NETWORKED SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DETECTION OF HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
First Claim
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1. A safety sensor and communication device for operation in conjunction with other safety sensor and communication devices in a network configuration, the device comprising:
- a sensor for sensing a hazardous condition;
a transceiver for communicating over the network;
a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the transceiver;
a memory for storing (i) a unique device identifier and (ii) an alarm state having a value based on a state of the sensor; and
a database for storing network information;
wherein the controller is configured to (i) operate the device in a slave mode if a master device is detected on the network via the transceiver, (ii) detect departure of a master device from the network and cooperate with other devices on the network to designate a new master device, and (iii) operate the device in a master mode if the device is designated as the master device on the network,and further wherein, when operating in the master mode, the controller is configured to communicate with other devices on the network and obtain sensor data therefrom, and to maintain the sensor data in the database.
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Abstract
In an alarm network involving a set of intercommunicating alarm nodes, departure from the network of the master node—due to failure, in the course of system reconfiguration, or for some other reason—is detected by the remaining nodes in the network, which cooperate to elect or designate a new master node autonomously.
65 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A safety sensor and communication device for operation in conjunction with other safety sensor and communication devices in a network configuration, the device comprising:
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a sensor for sensing a hazardous condition; a transceiver for communicating over the network; a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the transceiver; a memory for storing (i) a unique device identifier and (ii) an alarm state having a value based on a state of the sensor; and a database for storing network information; wherein the controller is configured to (i) operate the device in a slave mode if a master device is detected on the network via the transceiver, (ii) detect departure of a master device from the network and cooperate with other devices on the network to designate a new master device, and (iii) operate the device in a master mode if the device is designated as the master device on the network, and further wherein, when operating in the master mode, the controller is configured to communicate with other devices on the network and obtain sensor data therefrom, and to maintain the sensor data in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wirelessly linked network of safety sensors, the system comprising:
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a plurality of safety-sensor devices each comprising a sensor for sensing a hazardous condition, a wireless transceiver, and a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the transceiver, the devices communicating wirelessly in a network configuration, wherein each device is configured to sense departure of the master device from the network and, in response, to cooperate to designate as a new master device one of the devices still connected to the network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of sensing and communicating among a plurality of safety sensor devices in a network configuration, each device comprising a sensor for sensing a hazardous condition, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, at each device, whether the hazardous condition is present; operating the devices to cooperatively designate one of the devices as a master device, the other devices operating as slave devices; causing the master device to (i) determine whether its sensor detects the hazardous condition, (ii) query each slave device for the hazardous condition, and (iii) monitor issuance of an alarm signal if the hazardous condition is detected at any device; and sensing, by each device, departure of the master device from the network and, in response, cooperating with the other devices in an election procedure to designate as a new master device one of the devices connected to the network. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification