System and Method of Locating Installed Devices

• US 20160266556A1
• Filed: 03/12/2015
• Published: 09/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Magyar, George J., Pearson, Charles T., Leach, Jonathan W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,635,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• 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 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A graphically based tool and method for generating programming for a fire monitoring system. The locations of existing devices, such as detectors, in a building being monitored, can be visually presented in the context of the building. New devices can be installed, or the location of existing devices changed since all devices report their locations in the building to the tool. Device location information can be combined with building information to create a multi-dimensional representation of parts of the building being monitored.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

creating a multi-dimensional model of a selected building;

obtaining locations of predetermined types of monitoring devices in the building and incorporating those devices into the model of the building; and

displaying a multi-dimensional image of the building model along with the incorporated devices.

2. A method as in claim 1 which includes at least one of, adding another device to the displayed building, or, changing the location of at least one of the devices in the building, or, removing one of the devices and replacing with a different device.

3. A method as in claim 1 which includes changing a building data base to reflect alterations in the population of devices.

4. A method as in claim 3 which includes altering the population by manipulating the multi-dimensional images.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein manipulating includes moving at least one device of the population from a displayed first location in the building image to a second, different, displayed location in the building image.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the devices provide location information to a building data base.

7. A method as in claim 6 which includes altering the population by manipulating the multi-dimensional images.

8. A method as in claim 7 which includes providing a fire alarm control panel for the selected building and coupling the devices thereto.

9. A method as in claim 8 which includes coupling a graphical display unit to the control panel.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein the display unit comprises a graphical display interface enabling graphical programming of the combined control panel and the devices.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein the devices can be selected from a class which includes at least condition sensing input devices and alarm indicating output devices.

12. A method as in claim 11 which includes providing a building defining data base.

13. A method as in claim 11 which includes releasably coupling the display unit to the control panel and to the data base.

14. A method as in claim 13 which includes directing at least some of the devices to report at least location information relative to the building to the control panel.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of devices, at least some of the devices are ambient condition detectors, the devices each include wireless location specifying circuitry that automatically emits location information for the respective device;

a control unit coupled to the devices;

a device installation tool including a building data base and associated control circuits coupled to the control unit wherein the control circuits implement an interactive model of the building, which incorporates device location information; and

a graphical user interface, including a visual display unit, coupled to the control circuits and to display the interactive model of the building.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the control circuits use the downloaded location information from respective devices to present the devices on the interactive model.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the control circuits respond to location information from an added newly installed device to locate that device on the interactive model, and to provide a display of it on the visual display unit.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17 where devices are selected from a class which includes at least smoke detectors, gas detectors, thermal detectors, humidity detectors, and alarm indicating pull stations.

19. An apparatus as in claim 17 where devices down load device specifying information along with respective location information to the installation tool.

20. An apparatus as in claim 19 where specified devices include at least one of detectors or annunciators.