Method and apparatus for authenicated on-site testing, inspection, servicing and control of life-safety equipment and reporting of same using a remote accessory
First Claim
1. A method of conducting an authenticated test of an alarm system having components including an alarm control panel and alarm condition sensors, the alarm system requiring testing according to a fire code, the method comprising:
- conducting a first access procedure to identify the alarm system and testing requirements associated with the alarm system, the first access procedure conducted to establish a first communication session between the alarm system and an authentication server during the authenticated test; and
conducting a second access procedure to provide access for a remote device for facilitating the authenticated test, the second access procedure conducted to establish a second communication session between the remote monitoring and control device and one of the alarm system and the authentication server;
wherein;
(i) first information associated with an impending activation of one of the alarm condition sensors is received from the remote device;
(ii) second information associated with the one of the alarm condition sensors, when activated, is reported if detected by the alarm system, to the authentication server, the reported second information being forwarded to the remote device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, remote accessory and authentication server are provided for facilitating operations such as an authenticated test of life safety equipment having components including a control panel and sensors. The life safety equipment requires testing according to a fire code. An access procedure is conducted to identify equipment and testing requirements and to establish a communication session between the equipment and an authentication server during an authenticated test. Another access procedure is conducted to provide access for a remote device for facilitating the authenticated test and to establish a communication session between the remote device and an alarm system or authentication server, or the like. Information associated with an impending activation of one of the sensors is received from the remote device and information associated with the sensor, when activated, is reported if detected by the alarm system, to the authentication server and the reported activation information is forwarded to the remote device. Authentication information associated with the activated sensor whether or not detected is received from the remote device and an authenticated report is forwarded to the remote device when all of the alarm condition sensors are tested according to test procedures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of conducting an authenticated test of an alarm system having components including an alarm control panel and alarm condition sensors, the alarm system requiring testing according to a fire code, the method comprising:
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conducting a first access procedure to identify the alarm system and testing requirements associated with the alarm system, the first access procedure conducted to establish a first communication session between the alarm system and an authentication server during the authenticated test; and conducting a second access procedure to provide access for a remote device for facilitating the authenticated test, the second access procedure conducted to establish a second communication session between the remote monitoring and control device and one of the alarm system and the authentication server; wherein; (i) first information associated with an impending activation of one of the alarm condition sensors is received from the remote device; (ii) second information associated with the one of the alarm condition sensors, when activated, is reported if detected by the alarm system, to the authentication server, the reported second information being forwarded to the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of providing network-based authentication of a test of a fire alarm system having components including at least one control panel connected to a network and to a network-based server through the network, and fire alarm condition sensors connected to the at least one control panel, the fire alarm system requiring periodic certified testing, the method comprising:
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storing identification information associated with the fire alarm system, the identification information including information associated with the at least one control panel and a number and one or more types of the fire alarm condition sensors and other information including activation status of the fire alarm condition sensors in an network-based server accessible by a subscriber; and providing the identification information and the other information including the activation status information to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for authenticating a test of a life safety system to ensure compliance thereof with a regulatory code, a control unit of the life safety system coupled to a server through a network, the method comprising:
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establishing an interactive wireless connection between a remote wireless accessory and the server through the network, the interactive wireless connection associated with performing the test, the remote wireless accessory readable by an operator activating components of the life safety system; inputting information about an impending activation of one of the components of the life safety system to the server through the remote wireless accessory; outputting information about the activated one of the components of the life safety system from the server to the remote wireless accessory if the activation of the one of the components is independently detected by the control unit and transferred to the server, the independent detection by the control unit determining one of;
authenticated compliance and authenticated non-compliance of the one of the components with a corresponding section of the regulatory code; andgenerating an authenticated report associated with the test when all of the components of the life safety system are determined to be one of compliant and non-compliant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A remote device for wirelessly interacting with a fire alarm system, including fire alarm condition sensors, during a test of the fire alarm system, the remote device comprising:
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a wireless network interface; an information display; and a controller coupled to the wireless network interface and the information display, the controller configured to; establish a connection over the wireless network interface with one or more of a component of the fire alarm system and an authentication server; and exchange information over the established connection corresponding to ones of the fire alarm condition sensors, the information including one or more of information corresponding to ones of the fire alarm condition sensors;
on which activation is impending;
that are registering as active with the fire alarm system during activation; and
that require additional information to be input to comply with a regulatory code. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An authentication server for coupling to a fire alarm system through a network, including fire alarm condition sensors, during a test of the fire alarm system, the authentication server comprising:
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a network interface; and a controller coupled to the network interface configured to; establish a first connection over the network interface with a remote accessory and second connection over the network interface with the fire alarm system; receive information over the established first connection corresponding to an impending activation of one of the fire alarm condition sensors during the performance of the test; receive information over the established second connection corresponding to ones of the fire alarm condition sensors registering as active with the fire alarm system during the test; transmit information over the established first connection corresponding to the ones of the fire alarm condition sensors registering as active with the fire alarm system during the test; receive authentication information over the established first connection, the authentication information corresponding to the activation of the one of the fire alarm condition sensors that was impending; and transmit an authenticated report over the established first connection, the authenticated report including the authentication information associated with all of the fire alarm condition sensors at the completion of the test. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification