SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUFFERED WIRELESS DEVICE ENROLLMENT IN A SECURITY SYSTEM

• US 20100231361A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Safety Products Canada Limited (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bell, Dwayne A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.420
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for enrolling wireless security system devices (alarms, detectors, lights) in a security system. A controller is provided and is capable of exchanging wireless signals with the devices. The system has an enroll mode where the wireless devices transmit enroll signals to the controller. The enroll signals contain an identifier associated with each device. An installer uses a keypad or other interface device to review each of the devices that have sent a signal, and to accept them for enrollment or ignore them. After review, the controller sends a signal to the devices instructing them to cease transmitting enroll signals to the controller. If the power of an enrolled device is cycled (battery replacement), another enroll command is sent to the controller. The controller determines whether the device was already enrolled, and if it has the controller sends a signal to the device to stop sending the enroll command.

Claims

1. A method for enrolling wireless devices in a security system, comprising:

receiving, at a controller, a wireless signal from each of a plurality of wireless devices, the wireless signal from each wireless device containing an enroll command and a unique identifier associated with that wireless device;

storing the unique identifiers in memory associated with the controller;

manually confirming enrollment of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and

sending an enroll confirmation command from the controller to each manually confirmed wireless device to instruct each said device to stop sending enroll commands.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending an enroll confirmation command further comprises instructing at least one of the devices to begin or resume normal device operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a device serial number, a device type and wireless signal strength.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment further comprises entering a device definition for the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment further comprises entering zone or device definition information into a keypad associated with the controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment further comprises deselecting at least one of the plurality of wireless devices such that the deselected device is not enrolled in the system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising resending an enroll command from at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the controller after the power of the at least one wireless device has been cycled.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in response to the resent enroll command, the controller determines whether the at least one wireless device is already enrolled and sends an enroll confirmation command to the at least one wireless device to stop resending the enroll command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is selected from the list consisting of a fire alarm, a smoke alarm, a security alarm, an emergency light, a strobe light, and a window break detector.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment comprises reviewing the unique identifier for each of the plurality of wireless devices, selecting a first one of the plurality of devices for enrollment in a zone of a building being monitored by the system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment further comprises selecting a second one of the plurality of devices for enrollment in the zone of the building being monitored by the system.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of requesting manual confirmation of enrollment further comprises receiving a device definition for the at least one of the plurality of wireless devices.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of requesting manual confirmation of enrollment further comprises receiving zone or device definition information from a keypad associated with the controller.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of requesting manual confirmation of enrollment further comprises deselecting at least one of the plurality of wireless devices such that the deselected device is not enrolled in the system.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising receiving an enroll command from at least one of the plurality of wireless devices to the controller after the power of the wireless device has been cycled.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein in response to the resent enroll command, the processor further performs the steps comprising determining whether the at least one wireless device is already enrolled and sending an enroll confirmation command to the at least one wireless device to stop resending the enroll command.

12. A system for enrolling wireless devices in a security system, comprising a controller having a processor and a memory, a plurality of wireless devices, and a machine-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program code such that, when the computer program code is executed by a processor, the processor performs a method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from each of the plurality of wireless devices by the controller, the wireless signal from each wireless device containing an enroll command and a unique identifier associated with that wireless device;

storing the unique identifiers in the memory;

requesting manual confirmation of enrollment of at least one of the plurality of wireless devices; and

sending an enroll confirmation command from the controller to each manually confirmed wireless device to instruct each said device to stop sending enroll commands.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of sending an enroll confirmation command further comprises instructing at least one of the devices to begin or resume normal device operation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier comprises at least one of a device serial number, a device type and wireless signal strength.

20. The system of claim 12, at least one of the plurality of wireless devices is selected from the list consisting of a fire alarm, a smoke alarm, a security alarm, an emergency light, a strobe light, and a window break detector.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment comprises reviewing the unique identifier for each of the plurality of wireless devices, selecting a first portion of the plurality of devices for enrollment in a zone of a building being monitored by the system.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the step of manually confirming enrollment further comprises selecting a second portion of the plurality of devices for enrollment in the zone of the building being monitored by the system.