a touch screen display for displaying information about said devices and for allowing a user to control said devices, said user touch screen display comprising one or more touch screen cells for controlling one or more devices, wherein one or more touch screen cells are only operable after a predetermined number of user inputs using one or more dedicated input devices are received by said user interface.