Expandable, modular annunciation and intercom system
First Claim
1. An expandable and modular intercom and annunciation system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of signal sources;
a plurality of originating interface modules, each originating interface module of the plurality of originating interface modules respectively coupled to a signal source of the plurality of signal sources, the plurality of originating interface modules for receiving respective signals from the corresponding plurality of signal sources and for converting the signals to common communication protocol signals;
a receiving interface module coupled to the plurality of originating interface modules for communication via the common communication protocol; and
an intercom and annunciation unit coupled to the receiving interface module to receive the common communication protocol signals, the intercom unit having a processor, having a memory, and having a user interface including an audio output;
the processor having instructions to determine relative priorities among the plurality of common communication protocol signals, to select a first common communication protocol signal having a highest relative priority during a selected time interval, from the plurality of common communication protocol signals;
the processor having further instructions to announce a message corresponding to the first common communication protocol signal during the selected time interval, and to maintain a quiet interval for an announcement entered via the user interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable and modular intercom and annunciation system includes a plurality of signal sources, such as smoke detectors, breakage detectors, intrusion detectors, telecommunication detectors (such as ringers), and gas detectors. The system further includes a plurality of originating interface modules, each respectively coupled to a signal source for receiving signals from the corresponding plurality of signal sources and for converting the signals to common communication protocol signals. The system also includes a receiving interface module coupled to the plurality of originating interface modules for communication via the common communication protocol, and an intercom and annunciation unit coupled to the receiving interface module to receive the common communication protocol signals. The intercom unit has a processor, a memory, and a user interface including an audio output. The processor of the intercom unit is programmed with instructions to determine relative priorities among the plurality of common communication protocol signals, to select a first common communication protocol signal having a highest relative priority during a selected time interval; to announce a message corresponding to the first common communication protocol signal during the selected time interval, and to maintain a quiet interval for an announcement entered by an individual via the user interface, such as for a broadcast of instructions for responding to an alarm condition.
137 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An expandable and modular intercom and annunciation system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of signal sources; a plurality of originating interface modules, each originating interface module of the plurality of originating interface modules respectively coupled to a signal source of the plurality of signal sources, the plurality of originating interface modules for receiving respective signals from the corresponding plurality of signal sources and for converting the signals to common communication protocol signals; a receiving interface module coupled to the plurality of originating interface modules for communication via the common communication protocol; and an intercom and annunciation unit coupled to the receiving interface module to receive the common communication protocol signals, the intercom unit having a processor, having a memory, and having a user interface including an audio output;
the processor having instructions to determine relative priorities among the plurality of common communication protocol signals, to select a first common communication protocol signal having a highest relative priority during a selected time interval, from the plurality of common communication protocol signals;
the processor having further instructions to announce a message corresponding to the first common communication protocol signal during the selected time interval, and to maintain a quiet interval for an announcement entered via the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An interface apparatus for an intercom and annunciation system, the interface apparatus comprising:
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communications circuitry for receiving a plurality of signals indicative of events and for receiving audible, human perceptible messages from displaced sources on a communications channel; circuitry for storing pre-recorded messages; and a control element coupled to the communications circuitry, to the storage circuitry, and couplable to the intercom and annunciation system, wherein the control element includes circuitry for forming a queue of received event indicating signals, circuitry for announcing events in the list by transferring a respective stored message to the intercom and annunciation system, and circuitry for receiving audible messages from at least one intercom and annunciation unit to be communicated to at least one other, displaced intercom and annunciation unit via the communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for interconnecting two different signal originating sources, each of which has different electrical output signals, to an intercom module wherein the intercom module has electrical input signal characteristics dissimilar to the electrical output signals of the originating sources, and wherein the intercom module includes audio input and audio output, the system comprising:
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first and second conversion circuits, couplable to respective ones of the originating sources, for converting respective electrical output signals of the originating sources to predetermined, communicable electrical signals compatible with the electrical input signal characteristics of the intercom module, and wherein at least some of the predetermined, communicable electrical signals are adapted to activate the audio output; and circuitry for establishing priority between and among output signals from the first and second conversion circuits and a voice input to the intercom module. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of event annunciation, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of event indicating signals from a respective plurality of event indicating sources; converting the plurality of event indicating signals to a plurality of originating signals having a common communication format; prioritizing the plurality of originating signals; selecting a first originating signal having the highest priority of the plurality of originating signals; announcing an event on a communication channel in response to the first originating signal having the highest priority; providing, for selected events, a time interval for entry of a real-time, non-recorded message at a first location, and broadcasting the message on the communication channel to at least a displaced second location. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification