Technician Communications for Automated Building Protection Systems

• US 20070241878A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Grant, Joseph, Jobe, Michael L., Cool, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement

Abstract

A communication module communicates between the tools or control panel and the technician. A communications module connects to or by the control panel or other controller of the protection system. The communications module wirelessly communicates with a service tool, such as a personal data assistant. The technician may control the protection system with the service tool from a remote location, such as by a monitoring device or other component being tested. The communications module may be taken with the technician when testing is complete or left in the building for later use. The communications module is provided as part of the protection system or is added at a later time to an existing system.

Claims

1. A system for communications in automated protection of a building environment, the system comprising:

a protection system for a building, the protection system having one or more monitoring devices; and

a communications module connected with the protection system and operable to communicate wirelessly with a portable service tool.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications module is external to the protection system, the communications module connected with a communications port on the protection system.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications module comprises a spread spectrum radio.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications module comprises a processor, a wireless transceiver, a memory, an antenna and an enclosure.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications module is operable to communicate with the portable service tool through a remote module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the communications module is operable to communicate with the remote module pursuant to a first protocol and the remote module is operable to communicate with the portable service tool pursuant to a second protocol different than the first protocol.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the communications module is operable to communicate with the portable service tool through the remote module and at least one repeater.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the protection system comprises a fire, security or fire and security system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the protection system comprises a control panel, the communications module releasably connected to the control panel.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises the portable service tool, the portable service tool comprising:

a transceiver operable to communicate wirelessly with the communications module;

a controller configured to process information received from the communications module at the transceiver, the information being from the protection system and routed through the communications module; and

a user interface operable to display visually the processed information in a user readable format.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the information comprises a status of at least one of the one or more monitoring devices.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller is operable to transmit with the transceiver a command for protection system, the command being responsive to information from the user interface and operable to control the protection system.

13. A system for communications in automated protection of a building environment, the system comprising:

a protection system for a building, the protecting system having one or more monitoring devices; and

a communications module external to the protection system, the communications module connected with a communications port on the protection system and operable to communicate wirelessly.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications module is operable to communicate wirelessly with a portable service tool.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications module connects with the communications port with a releasable cable.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications module comprises a processor, a wireless transceiver, a memory, an antenna and an enclosure separate from the protection system,

wherein the protection system comprises a fire, security or fire and security system, and

wherein the system further comprises the portable service tool, the portable service tool comprising a transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with the communications module, a controller configured to process information received from the communications module at the transceiver, the information being from the protection system and routed through the communications module, and a user interface operable to visually display the processed information in a user readable format, wherein the information comprises a status of at least one of the one or more monitoring devices and wherein the controller is operable to transmit with the transceiver a command for protection system, the command being responsive to information from the user interface and operable to control the protection system.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the communications module is operable to communicate with the portable service tool through a remote module.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the protection system comprises a control panel, the communications module releasably connected to the control panel.

19. A method for communications in automated protection of a building environment, the method comprising:

connecting a transceiver device near a panel or controller of a building protection system with the panel or controller;

monitoring, with the panel or controller, one or more devices;

generating by the panel or controller at least one output signal as a function of the monitoring;

receiving by the transceiver device the at least one output signal; and

wirelessly transmitting data associated with the at least one output signal from the transceiver device to a handheld user interface.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein connecting comprises electrically connecting with a cable.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein connecting comprises physically connecting the transceiver device on a housing of the panel or controller.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein connecting comprises releasably connecting the transceiver device, the transceiver device being in a separate housing from the panel or controller.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein generating comprises generating status information, receiving comprises receiving the status information, and wirelessly transmitting comprises transmitting the status information.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving with the transceiver device first control data from the handheld user interface;

transmitting second control data comprising the first control data or data derived from the first control data from the transceiver device to the panel or controller; and

changing operation of the building protection system in response to the second control data.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving the data at the handheld user interface, the handheld user interface being adjacent at least one of the one or more devices;

displaying a status of the building protection system as a function of the received data;

inputting a control entry on the handheld user device; and

transmitting the first control data in response to the control entry.