Self-configuring emergency event alarm system with autonomous output devices
First Claim
1. A self-configuring alarm system, comprising:
- an alarm device network comprising a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices wherein each of said alarm devices comprises;
at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hazard,a processor responsive to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor for communicating with said at least one of said plurality of alarm devices to communicate a hazard detection indication to said at least one of said plurality of alarm devices; and
an output device network communicatively connected to said alarm device network and containing a plurality of output devices, wherein each of said output devices comprises;
a receiver for receiving said hazard detection indication, andan output device, responsive to said received hazard detection indication, for generating one or more human sensible alarm indications.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present Self-Configuring Alarm System uses a decentralized (ad hoc or mesh) architecture where any node is capable of autonomously reporting the alarm event directly to all other nodes in the ad hoc network independent of where the alarm event occurred. In addition, the Self-Configuring Alarm System includes a plurality of autonomous output devices which function to provide an audible alarm that directs the occupants to the location of the hazard and/or provides an indication of the nature of the detected hazard or whether an indication of the hazard has been received at a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that serves the dwelling or locale. The alarm networks and output networks may not be coextensive in their coverage areas.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A self-configuring alarm system, comprising:
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an alarm device network comprising a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices wherein each of said alarm devices comprises; at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hazard, a processor responsive to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor for communicating with said at least one of said plurality of alarm devices to communicate a hazard detection indication to said at least one of said plurality of alarm devices; and an output device network communicatively connected to said alarm device network and containing a plurality of output devices, wherein each of said output devices comprises; a receiver for receiving said hazard detection indication, and an output device, responsive to said received hazard detection indication, for generating one or more human sensible alarm indications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A self-configuring alarm system, comprising:
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at least one alarm device network, wherein each of said alarm device networks comprises a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices wherein each of said alarm devices in an alarm device network comprises; at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hazard; a processor responsive to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor for communicating with said at least one of said alarm devices in said alarm device network to communicate a hazard detection indication to said alarm devices in said alarm device network; and at least one output device network, wherein each of said output device networks are communicatively connected to at least one of said alarm device networks and contain a plurality of output devices, wherein each of said output devices in an output device network comprises; a receiver for receiving said hazard detection indication; and an output device, responsive to said received hazard detection indication, for generating one or more human sensible alarm indications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A self-configuring alarm system, comprising:
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a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices; a plurality of output devices; a communication process for exchanging messages among one or more of said plurality of alarm devices and said plurality of output devices; wherein each of said plurality of alarm devices comprises; a processor for communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices via said communication process to automatically establish a network of said plurality of alarm devices; at least one sensor for detecting the presence of a hazard; wherein said processor is responsive to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor for communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices and said output devices via said communication process to communicate a hazard detection indication to said at least one of said plurality of alarm devices and said output devices; and wherein each of said plurality of output devices comprises; a receiver for receiving said hazard detection indication; and an output device, responsive to said received hazard detection indication, for generating one or more human sensible alarm indications. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A self-configuring alarm system, comprising:
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an alarm device sub-network comprising a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices wherein at least one of said alarm devices comprises; an autonomous network configuring device for communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices to autonomously establish a sub-network of said plurality of alarm devices; an output device sub-network containing a plurality of output devices, wherein each of said output devices is responsive to a received alarm indication, for generating one or more human sensible alarm indications; and a communication medium connected to said alarm device sub-network and said output device sub-network for exchanging communications signals therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of operating a self-configuring alarm system, which comprises an alarm device network, including a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices, and an output device network communicatively connected to said alarm device network and containing a plurality of output devices, comprising:
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detecting the presence of a hazard in at least one alarm device, using at least one sensor located in or connected to said at least one alarm device; communicating, in response to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor, with at least one of said plurality of output devices to communicate a hazard detection indication; receiving said hazard detection indication in said output device; and generating in said output device, in response to said received hazard detection indication, one or more of a human sensible and machine sensible alarm indications. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of operating a self-configuring alarm system, which comprises at least one alarm device network, wherein each of said alarm device networks comprises a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices and at least one output device network, wherein each of said output device networks are communicatively connected to at least one of said alarm device networks and contain a plurality of output devices, comprising:
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detecting the presence of a hazard in at least one alarm device, using at least one sensor; communicating, in response to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor, a hazard detection indication to at least one of said output devices in said output device network; receiving said hazard detection indication in an output device; and generating in said output device, in response to said received hazard detection indication, one or more of a human sensible and machine sensible alarm indications. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of operating a self-configuring alarm system, which comprises a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices and a plurality of output devices, comprising:
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exchanging messages among one or more of said plurality of alarm devices and said plurality of output devices via a communication medium; communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices via said communication medium to automatically establish a network of said plurality of alarm devices; detecting the presence of a hazard in at least one alarm device, using at least one sensor; wherein said step of communicating is responsive to a hazard detected by said at least one sensor for communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices and said output devices to communicate a hazard detection indication; receiving said hazard detection indication in said at least one alarm device and output device; and generating, in response to said received hazard detection indication in said at least one output device, one or more of a human sensible and machine sensible indications. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A method of operating a self-configuring alarm system, which comprises:
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an alarm device sub-network comprising; a plurality of cooperatively operative alarm devices and an output device sub-network containing a plurality of output devices, autonomously communicating with at least one of said plurality of alarm devices to autonomously establish a sub-network of said plurality of alarm devices; generating in each of said output devices in response to a received alarm indication, one or more of a human sensible and machine sensible alarm indications; and exchanging, via a communication medium connected to said alarm device sub-network and said output device sub-network, communication signals therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification