Communication system for a fire alarm or security system
First Claim
1. A communications system for an alarm or security system which includes a plurality of sensors for detecting an alarm condition in a building and includes a control unit interconnected with the sensors, the communications system comprising:
- a communications path by which an alarm signal is transmitted from the control unit to an alarm processing station;
a database accessible from the alarm processing station, the database comprising a single database located remotely from the building and from the alarm processing station, the single, remote database being configured to continuously accept up-to-date, pertinent information relating to a building in which the alarm or security system is installed including the building'"'"'s address and description, information about the sensor that triggered the alarm or security system into alarm, a past history of other alarms being triggered by the sensor, and special instructions regarding how responders should respond to the alarm in the event hazardous materials are located in an area of the building where the sensor is located;
a uniform resource locator link and identifier embedded in each transmission of the alarm signal for use in describing the alarm, its location, and any special actions required by a responder; and
,means by which the alarm processing station communicates with responders to the alarm including providing the responders with pertinent information stored in the single, remote database wherein the uniform resource locator link remains active for a specified period of time after transmission of the alarm signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system for an alarm or security system. A plurality of sensors are installed in a facility detect an alarm condition together with a control unit interconnected with the sensors and to which an alarm indication is sent by a sensor going into alarm. A communications path is established by which an alarm signal is transmitted from the control unit to an alarm processing station. A central database, remote from the facility, is accessible from the alarm processing station and includes up-to-date, pertinent information relating to the facility including its address and description, information about the sensor that triggered the alarm, a past history of other alarms, and special instructions regarding how responders should respond in the event hazardous materials are located in an area of the facility where the sensor is located. The system further includes a communications capability for providing this information to responders in route to the facility, including text and graphic information.
49 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A communications system for an alarm or security system which includes a plurality of sensors for detecting an alarm condition in a building and includes a control unit interconnected with the sensors, the communications system comprising:
-
a communications path by which an alarm signal is transmitted from the control unit to an alarm processing station; a database accessible from the alarm processing station, the database comprising a single database located remotely from the building and from the alarm processing station, the single, remote database being configured to continuously accept up-to-date, pertinent information relating to a building in which the alarm or security system is installed including the building'"'"'s address and description, information about the sensor that triggered the alarm or security system into alarm, a past history of other alarms being triggered by the sensor, and special instructions regarding how responders should respond to the alarm in the event hazardous materials are located in an area of the building where the sensor is located; a uniform resource locator link and identifier embedded in each transmission of the alarm signal for use in describing the alarm, its location, and any special actions required by a responder; and
,means by which the alarm processing station communicates with responders to the alarm including providing the responders with pertinent information stored in the single, remote database wherein the uniform resource locator link remains active for a specified period of time after transmission of the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. In an alarm or security system which includes a plurality of sensors for detecting an alarm condition in a building and includes a control unit interconnected with the sensors, a method of communicating internally and externally of the system comprising:
-
establishing and maintaining a single database which is remotely located from the alarm processing station and from the building, the single database being accessible from the alarm processing station, the single database being configured to accept up-to-date, pertinent information relating to the building in which the alarm or security system is installed including the building'"'"'s address and description, information about the sensor that triggered the system into alarm, a past history of other alarms, and special instructions regarding how responders should respond to the alarm in the event hazardous materials are located in an area of the building where the sensor is located; transmitting an alarm signal generated by one of the sensors over a communications path from the control unit to an alarm processing station; monitoring other sensors within the building and ascertaining whether the transmitted alarm signal is localized or propagating within the building; and communicating between the alarm processing station and the responders regarding the alarm signal including providing the responders with the pertinent information stored in the single database. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A communications system for an alarm or security system which includes a plurality of sensors for detecting an alarm condition in a building and includes a control unit interconnected with the sensors, the communications system comprising:
-
a communications path by which an alarm signal is transmitted from the control unit to an alarm processing station; a database accessible from the alarm processing station, the database comprising a single database located remotely from the building and the alarm processing station, the single, remote database including up-to-date, pertinent information relating to the building in which the alarm or security system is installed including information about spatial sensor data with alarm data to determine if other sensors in the same area are experiencing similar changes to those of a sensor which has gone into alarm; and
,means by which the alarm processing station communicates with responders regarding the alarm such that the responders become aware of the spatial sensor data information to ascertain if the alarm data is propagating within the building.
-
Specification