System for transmitting and verifying alarm signals

• US 6,741,171 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phasys Limited
• Original Assignee: Phasys Limited
• Inventors: Colucciello, Giuseppe, Tulley, Michael Kevin, Hamilton, Gary Arthur, Palka, Mark Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/774,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/506, 340/539, 340/540, 340/531, 700/17, 700/83, 713/200, 713/201, 709/224
• US Class Current: 340/501
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications

Abstract

A system for transmitting and verifying alarm signals over a TCP/IP network includes an alarm panel hosting an alarm client and verification server and connected to at least one alarm sensor, a TCP/IP network, an alarm monitor server and a verification station connected to each other and to the TCP/IP network. If the alarm client detects an alarm situation, it transmits an alarm signal to the alarm monitor server. The alarm signal contains information on how to contact the verification server. If it is necessary to verify the alarm signal, the alarm monitor station sends the alarm verification station a verification request containing the contact information for the verification server. The alarm verification station contacts the verification server and obtains the verification information available from the alarm verification server.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting an alarm signal from an alarm client to an alarm monitor server and verifying said alarm signal and transmitting said alarm signal to an alarm verification station and then transmitting said alarm signal to an alarm verification server over a TCP/IP network comprising the steps of:

sending said alarm signal containing alarm information and information about how to obtain alarm verification information from said alarm client to said alarm monitor server over said TCP/IP network;

sending an alarm verification request signal from said alarm monitor server to said alarm verification station, said request signal containing alarm information and information about how to obtain alarm verification information over said TCP/IP network;

connecting said alarm verification station to said alarm verification server, and sending said alarm verification request signal to said alarm verification server;

retrieving said alarm verification information at said alarm verification server and generating an alarm verification signal; and

receiving said alarm verification signal over said TCP/IP network at said alarm verification station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving information about how to obtain said alarm verification information over said TCP/IP network, from a computer readable memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an instruction from said alarm client to initiate said alarm verification server to begin formulating said alarm verification signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, after said alarm verification server is initiated, said alarm verification server waits to be contacted by said alarm verification station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said alarm verification station contacts said alarm verification server and obtains said alarm verification information from said alarm verification server, whereby said alarm verification information is obtained by said alarm verification station.

6. The method of claim 5, including the step of providing an intermediate server, and wherein, after said alarm verification server is initiated, said alarm verification server sends said alarm verification information to said intermediate server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said alarm verification information is obtained by said alarm verification station by said alarm verification station contacting said intermediate server and contacting said alarm verification information from said intermediate server.

8. A system for transmitting and verifying alarm signals over a TCP/IP network comprising:

an electronic alarm monitoring system referred to as an alarm panel, including connections for connecting to a TCP/IP network, receivers for receiving alarm indications from at least one alarm sensor, and means for receiving alarm verification information from at least one alarm verification information source;

an alarm client;

a verification server connected to said alarm panel;

an alarm monitor server;

communication circuits for said alarm client to communicate with said alarm monitor server;

an alarm verification station adapted to connect to said TCP/IP network; and

communication circuits for said alarm monitor server to communicate with said alarm verification station;

wherein when said at least one alarm sensor generates an alarm signal at said alarm client relating to an alarm indication, said alarm client prepares said alarm signal containing information about the alarm indication, and information about how to obtain said verification information from said verification server over said TCP/IP network, and sends said alarm signal to said alarm monitor server, and said information about said alarm indication and said information about how to obtain said alarm verification information from said verification server over said TCP/IP network, is forwarded to said verification station so as to adapt said verification station to obtain said alarm verification information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for said alarm panel to communicate with said alarm monitor server comprises said TCP/IP network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for said alarm monitor server to communicate with said alarm verification station comprises said TCP/IP network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said alarm monitor server and said alarm verification station are resident on the same host computer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said alarm monitor server and said alarm verification station are resident on another host computer.

13. A method for transmitting an alarm signal from an alarm client to an alarm monitor server and verifying said alarm signal over a TCP/IP network comprising the steps of:

sending said alarm signal from said alarm client to said alarm monitor server over said TCP/IP network;

sending an alarm verification signal from said alarm monitor to an alarm verification server over said TCP/IP network; and

receiving said alarm verification signal over said TCP/IP network at said alarm verification server.

14. A system for transmitting and verifying alarm signals over a TCP/IP network comprising:

an electronic alarm monitoring system for connecting to a TCP/IP network;

receivers for receiving alarm indications from at least one alarm sensor;

an alarm client;

a verification server connected to said alarm monitoring system;

an alarm monitor server, said alarm client being adapted to communicate with said alarm monitor server; and

an alarm verification station adapted to connect to said TCP/IP network, and communicating with said alarm monitor server;

wherein when said at least one alarm sensor generates an alarm signal at said alarm client, said alarm verification information is communicated from said verification server over said TCP/IP network, so as to send said alarm signal to said alarm monitor server.