Devices, methods, and systems for mass notification

• US 9,800,736 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Karmakar, Sheeladitya, G, Vinayak, Patil, Kallesh N., Cherian, Jerin, Vijay, Mukesh, Shekhawat, Bhawani, Kumar, Abhishek, M, Manikandan
• Primary Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US13/838,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8801- 8819
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for mass notification are described herein. One method includes receiving, by an operator station, a selection associated with a particular paging group of a fire network associated with a facility, receiving an audio message by the operator station, and communicating the audio message to the particular paging group according to the selection.

Claims

1. A method for mass notification, comprising:

receiving, by an operator station, a selection associated with a particular paging group of a fire network associated with a facility, the fire network including a plurality of speakers and a smoke detector, wherein the particular paging group includes a particular subset of the plurality of speakers;

displaying a graphical representation of the selected paging group by the operator station;

receiving an audio message by the operator station;

activating the particular paging group by a processor responsive to the smoke detector being activated;

communicating the audio message by the processor to the particular paging group according to the selection;

playing the audio message by the particular subset of the plurality of speakers as a mass notification;

determining, by the operator station, whether a quality of the played audio message meets or exceeds a particular threshold;

initiating, by the operator station, an alternative mass notification technique in response to a determination that the quality of the played audio message meets or exceeds the particular threshold;

displaying movement of people through the facility by the operator station during the mass notification;

determining a blockage of a particular exit of the facility during the mass notification by an access control system associated with the facility; and

displaying a notification associated with the determined blockage by the operator station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular paging group includes at least one digital voice controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes receiving the audio message by a microphone associated with the operator station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes receiving the audio message before receiving the selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes receiving the audio message after receiving the selection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes overriding a pre-recorded message responsive to a user input made at the operator station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is made using a graphical representation of the facility.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes communicating the audio message to the particular paging group according to the selection responsive to a particular event associated with the fire network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative mass notification technique includes a notification of authorities.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative mass notification technique includes a fire alarm activation.