Color graphics terminal for monitoring an alarm system

• US 5,297,252 A
• Filed: 05/07/1991
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Becker, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US07/696,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 395/157, 395/160, 395/161, 364/138, 364/146, 364/188, 364/423, 340/506, 340/525
• US Class Current: 715/803
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/00 Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00

Abstract

A color graphics terminal for monitoring a system in which a graphics monitor is connected to a computer, the graphics and at least two separate graphics windows which are capable of representing simultaneously two geographically, hierarchically related graphic displays of the system, with an arrangement for controlling the computer to automatically display on the graphics monitor the related graphic displays in response to certain inputs received by the computer.

Claims

1. A color graphics terminal for monitoring a fire alarm system in which a plurality of inputs become active depending on the occurrence of events taking place in the system comprising:

computer means;

a graphics monitor connected to said computer means, said graphics monitor having at least two separate graphics windows and capable of presenting simultaneously two geographically, hierarchically related graphic displays of said system;

means for controlling said computer means to automatically present on said graphics monitor said geographically, hierarchically related graphic displays in response to predetermined ones of said inputs becoming active responsive to events in the system received by said computer means;

wherein said inputs relate to said occurrence of events taking place within said system, whereby at least a peripheral perception of each of said events is dually enabled by the display in said at least two separate graphics windows; and

means for interacting with the graphic displays, including means for moving the geographically, hierarchically related graphic displays from one graphic window to another, and for calling up other graphic displays of said system to any of said graphics windows.

2. The terminal as defined in claim 1, in which said two graphics windows are a main window and a secondary window.

3. The terminal according to claim 2, in which said means for interacting with the graphic displays is a touch screen.

4. The terminal according to claim 3, in which said touch screen is operative such that when a given area of said touch screen is touched the geographically, hierarchically related graphic displays will be affected.

5. The color graphics terminal according to claim 4, in which icons are included, and the touching of icons in said main graphics window enables system devices corresponding to the respective icons.

6. The color graphics terminal according to claim 5, wherein touching touch-points in said main graphics window will select floor plans.

7. The color graphics terminal according to claim 6, wherein touching any part of said secondary graphics window immediately moves the graphic displayed in said secondary graphics window into said main graphics window.

8. The color graphics terminal according to claim 7, wherein touching any part of a zone within a floor plan graphically displayed in said main graphics window immediately moves the respective zone into said main graphics window and the floor plan to said secondary graphics window.

9. The color graphics terminal according to claim 8, wherein the icons in the graphic displays are inoperable while the graphic displays are in said secondary graphics window.

10. The color graphics terminal according to claim 9, wherein said graphics monitor comprises three graphics windows.

11. The color graphics terminal according to claim 10, wherein the related graphic displays shown in said three graphics windows have the following ascending hierarchical relationship:

zone plans, floor plans, building profile, facility overview.

12. The color graphics terminal according to claim 11, wherein said graphics monitor comprises a main graphics window and two secondary graphics windows.

13. The color graphics terminal according to claim 12, wherein said graphics monitor includes a command menu window.

14. The color graphics terminal according to claim 13, wherein said graphics monitor includes at least one message window.

15. The color graphics terminal according to claim 14, wherein said graphics monitor includes a system status window, a system title window and a time/date window.