Addressable smart speaker

• US 20050280526A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kalafarski, Steven C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/510
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

An addressable smart speaker for use in a fire alarm system connects to and receives messages over a network, has plural taps for selecting audio power. In response to a command, a selector in an addressed smart speaker selects a tap to select a particular audio power.

Claims

1. A speaker for use in a fire alarm system, the speaker comprising:

a network interface which connects to and receives messages over a network;

means for assigning an address to the speaker;

plural taps for selecting audio power; and

a selector which selects at least one of said plural taps to select a particular audio power as directed by a received network command addressed to said speaker.

2. The speaker of claim 1, further comprising non-volatile storage for storing information about the last-selected audio power setting.

24. The speaker of claim 1, further comprising:

a strobe.

3. A speaker for use in a fire alarm system, the speaker comprising:

a network interface which connects to and receives messages over a network;

a controller for implementing a received network command addressed to said speaker for the purpose of controlling the speaker.

4. The speaker of claim 3 wherein the command is a command to set a transformer tap.

5. The speaker of claim 3 wherein the command is a command to select a voltage type.

6. The speaker of claim 3 wherein the speaker is responsive to a group address.

7. The speaker of claim 3 wherein the command is one of an activation and a de-activation command.

8. The speaker of claim 3, further comprising non-volatile storage for storing command information.

9. The speaker of claim 3 wherein said speaker in conjunction with similar speakers are controlled as a virtual speaker circuit.

10. The speaker of claim 9 wherein at least two said speakers are on different networks.

11. The speaker of claim 3, the network interface further transmitting a response generated by the controller over the network.

12. The speaker of claim 3, further comprising:

a tone generator which generates an ultrasonic tone; and

a detector for detecting the ultrasonic tone, the speaker transmitting a trouble message over the network if the ultrasonic tone is not detected, the message providing a speaker identification.

13. A method for communication in a fire alarm system, comprising:

sending a message addressed to an addressable speaker, the message including a command to control the speaker; and

at said addressable speaker, implementing said command.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the command is a command to set a transformer tap.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the command is a command to select a voltage type.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the speaker is responsive to a group address.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the command is one of an activation and a de-activation command.

18. The method of claim 13, fiber comprising:

storing command info on in non-volatile storage.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling said speaker in conjunction with similar speakers as a viral speaker circuit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein at least two said speakers are on different networks.

21. The method of claim 13, flier comprising:

transmitting a response to the received command over the network.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating an ultrasonic tone;

detecting the ultrasonic tone; and

transmitting a trouble message over the network if the ultrasonic tone is not detected, the message providing a speaker identification.

23. A speaker for use in a fire alarm system, comprising:

means for assigning an address to the speaker;

communications means for receiving a message addressed said speaker, the message including a command; and

means for implementing said command.

26. The speaker of claim 23, further comprising:

strobe means.

25. The speaker of clam 3, further comprising:

a strobe.