Updating Gas Detector Configuration Using Near Field Communication Tags

• US 20170047969A1
• Filed: 08/12/2015
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mroszczak, Stephen, Johnson, Kirk William, Englot, Kelly, Javer, Mahdi
• Granted Patent: US 9,705,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0009 General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment G01N1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0027 concerning the detector
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for configuring a gas detector using near-field communication (NFC). A gas detector may be equipped with an NFC reader that will allow the gas detector to scan and read NFC tags. Compatible NFC tags may be acquired and programmed with the configuration settings information. The NFC tag may then be attached to a poster with instructions that show where to place the detector in order to confirm their device'"'"'s configuration. When the detector is placed in the appropriate location near the tag on the poster, the detector may receive information from the NFC tag, implement the configuration settings, and possibly display a confirmation message to the user. The NFC tag may also be attached to a card carried by a monitor for that work area.

Claims

1. A method for updating the settings of a gas detector for a particular work area, when the user is entering the work area, the method comprising:

providing a gas detector comprising a near-field communication (NFC) reader, wherein the gas detector is configured with initial settings associated with gas detection;

programming an NFC tag with settings information associated with gas detection in the work area for use by the gas detector, wherein the NFC tag is located at the entry of the work area;

placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the NFC tag comprising the settings information associated with the work area;

in response to placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the NFC tag;

receiving, by the NFC reader of the gas detector, the settings information associated with the work area from the NFC tag;

changing, by the gas detector, the initial settings on the gas detector to the settings information for the work area based on the received settings information from the NFC tag; and

displaying, by the gas detector, a confirmation message to the user when the setting information for the work area have been changed, wherein the gas detector is operable to detect gas levels in the work area in accordance with the settings information that was changed by the gas detector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the gas detector from the NFC tag, a work area identifier in response to placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the NFC tag; and

storing, by the gas detector, the work area identifier on the gas detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the NFC tag is located on a poster, wherein the poster contains instructions for the user and indicates the location of the NFC tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the NFC tag is located on a card carried by a monitor for the work area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial settings comprise alarm settings and exposure limits that are incorrect for the work area, and wherein changing the initial settings on the gas detector to the settings information for the work area comprises changing the alarm settings and exposure limits to be correct for the work area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving and changing settings by the gas detector from an NFC tag at every new work area entered by the user based on the NFC reader of the gas detector being placed in proximity to the NFC tag at the new work area.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

placing the gas detector in proximity to a second NFC tag, wherein the second NFC tag is at the entry of a second work area and comprises different settings information associated with the second work area, the different settings information being different from the initial settings and the settings information for the work area;

in response to placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the second NFC tag associated with the second work area;

receiving, by the NFC reader of the gas detector, the second settings information from the second NFC tag associated with the second work area;

updating, by the gas detector, from the settings information for the work area on the gas detector to the second settings information associated with the second work area based on the received second settings information; and

displaying by the gas detector, a confirmation message to the user when the gas detector has changed to the second settings information for the second work area received by the NFC tag of the second work area.

8. A method for updating the settings of a gas detector for a particular work area, when the user is entering the work area, the method comprising:

providing a gas detector comprising a near-field communication (NFC) reader, wherein the gas detector is configured with initial settings associated with gas detection;

programming an NFC tag with settings information associated with gas detection in the work area for use by the gas detector, wherein the NFC tag is located at the entry of the work area;

placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the NFC tag having the settings information associated with the work area;

in response to placing the NFC reader of the gas detector in proximity to the NFC tag;

receiving, by the gas detector, a work area identifier for the work area and settings information associated with the work area from the NFC tag;

updating, by the gas detector, the initial settings on the gas detector to the settings information associated with the work area based on the received settings information from the NFC tag;

storing, by the gas detector, the work area identifier from the NFC tag; and

detecting, by the gas detector, gas levels in the work area in accordance with the settings information that were updated on the gas detector.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

placing the gas detector in proximity to a second NFC tag associated with a second work area, wherein the second NFC tag is at the entry of the second work area and comprises second settings information about gas detection in the second work area for use by gas detectors;

receiving, by the gas detector, second settings information from the second NFC tag;

in response to receiving the second settings information from the second NFC tag, updating the gas detector from the settings information associated with the first work area to second settings information from the second NFC tag associated with the second work area based on the received second settings information;

receiving, by the gas detector, a second work area identifier for the second work area from the second NFC tag in response to the gas detector being in proximity to the second NFC tag; and

storing and updating, by the gas detector, the gas detector with the second work area identifier received from the second NFC tag.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising receiving and changing settings by the gas detector from an NFC tag at every new work area entered by the user based on the NFC reader of the gas detector being placed in proximity to the NFC tag at the new work area.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising tracking the location of a worker based on the work area identifiers that are stored by the gas detector.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the NFC tag is located on a poster or sign located at the entry of a work area, wherein the poster contains instructions for the user and draws attention to the NFC tag.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the NFC tag is located on a card carried by a monitor for the work area. has changed to the second settings information for the second work area received by the NFC tag of the second work area.