Environmental equipment alarm circuit verification system and method

• US 20060290487A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerry L Mckinney 2002 Trust
• Original Assignee: Jerry L Mckinney 2002 Trust
• Inventors: McKinney, Jerry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/027 Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A system is provided for verifying operation of a plurality of alarm systems in a plurality of environmental equipment systems that comprises a plurality of first communication nodes and a plurality of second communication nodes. Each second communication node is typically mounted within a yard to about six hundred yards from respective first communication nodes. The first communication nodes send a first verification signal, e.g., a heartbeat signal to verify the alarm systems to the second communication nodes at first predetermined intervals. The plurality of second communication nodes detect when the first verification signal is not received at the first predetermined intervals. The second communication nodes then determine whether to send a malfunction notification to a server base on predetermined criteria. The second communication nodes may send a second heartbeat signal to the server at other predetermined intervals.

Claims

1. A method for verifying operation of an alarm systems in an environmental equipment system, said method comprising:

mounting a first communication node physically proximate said alarm system for said environmental equipment system, said first communication node being in electronic communication with said alarm system;

mounting second communication node within wireless communication range of said first communication node, said second communication node being operable for electronically communicating with said first communication node and with at least one remotely located server;

programming said first communication node to send a first verification signal to verify operation of said alarm system by said second communication node at a first predetermined interval; and

programming said second communication node to detect when said first verification signal is not received at said first predetermined interval.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming said second communication node to send a second verification signal to verify operation of said alarm to said at least one remotely located server at a second predetermined interval, and programming said at least one server to detect when said second verification signal is received.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming said second communication node such that when said second communication node detects that said first verification signal is not received at said first predetermined interval, then one or more predetermined criteria are checked to determine whether or not said second communication node sends a notification signal to said at least one server that said alarm system is not operational.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more predetermined criteria comprise determining whether said first verification signal is not received for a preselected number of said first predetermined intervals.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more predetermined criteria comprise determining whether said notification signal has already been sent to said at least one server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a cordless telephone connection for said electronic communication between said first communication node and said second communication node.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting said environmental equipment system to a power line through a first breaker, connecting said alarm system to said power line through a second breakers, and connecting said second node through a third breaker.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising utilizing said second communication node to produce a visual signal when said first verification signal is not received at said first predetermined interval.

9. A system for verifying operation of an alarm system of an environmental equipment system, said system comprising:

a first communication node for said alarm system wherein said first communication node is mounted physically proximate to said environmental equipment system;

a second communication node wherein said second communication node is mounted within wireless communication range of said first communication nodes, said second communication node being operable for electronically communicating with said first communication node and with at least one remotely located server;

said first communication node being programmed to send a first verification signal to verify operation of said alarm system to said second communication nodes at first predetermined interval; and

said second communication node detect when said first verification signal is not received at said first predetermined interval.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second communication node is programmed to send a second verification signal to verify operation of said alarm to said remotely located server at a second predetermined interval, and said at least one server detect when said second verification signal is received.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said second communication node is programmed to detect that when said first verification signal is not received at said first predetermined intervals, then one or more predetermined criteria are checked to determine whether or not said second communication node sends a notification signal to said at least one server that said alarm system is not operational.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more predetermined criteria comprise determining whether said first verification signal is not received for a preselected number of said first predetermined intervals.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said one or more predetermined criteria comprise determining whether said notification signal has already been sent to said at least one server.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a cordless telephone connection between said first communication node and said second communication node.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a first breaker connecting said environmental equipment system to a power line, a second breaker connecting said alarm system to a power line, and a third breaker connecting said second node to a power line.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising one or more visual indicators controlled by said second communication node wherein said second communication node is responsive to tripping of said second breaker to produce a visual signal.