Ethernet-based fire system network

• US 20040260812A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rhodes, Neil, Rule, Tom
• Application Number:
  US10/671,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks

Abstract

A data transmission system for a building or facility includes a fire control sub-network, a building automation sub-network and/or a corporate sub-network. The fire control sub-network includes workstations connected to fire control panels that are connected to fire control devices. The sub-network includes an Ethernet switch that is UL listed for fire protective signaling uses, along with the workstations. This sub-network is integrated with the building automation sub-network through an IP router that is UL listed for information technology equipment. Thus, the fire control sub-network is both electrically isolated and isolated from data transmission traffic through the building automation and/or corporate sub-networks, so that the response of the fire control sub-network is not compromised by data traffic through the other networks. In certain embodiments, building automation workstations and control devices can be included within the fire control sub-network.

Claims

1. A data transmission system for a facility comprising:

a first network including;

a number of critical devices disposed within the facility; and

at least one first computer workstation operably coupled to said number of critical devices via said first network;

a second network including at least one second computer workstation; and

an isolating router coupling said first network to said second network and operable to isolate said first network from data transmission traffic in said second network.

2. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said first network is a fire control network;

said number of critical devices include fire control devices; and

said first computer workstation implements software configured to receive data from and transmit data to said fire control devices.

3. The data transmission system of claim 2, wherein said first network includes a first Ethernet switch that is UL listed for fire protective signaling uses and that is operable to electrically isolate said first network from said isolating router.

4. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said first network includes a first Ethernet switch that is UL listed for fire protective signaling uses and that is operable to electrically isolate said first network from said isolating router; and

said isolating router is UL listed for information technology equipment.

5. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said second network includes a building control network which includes a second Ethernet switch operably coupled to a number of building control devices independent of said operationally critical devices.

6. The data transmission system of claim 5, wherein:

said second network includes a corporate network, independent of said building control network, which includes workstations capable of broadcast transmissions; and

said isolating router is operable to block said broadcast transmissions to said first network.

7. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said second network includes a corporate network, independent of said first network, which includes workstations capable of broadcast transmissions; and

said isolating router is operable to block said broadcast transmissions to said first network.

15. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one building system work station is a fire safety system workstation connected to one of a plurality of fire safety system devices.

16. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of workstations includes at least one fire safety system workstation and at least one non-fire building system work station.

17. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the non-fire building system workstations is operably connected to heating ventilation and air conditioning system devices.

18. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein the first network includes a switch that is UL listed for fire protective signaling.

19. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein the router is UL listed for information technology equipment.

20. The data communication system of claim 1 wherein the first network comprises at least one Ethernet network and the second network comprises at least one Ethernet network.

8. A data transmission system for use in a facility comprising:

a first fire control Ethernet sub-network including a number of fire control devices and a number of fire safety workstations operably coupled to said fire control devices and operable to implement software for maintaining and controlling said fire control devices;

a second building control Ethernet sub-network including a number of building control devices and a number of building automation workstations operably coupled to said building control devices and operable to implement software for maintaining and controlling said building control devices; and

an isolating router connecting said first sub-network to said second sub-network and operable to isolate said first network from data transmission traffic in said second network.

9. The data transmission system of claim 8, wherein said building automation workstations include a database server workstation and at least one database client workstation.

10. The data transmission system of claim 9, wherein database server workstation is connected within said first sub-network.

11. The data transmission system of claim 10, wherein only workstations connected within said first sub-network are UL listed for fire protective signaling uses.

12. The data transmission system of claim 11, wherein said first sub-network includes a first Ethernet switch that is UL listed for fire protective signaling uses.

13. The data transmission system of claim 12, wherein said isolating router is UL listed for information technology equipment.

14. A data communication system for a facility comprising a first network and a second network connected by a router, the first network including a first plurality of work stations, the second network including a second plurality of work stations, the first plurality of workstations including only building system workstations, the second plurality of work stations including only non-fire safety related building system workstations and non-building system workstations, and wherein the router enables communication between the non-fire related building system workstations and the first plurality of workstations, and the router is operable to disable communication between the non-building system workstations and the first plurality of workstations.