Communications distribution apparatus and method

• US 6,580,951 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultrak Incorporated (MDI Inc)
• Original Assignee: Ultrak Incorporated (MDI Inc)
• Inventors: Cooper, Alan N., Bauerle, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/879,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 700/21, 700/83, 700/79, 700/89, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/223, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225
• US Class Current: 700/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

A computer system and method for distributing, decisions in a network. The network is partitioned into multiple levels including a user interface level, a gateway level and a domain level. All attached devices in the network communicate either directly or indirectly with user interface unit. Several gateway systems are attached to the user interface level. Each gateway system has decision-making capability. Each gateway system has connected to it multiple domains. Each domain level again has a set of decision-making capabilities. When the domain level receives an input, the domain level decides whether or not it may react based upon its decision-making capabilities. The domain system may react to the input and provide the gateway with a report of the event and the domain system'"'"'s reaction to it. Once the gateway system receives the event and domain system status, the gateway determines whether to react to this event. The gateway may react to this event and direct the domain system to act according to its predetermined programming. The gateway system then sends to the user interface system the event, the domain system status and the gateway system status. The status includes whether the domain or gateway systems have reacted to the event. At the user interface level, the user interface system determines whether to react to this event and then provides a notice to the user, which allows the user to input an action.

Claims

1. A method of distributing decisions in a network including a user interface level, a gateway level, and a domain level, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving data at a domain in the domain level;

deciding at the domain if the domain is to react;

reacting to the data or sending the data to a gateway in the gateway level;

deciding at the gateway if the gateway is to react;

reacting to the data or sending the data to a user interface in the user interface level;

deciding at the user interface if the user interface is to react; and

reacting to the data or not reacting to the data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the domain receiving data at the domain level includes receiving data from a field device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of the domain reacting to the data includes providing instructions to the field device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the gateway reacting to the data includes providing instruction to the domain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the user interface reacting to the data includes providing instructions to the gateway, wherein the gateway then provides instructions to the domain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the user interface deciding to react includes:

outputting the data to a user; and

receiving input from the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the user interface not reacting to the data includes storing the data.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of receiving data from the field device includes receiving data from at least one field device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one field device is a plurality of field devices.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the gateway receiving data from the domain includes receiving data from at least one domain.

13. The method of claim 12, where at least one domain is a plurality of domains.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the user interface receiving data from the gateway includes receiving data from at least one gateway.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one gateway includes a plurality of gateways.

6. The method of claim I further comprising the step of storing the data in the user interface level.

7. The method of claim I further comprising the steps of sending the data and the decision to react to the gateway if the domain reacts;

sending the data and the decision to react to the user interface if the gateway reacts.

16. A security system on a network of at least three levels comprising:

a user interface system, wherein the user interface system includes a processor, a user input device, a user output device, a memory system and a networking device;

a gateway system connected to the user interface system through the network, the gateway system including a processor, a memory system and a networking device;

a domain system connected to the gateway system through the network, the domain system including a processor, a networking device, a memory system, an output device and an input device;

software resident in the user interface system, the software when executed performing the steps of;

receiving data from the gateway system;

deciding to react; and

reacting to the data or not reacting to the data

software resident in the gateway system, the software when executed performing the steps of;

receiving data from the domain system;

deciding to react; and

reacting to the data or sending the data to the user interface system;

software resident in the domain system, the software when executed performing the steps of;

receiving data;

deciding to react; and

reacting to the data or sending the data to the gateway system.

17. The security system of claim 16 further comprising a field system connected to the domain system through the network.

18. The security system of claim 17, wherein the domain system software steps of receiving data includes receiving data from the field system.

19. The security system of claim 17, wherein the field system includes a field system with a processor and a network device.

20. The security system of claim 17, wherein the field system includes field system with a sensor.

21. The security system of claim 17, wherein the field system includes a sensing device hardwired to the domain system.

22. The security system of claim 16, wherein the user interface system includes a user interface system with a mass storage device.

23. The security system of claim 22, wherein the user interface system software step of not reacting to the data includes storing data in the mass storage device.

24. The security system of claim 16, wherein the gateway system includes a gateway system with a mass storage device.

25. The security system of claim 16, wherein the domain system includes a domain system with a mass storage device.