Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular system function
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2001-11-20
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular system function
C340S501000, C340S505000, C340S506000, C340S522000, C340S524000, C340S525000, C340S587000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320501
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to multi-unit monitoring systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems which incorporate multiple programmed processors in bi-directional communication with one another for purposes of improving response time in monitoring selected ambient conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Monitoring and alarm systems are known for purposes of continuously supervising one or more regions with respect to the presence of preselected conditions. For example, intrusion or burglar alarm systems are known for the purposes of monitoring a premises and detecting unauthorized entry therein. Other types of monitoring systems which are known include fire or gas detecting systems, or systems for the monitoring or control of air flow or illumination.
It has also been recognized that preferably such systems will have the shortest possible response times so as to signal the existence of the selected condition as quickly as possible without generating false alarms or false positives. Various approaches are known and have been used to address these issues.
For example, one approach has been to preprocess signals from ambient condition sensors. An example of such an approach has been disclosed and claimed in Tice U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,928, entitled “Pre-Processor Apparatus and Method” assigned to the assignee hereof. Another known approach contemplates altering degrees of filtering of signals received from ambient condition sensors. One form of this approach has been disclosed and claimed in Tice U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/120,444, filed Jul. 22, 1998 entitled “System and Method of Adjusting Smoothing”, also assigned to the assignee hereof.
While known approaches have been found to be effective and useful in carrying out their purposes, there continues to be need for systems which can benefit from processing signals from multiple units which might be physically near where the ambient condition of interest is originating in the premises. Preferably such systems could provide shorter response times while minimizing false alarms without substantially increasing the manufacturing or installation costs thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A multi-unit communication system incorporates a bi-directional communications medium. Examples of representative media include cable, either optical or electrical, or a wireless medium.
Units can include programmed processors coupled in bi-directional communication with the medium. Units can send and receive messages from other units via the medium. At least some of the units incorporate condition monitoring circuitry.
The receiving units can combine condition related information or messages received from other units. In this regard, for example, a selected receiving unit might include circuitry for storage of condition related information received from other units.
The receiving units also include circuitry for analyzing the received information, perhaps in combination with locally generated information from a condition sensor coupled to the receiving unit. The analysis can result in a determination that a preselected condition is indicated by the combined information.
In one aspect, the units can be implemented as programmed processors. In such an embodiment, stored executable instructions in combination with processor circuitry implement the bi-directional communication function as well as the analysis function.
In yet another aspect, a receiving unit can incorporate one or more thresholds, which might be adjustable, for purposes of determining if the combined condition-related information exhibits selected predetermined characteristics. In one embodiment, the units can transmit as condition-related information, indicia of the presence of a selected condition such as smoke or gas. The transmitted indicia can be combined at a receiving unit, along with a locally generated indicium indicating ambient smoke or gas to form a composite indication of the degree thereof in a preselected group of units or in a subregion being monitored.
In yet another aspect, output devices can be coupled to the medium. The output devices, which might incorporate programmed processors, include circuitry for producing human discernable indicators of the presence of predetermined conditions such as fire or gas. The indicators can be visual or audible. The output devices respond to and energize their respective output indicating elements based on messages received from one or more combining units via the medium.
Units, in yet another aspect of the invention can be grouped. Condition related information from the members of a selected group can be processed to establish a group determination as to presence of one or more preselected ambient conditions such as fire or gas.
A variety of processes can be used to establish the presence of the selected condition. For example, the results of the combination of received condition information at a selected receiving unit can be compared to one or more thresholds. Alternately, a unit which exhibits the greatest indicator based on combining received condition information can notify other units in the system of the presence of an alarm condition. Pattern recognition and/or fuzzy logic processing can also be used.
In yet another alternate, a control element can be coupled to the communication link. In addition to the processors communicating with one another, they can in turn communicate with the control element. The control element can in turn make a determination as to the existence of a preselected ambient condition.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.
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Clow Robert J.
Farag Tarek
Howard Jerry L.
Keeler Manley S.
Tice Lee D.
Pittway Corporation
Pope Daryl
Rockey Milnamow & Katz Ltd.
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