MODULAR WIRELESS MASS EVACUATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20160071404A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplex Time Recorder Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Chiarizio, Martin A., Feltham, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,728,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0055 determining timing error of reception due to propagation delay
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Monitoring and mass notification systems, such as fire alarm systems, for use in occupied structures, and more particularly to wireless monitoring and mass notification systems include wireless base units that can be modular in design. This allows horns, mini horns, strobes, and audio messaging modules (e.g., speakers) to be physically plugged into the wireless base unit creating a unit with the appearance of a single physical unit. Preferably standardized plugs are used. In some cases, visual and audio modules (i.e., notification devices) have their own battery pack or external power interface. Each wireless base unit can optionally function as a repeater if it has dual transceivers (master transceiver and slave transceiver).

Claims

1. A monitoring and mass notification system, comprising:

a control unit for broadcasting alert messages via addressable wireless links;

a wireless base unit having a notification interface, a slave transceiver for receiving the alert messages from the control unit, and an identification address for distinguishing the wireless base unit from other wireless base units; and

a notification device having a base interface for plugging into the notification interface of the wireless base unit;

wherein the notification device receives a notification command from the wireless base unit and the notification device generates an alarm notification in response to receiving the notification command from the wireless base unit based on the broadcasted alert messages associated with the identification address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is a horn, a strobe, or a speaker.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless base unit comprises a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is independently powered from the wireless base unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is powered by a battery, an external power source, or an energy harvesting unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless base unit is configured to receive device information for the notification device when the notification device is plugged into the wireless base unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless base unit is configured to report the device information to an alarm panel via the control unit for programming the notification device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the wireless base unit is configured to send a notification status check to the notification device in order to monitor the device information of the notification device on a periodic basis.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the device information comprises a type of notification device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the device information comprises trouble device issues.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless base unit is configured to send a tamper message when the notification device is unplugged from the wireless base unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification command comprises activation information, deactivation information, sync protocol information, and/or battery load testing information of a load circuit on the notification device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless base unit is a repeater having a master transceiver for wirelessly rebroadcasting the alert messages to another wireless base unit.

14. A method for synchronizing a wireless base unit, comprising:

a control unit transmitting a system message having a timestamp that includes a control unit transmission time and a cumulative propagation delay time value;

a wireless base unit receiving the system message having the timestamp via wireless links;

the wireless base unit recording a receipt time based on a local time;

the wireless base unit processing the system message;

the wireless base unit calculating a processing time delay value based on a difference between the receipt time and the local time after processing the system message;

the wireless base unit determining a new cumulative propagation delay time value by summing the processing time delay value with the received cumulative propagation delay time value and the control unit transmission time; and

the wireless base unit updating the local time of the wireless base unit based on the new cumulative propagation delay time value.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

the control unit sending a time-correcting system beacon having a global system time to the wireless base unit; and

the wireless base unit updating the local time to match the global system time prior to the wireless base unit receiving the system message.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the time-correcting system beacon is sent every second.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the global time is within a system timestamp having a resolution between about 100 microseconds and about 1.0 millisecond.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the wireless base unit forwarding the system message to another wireless base unit via wireless links, wherein the forwarded system message includes a new timestamp having the new cumulative propagation delay time value.

19. A method for determining a system maximum cumulative propagation delay time value for wireless base units, comprising:

wireless base units determining maximum cumulative propagation delay time values for their subnets;

the wireless base units sending the determined maximum cumulative propagation delay time values to an alarm panel; and

the alarm panel determining a system maximum cumulative propagation delay time value by comparing the maximum cumulative propagation delay time values received from the wireless base units.

20. A method for scheduling an event for wireless base units, comprising:

an alarm panel determining a system maximum cumulative propagation delay time value;

the alarm panel receiving an alarm turn on signal for an event;

the alarm panel calculating a scheduled event time by summing the current time with the determined system maximum cumulative propagation delay time value;

the alarm panel broadcasting the scheduled event time to the wireless base units; and

the wireless base units executing the event in sync with each other based on the scheduled event time.

21. A method for minimizing power consumption for a wireless base unit by evaluating a message, comprising:

a control unit broadcasting a message having a header;

the wireless base unit waking up from a sleep mode and receiving the message having the header; and

the wireless base unit analyzing the header of the message to qualify if the message pertains to the wireless base unit;

wherein if the message pertains to the wireless base unit, the wireless base unit stays awake and processes the message; and

wherein if the message does not pertain to the wireless base unit, the wireless base unit changes from awake to sleep mode.