Mass notification systems

• US 9,282,537 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Gerrish, Kevin, Milburn, Ted, Onstine, Elliott, Bishop, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US14/219,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel

Abstract

A mass notification system is disclosed. The system can include a communication network. The system can also include a number of network devices communicably coupled to the communication network, where at least two of the network devices are configured to generate a communication substantially simultaneously. The system can further include a server communicably coupled to the communication network and configured to control the plurality of network devices, where the server instructs the at least two of the plurality of network devices to generate the communication. The system can also include a first client communicably coupled to the communication network and comprising a user interface, where the first client is configured to communicate, via the user interface, with the server and the plurality of network devices.

Claims

1. A mass notification system, comprising:

a communication network;

a plurality of network devices comprising a first network device and a second network device, wherein the plurality of network devices are communicably coupled to the communication network, wherein the first network device is configured to generate a first notification, and wherein the second network device is configured to generate a second notification substantially simultaneously when the first notification is generated by the first network device;

a server communicably coupled to the communication network and configured to control the plurality of network devices, wherein the server instructs the first network device to generate the first notification and the second network device to generate the second notification; and

a first client communicably coupled to the communication network and comprising a user interface, wherein the first client is configured to communicate, via the user interface, with the server and the plurality of network devices,

wherein the first client is connected to a first node of the communication network at a first time, and wherein the first client is connected to a second node of the communication network at a second time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first client is further configured to control the plurality of network devices, wherein the first client overrides the server to control the plurality of network devices when the first client sends a first instruction to at least one of the plurality of network devices using the communication network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first client is a read-only device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first client uses a web browser.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first client is configured to control the server.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second client communicably coupled to the communication network and configured to control the plurality of network devices,

wherein the second client overrides the server to control the plurality of network devices when the second command center sends a second instruction to at least one of the plurality of network devices using the communication network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first instruction and the second instruction are prioritized with respect to each other using at least one logic rule.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first client is one of the plurality of network devices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network devices comprises an audio device, wherein the audio device is a source of audio for at least one other network device of the plurality of network devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the audio device is connected to a first node of the communication network at a first time, and wherein the audio device is connected to a second node of the communication network at a second time.

11. A mass notification system, comprising:

a communication network;

a plurality of network devices comprising a first network device and a second network device, wherein the plurality of network devices are communicably coupled to the communication network, wherein the first network device is configured to generate a first notification, and wherein the second network device is configured to generate a second notification substantially simultaneously when the first notification is generated by the first network device, wherein the first network device and the second network device comprise an audio device; and

a server communicably coupled to the communication network and configured to control the plurality of network devices,

wherein the audio device is a source of audio for a remainder of the plurality of network devices,

wherein the source of audio generated by the audio device and delivered to the remainder of the plurality of network devices overrides the server,

wherein the audio device is connected to a first node of the communication network at a first time, and wherein the audio device is connected to a second node of the communication network at a second time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remainder of the first network device and the second network device is selectable using the audio device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the remainder of the first network device and the second network device is selectable using the server.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio device comprises:

a hardware processor; and

a communication engine executing instructions on the hardware processor and configured to;

control the remainder of the first network device and the second network device;

generate audio; and

send the audio to the remainder of the first network device and the second network device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio device overrides the server based on an instruction from the server to the first network device and the second network device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the instruction further instructs at least one network device, aside from the first network device and the second network device, to perform a task.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio device is communicably coupled to a client, wherein the client is communicably coupled to the communication network and is configured to communicate, via the user interface, with the server and the plurality of network devices.

18. A method for controlling a mass notification system, comprising:

receiving a communication from a client communicably coupled to the mass notification system, wherein the mass notification system is controlled by a server;

transferring, in response to the communication, control of the notification system to the client,

wherein the mass notification system comprises a plurality of network devices, wherein the plurality of network devices comprises a first network device and a second network device, wherein the first network device is configured to generate a first notification, and wherein the second network device is configured to generate a second notification substantially simultaneously when the first notification is generated by the first network device, wherein the first notification and the second notification are generated based on a subsequent communication from the client,

wherein the client is connected to a first node of the mass notification system at a first time, and wherein the client is connected to a second node of the mass notification system at a second time.