Network Software Normalization

• US 20090249325A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wontorcik, Glenn, Eiden, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion

Abstract

A fire detection system includes at least one existing fire detection unit, at least one replacement fire detection unit, control circuitry associated with the at least one existing fire detection unit, control circuitry associated with the at least one replacement fire detection unit, a graphical user interface associated with the at least one replacement fire detection unit, and communication media connecting the at least one existing fire detection unit and the at least one replacement fire detection unit. The replacement unit is configured to be compatible with the at least one existing unit, and the graphical user interface controls the configuration of the replacement panel. The control circuitry associated with the replacement unit and the control circuitry associated with the existing unit execute the configuration of the replacement panel.

Claims

1. A fire detection system comprising:

at least one existing fire detection unit;

at least one replacement fire detection unit;

control circuitry associated with the at least one existing fire detection unit;

control circuitry associated with the at least one replacement fire detection unit;

a graphical user interface associated with the at least one replacement fire detection unit; and

communication media connecting the at least one existing fire detection unit and the at least one replacement fire detection unit wherein the replacement unit is configured to be compatible with the at least one existing unit, the graphical user interface controls the replacement panel being configured to be compatible with the existing unit, and the control circuitry associated with the replacement unit and the control circuitry associated with the existing unit execute the replacement panel being configured with the existing unit.

2. A fire detection system as in claim 1 wherein the at least one replacement fire detection unit is updated with software from the at least one existing fire detection unit.

3. A fire detection system as in claim 1 wherein the at least one existing fire detection unit is updated with software from the at least one replacement fire detection unit.

4. A fire detection system as in claim 1 wherein the communication media is at least in part one of wired or wireless.

5. A fire detection system as in claim 4 wherein the wired communication media is one of copper wire or fiber cable.

6. A method of configuring a replacement fire detection unit in a fire detection system comprising:

installing the replacement unit into the fire detection system;

determining a software application version of at least one existing fire detection unit within the network;

determining whether a software application version of the replacement unit is compatible with the software application version of the at least one existing unit; and

configuring the replacement unit to the be compatible with the at least one existing unit.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein configuring the replacement unit comprises updating the replacement unit with software from the at least one existing unit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein configuring the replacement unit comprises updating the at least one existing unit with software from the replacement unit.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the replacement unit includes a graphical user interface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein configuring the replacement unit is controlled via the graphical user interface of the replacement unit.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein a user can view compatibility information of the at least one existing unit via the graphical user interface of the replacement unit.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the replacement unit includes control circuitry, the existing unit includes control circuitry, and the control circuitry of the replacement unit and the control circuitry of the existing unit execute the method of configuring the replacement unit.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising automatically interrogating the at least one existing unit to determine compatibility.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein configuring the replacement unit comprises presenting a user with an option of updating either the replacement unit or updating the at least one existing unit.

15. A replacement fire detection unit that can be incorporated into an existing network of at least one fire detection unit, the replacement fire detection unit comprising:

control circuitry;

a connection port to communication media, the communication media connecting the replacement panel with the at least one existing panel in the network; and

a graphical user interface wherein the replacement panel is configured to be compatible with the at least one existing panel in the network.

16. A replacement fire detection unit as in claim 15 wherein the replacement unit is updated with a software application from the at least one existing unit.

17. A replacement fire detection unit as in claim 15 wherein the at least one existing unit is updated with the software application from the replacement unit.

18. A replacement fire detection unit as in claim 15 wherein the graphical user interface displays compatibility information from the at least one existing unit.

19. A replacement fire detection unit as in claim 15 wherein the graphical user interface controls communication between the replacement unit and the at least one existing unit, the communication being related to configuring the replacement unit.

20. A replacement fire detection unit as in claim 15 wherein the connection port is configured for wired or wireless communication.