METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH NON-ADDRESSABLE NOTIFICATION APPLIANCES

• US 20130027198A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Piccolo, Joseph III
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/126 of annunciator circuits

Abstract

A non-addressable fire alarm system, with a fire alarm control panel and one or more non-addressable devices, is provided. The fire alarm control panel sends a broadcast command to the one or more non-addressable devices in the fire alarm system. In response thereto, the one or more non-addressable device modify at least one aspect of one or more communication lines in the fire alarm system. For example, the non-addressable device may generate an open circuit, a closed circuit, or put a current on the one or more communication lines. As another example, the non-addressable device may send a communication back to the fire alarm control panel.

Claims

1. A method for a fire alarm control panel to communicate with a plurality of non-addressable appliances in a fire alarm system, the method comprising:

sending, via one or more communication lines, a broadcast command to the plurality of non-addressable appliances;

analyzing the one or more communication lines; and

determining a response from one or more of the plurality of non-addressable appliances based on the analyzing of the one or more communication lines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the one or more communication lines comprises determining whether the one or more communication lines has an open circuit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcast command comprises a broadcast test command indicative of the plurality of non-addressable appliances to test at least one aspect;

and

wherein determining the response based on the analyzing of the one or more communication lines comprises determining that at least one of the plurality of non-addressable appliances has a fault if it is determined that the one or more communication lines has an open circuit.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an input indicating that the at least one of the plurality of non-addressable appliances that has a fault has been reset; and

after receiving the input indicating the at least one of the plurality of non-addressable appliances that has a fault has been reset, determining whether the one or more communication lines still has an open circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the one or more communication lines comprises receiving on the one or more communication lines a communication from one or more of the plurality of non-addressable devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein analyzing the one or more communication lines further comprises determining whether there is a clash in communications on the one or more communication lines.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to determining that there was a clash in communications on the one or more communication lines, sending a re-send broadcast command commanding the non-addressable devices that sent the communications in the clash to resend the communications.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining, by a fire alarm control panel of the fire alarm system, whether the fire alarm control panel has received communications from all expected appliances in response to the sending of the broadcast command.

9. A method for a non-addressable appliance to communicate with a fire alarm control panel in a fire alarm system, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more communication lines, a broadcast command from the fire alarm control panel;

analyzing at least a part of the broadcast command;

modifying one or more communication lines in the fire alarm system in response to analyzing the at least a part of the broadcast command.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein modifying includes open circuiting the one or more communication lines in response to receiving the broadcast command.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein modifying includes sending a current on the one or more communication lines in response to receiving the broadcast command.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein modifying includes sending a communication back to the fire alarm control panel via the one or more communication lines.

13. A method for a non-addressable notification appliance to process a mass notification broadcast command, the method comprising:

receiving the mass notification broadcast command;

in response to receiving the mass notification command, determining whether to accept or reject the mass notification command; and

in response to determining to accept the mass notification command, performing at least one action.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether to accept or reject the mass notification command includes determining, by the non-addressable notification appliance, whether the non-addressable notification appliance is a mass notification appliance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mass notification command includes a command to implement a subsequent command;

and

wherein performing the at least one action includes performing the subsequent command.

16. A method of testing plural non-addressable notification appliances on a notification appliance circuit, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one of the notification appliances, a test request via the notification appliance circuit, the test request indicative of requesting a test;

executing, by the at least one of the notification appliances, the requested test in response to receipt of the test request;

determining, by the at least one of the notification appliances, if the test indicates a failure; and

if the test indicates a failure, sending, by the at least one of the notification appliances, an indication of said failure via the notification appliance circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the test request comprises a broadcast test command communicated via the notification appliance circuit.

18. A fire alarm control panel configured to communicate with a plurality of non-addressable appliances in a fire alarm system, the fire alarm control panel comprising:

a communications interface for communicating with one or more alarm devices via one or more communication lines; and

a controller in communication with the communications interface, the controller configured to;

send, via the one or more communication lines, a broadcast command to the plurality of non-addressable appliances;

analyze the one or more communication lines; and

determine a response from one or more of the plurality of non-addressable appliances based on the analyzing of the one or more communication lines.

19. The fire alarm control panel of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the one or more communication lines by determining whether the one or more communication lines has an open circuit.

20. The fire alarm control panel of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to analyze the one or more communication lines by receiving from the communications interface a communication from one or more of the plurality of non-addressable devices.

21. A non-addressable appliance configured to communicate with a fire alarm control panel in a fire alarm system, the non-addressable appliance comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive via one or more communication lines, a broadcast command from the fire alarm control panel; and

a controller in communication with the communication interface and configured to;

analyze at least a part of the broadcast command;

modify one or more communication lines in the fire alarm system in response to analyzing the at least a part of the broadcast command.

22. The non-addressable appliance of claim 21, further comprising an open circuit generating device;

and

wherein the controller is configured to modify the one or more communication lines by commanding the open circuit generating device to generate an open circuit on the one or more communication lines in response to receiving the broadcast command.

23. The non-addressable appliance of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to modify the one or more communication lines by sending a communication back to the fire alarm control panel via the one or more communication lines.

24. A method for a non-addressable notification appliance to process a mass notification broadcast command or a fire alarm notification broadcast command, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast command, the broadcast command including an indication that a subsequent broadcast command is to be interpreted as one of a mass notification broadcast command or a fire alarm notification broadcast command;

receiving a subsequent broadcast command; and

determining whether to process or ignore the subsequent broadcast command based on the received broadcast command.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether to process or ignore the subsequent broadcast command based on the received broadcast command comprises:

determining whether the non-addressable notification appliance is a mass notification appliance or a fire alarm notification appliance;

determining whether the indication in the broadcast command matches the determination of whether the non-addressable notification appliance is a mass notification appliance or a fire alarm notification appliance; and

processing the subsequent broadcast command if it is determined that the indication in the broadcast command matches the determination of whether the non-addressable notification appliance is a mass notification appliance or a fire alarm notification appliance.