Apparatus and method for supervision

• US 6,606,028 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pittway Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Tice, Lee D., Clow, Robert J., Keeler, Manley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/298,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 340/511, 340/590, 340/650, 340/661, 340/505, 340/506, 340/508, 340/512, 340/515, 340/825.36, 379/22.03, 379/22.07, 379/24
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0793 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/46 Monitoring; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A supervisable multi-processor communication system includes circuitry and executable instructions for evaluating the communication capability of a plurality of branches in the system. Branches which exhibit a non-communicating condition, such as an open circuit can be identified. By conducting communications with electrical units on identified branches, the location of an open circuit, relative to one of the electrical units can be established.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

at least first and second communications links;

a plurality of branches coupled between the links wherein each of the branches includes a plurality of communications units coupled thereto and circuitry whereby communications can be blocked on all branches, except for a selected branch whereby a status parameter of the selected branch can be evaluated.

2. A system as in claim 1 comprising a control element coupled to the links and including circuitry for evaluating the status parameter of the selected branch.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein the control element includes circuitry for evaluating the status parameter of a plurality of the branches.

4. A system as in claim 2 wherein one of the links comprises a plurality of switchable conductors coupled to the element whereby each branch has a first end and a second end and wherein the first ends are coupled to the other link and the second ends are coupled to respective ones of the switchable conductors at the element.

5. A system as in claim 1 comprising a programmed control element coupled to the links and including prestored executable instructions for evaluating the status parameter of the selected branch.

6. A system as in claim 5 which includes prestored executable instructions for sequentially evaluating a status parameter of more than one of the branches.

7. A system as in claim 6 which includes prestored executable instructions for sequentially evaluating a status parameter of a second plurality of branches.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein the second plurality comprises the plurality of branches.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein the links each comprise one of an optical communications cable or a conductive communications cable.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein the links comprise conductive communications cable and the branches comprise conductive communications cables.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein evaluating the status parameter of a selected branch comprises evaluating an open circuit or a short circuit condition thereof.

12. A system as in claim 11 which includes a control element coupled to the links.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein the control element includes circuitry for sequencing through the branches to establish a corresponding plurality of open and closed circuit conditions.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein the control element includes circuitry for establishing, for at least a selected branch exhibiting an open circuit condition, the location of the condition, the location of the condition relative to at least one unit on the branch.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein the control element includes prestored instructions for sequencing through at least some of the branches.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein the control element includes instructions for establishing the location of the condition.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein the control element includes instructions for transmitting evaluation signals to the selected branch for establishing the location.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein the control element includes circuitry, responsive to the evaluating signals, for establishing the location.

19. A system as in claim 18 wherein the control element includes circuitry for receiving signals from units on the selected branch indicative of the location.

20. A system as in claim 13 wherein the control element includes circuitry for coupling electrical energy to at least one of the links.

21. A system as in claim 20 wherein the control element includes circuitry for coupling electrical energy to both of the links.

22. A system as in claim 20 wherein the control element includes circuitry for switching electrical energy between the links.

23. A system as in claim 22 wherein the control element includes circuitry for transmitting selected messages to a selected of the links.

24. A system as in claim 23 wherein the messages open circuit respective ones of the branches.

25. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least some of the units include programmed processors.

26. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least some of the units comprise ambient condition detectors.

27. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least one unit of each plurality includes isolation circuitry for blocking or permitting communications on the respective branch.

28. A system as in claim 1 which includes a multiplexer coupled between the members of the plurality and one of the links whereby a branch can be selected and whereby the status parameter of the selected branch can be evaluated.

29. A system as in claim 1 wherein some of the units include sensors.

30. A system as in claim 29 wherein some of the sensors detect respective ambient conditions.

31. A system as in claim 29 wherein the sensors are selected from a class which includes intrusion detectors, fire detectors, gas detectors, non-fire temperature detectors, position detectors and velocity detectors.

32. A communication system comprising:

at least first and second communications links;

a plurality of branches coupled between the links wherein each of the branches includes a plurality of communications units coupled thereto and circuitry for selectively blocking the communications between the links on all branches except for one;

circuitry for sending a communication signal on the first link and detecting the communication signal on the second link;

circuitry for generating a trouble condition if the communication signal is not detected on the second link; and

wherein the trouble condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined by a common controller sending a command for the devices from both the first link and the second link and the devices that do not receive the command from both links send an open circuit message to the common controller.

33. A system as in claim 32 wherein the branch that is not blocked is changed periodically.

34. A system as in claim 33 wherein all of the branches have been in a condition where they were not blocked during a predetermined time period.

35. A system as in claim 32 wherein a common controller sends commands to the communication unit to block or unblock the branch.

36. A system as in claim 32 wherein the said communication unit has been preprogrammed to automatically block or unblock the branch.

37. A system as in claim 32 wherein the said communication unit is one of an ambient condition detector, an input module, and an output module.

38. A system as in claim 32 wherein the selected condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined from the devices that are between the open circuit and the communication unit transmitting messages.

39. A system as in claim 32 wherein the trouble condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined by the devices installed on the branch receiving a transmission from the said communication unit after it unblocked the branch.

40. A communication system comprising:

at least first and at least second communications links;

a plurality of branches coupled between the links wherein each of the branches includes a communications unit in each branch which unit includes circuitry for blocking the communications between the links;

circuitry for sending a communication signal on the first link and detecting the communication signal at the respective communication unit of each branch;

additional circuitry for sending a communication signal on the at least second link to the communication units and indicating a selected condition if the respective communication units did not receive both the communication from the first link and the at least second link; and

where there is an open circuit in the branch, the location of the open circuit is determined by a common controller sending a command for the devices from both the first link and the second link and the devices that do not receive the command from both links send an open circuit message to the common controller.

41. A system as in claim 40 wherein the selected indication is displayed at the respective communication unit.

42. A system as in claim 40 wherein the selected indication is displayed at a location remote from the respective communication unit.

43. A system as in claim 40 wherein the communications signals are transmitted simultaneously on both the first and at least second links.

44. A system as in claim 40 wherein the communications signals are different.

45. A system as in claim 40 wherein the communication unit includes circuitry for determining if the communications signals are being received from both the first link and the at least second link.

46. A system as in claim 40 wherein the communication unit couples the respective branch that includes it to the at least second link if it does not receive communication signals from the first link.

47. A system as in claim 40 wherein the communication unit transmits a selected signal when the communications signals are not received from the first link.

48. 3A system as in claim 47 wherein the communication unit transmits the selected signal on the at least second link.

49. A system as in claim 40 wherein a common controller sends commands to the communication unit to block or unblock the branch.

50. A system as in claim 40 wherein the said communication unit has been preprogrammed to automatically block or unblock the branch.

51. A system as claim 40 wherein the said communication unit is one of an ambient condition detector, an input module, and an output module.

52. A system as in claim 40 wherein the selected condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined from the devices that are between the open circuit and the communication unit transmitting messages.

53. A system as in claim 40 wherein the trouble condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined by the devices installed on the branch receiving a transmission from the said communication unit after it unblocked the branch.

54. A communication system comprising:

a first and at least a second communications link;

a plurality of branches coupled between the links wherein each of the branches includes a communications unit within each branch which is capable of blocking branch communications between the links,

circuitry for sending a communication signal on the first link and detecting the communication signal at the respective communication unit within each branch;

further circuitry for sending a communication signal on the at least second link to the communication units within the branches; and

indicating an open circuit trouble condition if the communication units within the branches did not receive both the communication from the first link and the at least second link; and

wherein the location of the open circuit is determined by a common controller sending a command for the devices from both the first link and the second link and the devices that do not receive the command from both links send an open circuit message to the common controller.

55. A system as in claim 54 wherein the communications signals are transmitted simultaneously on both the first and at least second links.

56. A system as in claim 54 wherein the respective communications unit unblocks the respective branch after it determines that there is an open circuit condition on the branch.

57. A system as in claim 54 wherein the respective communications unit transmits a trouble indicator.

58. A system as in claim 57 wherein the trouble indication is displayed at a remote location.

59. A system as in claim 57 wherein the trouble indication is displayed at the said communications unit.

60. A system as in claim 54 wherein a common controller sends commands to the communication unit to block or unblock the branch.

61. A system as in claim 54 wherein the said communication unit has been preprogrammed to automatically block or unblock the branch.

62. A system as claim 54 wherein the said communication unit is one of an ambient condition detector, an input module, and an output module.

63. A system as in claim 62 wherein the ambient condition detector is at least one of a smoke detector, a gas detector, a heat detector, a light detector, and a sound detector.

64. A system as in claim 54 wherein the selected condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined from the devices that are between the open circuit and the communication unit transmitting messages.

65. A system as in claim 54 wherein the trouble condition is an open circuit in the branch and the location of the open circuit is determined by the devices installed on the branch receiving a transmission from the said communication unit after it unblocked the branch.

66. A communication system comprising:

at least first and second communications links;

a plurality of branches coupled between the links wherein each of the branches includes a plurality of communications units coupled thereto and circuitry in each branch whereby communications between the links can be blocked on all branches, except for a selected branch whereby a discontinuity in the selected branch can be sensed.

67. A system as in claim 66 comprising a programmed control element coupled to the links and including prestored executable instructions for sensing the discontinuity in the selected branch.

68. A system as in claim 67 which includes circuitry for establishing the location of the discontinuity in the selected branch.

69. A system as in claim 66 which includes prestored executable instructions for sequentially determining the existence of a discontinuity in more than one of the branches.