User interface broker for fire alarm systems

• US 9,076,319 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Boisclair, Mario, Piccolo, Joseph III, McEvoy, Dennis, Fox, Mary Winna, Alexandrov, Kirill
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/688,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20140145855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/5.1, 340/999, 340/531, 340/628, 340/632, 340/573.1, 340/691.8, 340/286.05, 340/514, 700/79, 700/80, 73 101- 107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An interface system for providing a comprehensive user interface for alarm systems. The interface system may include two or more alarm system workstations, each having a user interface application installed thereon. One or more alarm panels may be connected to each of the alarm system workstations, and one or more points may be connected to each of the alarm panels. A broker workstation may be connected to the two or more alarm system workstations, and one or more client workstations may be connected to the broker workstation. A user interface broker may be installed on the broker workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to provide the one or more client workstations with a user interface that presents the status of, and that provides control over, all of the points.

Claims

1. An interface system for providing a comprehensive user interface for alarm systems, the interface system comprising:

at least two alarm system workstations, each alarm system workstation comprising a computing platform having a user interface application installed thereon;

at least one alarm panel connected to each of the at least two alarm system workstations;

at least one point connected to the at least one alarm panel;

at least one client workstation; and

a user interface broker operatively connected to each of the at least two alarm system workstations and the at least one client workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to provide the at least one client workstation with a user interface that presents a single, comprehensive listing of all of the points, including statuses of the point.

2. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a broker workstation, wherein the user interface broker is installed on the broker workstation.

3. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user interface broker is installed on one of the at least two alarm system workstations.

4. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user interface broker is installed on the at least one client workstation.

5. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one point is an alarm system notification appliance.

6. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one point is an alarm system initiating device.

7. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least two alarm system workstations are components of at least two, separate alarm systems.

8. The interface system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the at least two alarm system workstations is associated with a set of points that is not associated with another alarm system workstation.

9. A method for implementing a comprehensive user interface for at least one alarm system having at least two alarm system workstations, each alarm system workstation being a computing platform and having a user interface application installed thereon, at least one alarm panel connected to each of the at least two alarm system workstations, at least one point connected to each alarm panel, and at least one client workstation, the method comprising:

providing a first user interface broker that is operatively connected to each of the at least two alarm system workstations and the at least one client workstation;

the first user interface broker receiving user interface data from the user interface applications residing on the at least two alarm system workstations; and

the first user interface broker providing the at least one client workstation with a user interface that presents a single, comprehensive listing of all of the points, including statuses of the points.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of receiving user interface data from the user interface applications includes aggregating point configuration data and other information provided by the at least two alarm system workstations into a single data file.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of providing the at least one client workstation with a user interface includes routing control instructions from the at least one client workstation to an appropriate alarm system workstation.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the user interface broker is installed on a broker workstation.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the user interface broker is installed on one of the at least two alarm system workstations.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the user interface broker is installed on the at least one client workstation.

15. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

connecting an additional alarm system workstation to the first user interface broker; and

at the user interface broker, integrating interface data provided by a user interface application residing on the additional alarm system workstation into the user interface provided to the at least one client workstation.

16. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

connecting the first user interface broker and a second user interface broker to a third user interface broker;

wherein the third user interface broker aggregates user interface data provided by the first user interface broker and the second user interface broker.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

connecting at least one additional client workstation to the third user interface broker;

wherein the third user interface broker provides the at least one additional client workstation with a user interface that presents the aggregated user interface data.

18. A user interface broker for providing a comprehensive user interface for alarm systems including at least two alarm system workstations that are computing platforms, at least one alarm panel connected to each of the at least two alarm system workstations, at least one point connected to each alarm panel, and at least one client workstation, the interface broker configured to perform a number of steps comprising:

receiving user interface data from user interface applications residing on the at least two alarm system workstations; and

providing the at least one client workstation with a user interface that presents a single, comprehensive listing of all of the points, including statuses of the points.

19. The user interface broker in accordance with claim 18, wherein the step of receiving user interface data from the user interface applications includes aggregating point configuration data and other information provided by the at least two alarm system workstations into a single data file.

20. The user interface broker in accordance with claim 18, wherein the step of providing the at least one client workstation with a user interface includes routing control instructions from the at least one client workstation to an appropriate alarm system workstation.

21. The user interface broker in accordance with claim 18, wherein the user interface broker resides on a broker workstation.

22. The user interface broker in accordance with claim 18, wherein the user interface broker resides on one of the at least two alarm system workstations.

23. The user interface broker in accordance with claim 18, wherein the user interface broker resides on the at least one client workstation.