AUTOMATIC ADDRESSING FOR FIRE LOOP

Abstract

An automatic addressing system for a fire loop and a method for automatically addressing a plurality of remote units electrically connected to a fire panel in a fire loop, the method including: (1) requesting an initial identifier from each remote unit; (2) for each remote unit which responds with a unique initial identifier: (a) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (b) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (3) for each remote unit which responds with an initial identifier matching the initial identifier of at least one other remote unit: (a) initialising an identifier array with the initial identifier for the remote unit in question; (b) requesting a further identifier and adding it to the identifier array for the remote unit; (c) for each remote unit which responds with a unique identifier array: (i) assigning a unique address to the remote unit.

Claims

1. A method of addressing a plurality of remote units electrically connected to a fire panel in a fire loop, the method comprising: (1) requesting an initial identifier from each remote unit; (2) for each remote unit which responds with a unique initial identifier: (a) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (b) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (3) for each remote unit which responds with an initial identifier matching the initial identifier of at least one other remote unit: (a) initialising an identifier array with the initial identifier for the remote unit in question; (b) requesting a further identifier and adding it to the identifier array for the remote unit; (c) for each remote unit which responds with a unique identifier array: (i) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (ii) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (d) for each remote unit which responds with an identifier array matching the identifier array of at least one other remote unit, repeating steps (3)(b)-(c) until all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced; and (4) enabling communication of the plurality of remote units in the fire loop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each remote unit comprises a memory in which is stored a plurality of identifiers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each remote unit is configured to randomly generate an identifier in response to a request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifiers are comprised of binary digits.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fire loop comprises one or more isolator units separating the fire loop into a plurality of loop portions, and wherein the method comprises: opening all isolator units; for each isolator unit, in sequence from one end of the fire loop: closing the isolator unit; and performing steps (1)-(3) in respect of the remote unit(s) not isolated from the fire panel; and performing step (4) once all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of remote units comprise an embedded isolator, the one or more embedded isolator remote units separating the fire loop into a plurality of loop portions, and wherein the method comprises: configuring the addresses of the embedded isolator remote units; opening the embedded isolator of all embedded isolator remote units; for each embedded isolator remote unit, in sequence from one end of the fire loop: performing steps (1)-(3) in respect of the remote unit(s) not isolated from the fire panel; and closing the embedded isolator of the embedded isolator remote unit; and performing step (4) once all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising: (1) identifying that a new remote unit has been added to the fire loop; (2) silencing the response of each of the configured remote units to identifier requests; (3) requesting an initial identifier from the newly-added remote unit; (4) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (5) enabling communication of the plurality of remote units in the fire loop.

8. A fire system for a building, the fire system comprising: a fire panel for monitoring the building and activating an alarm; and a plurality of remote units electrically connected to the fire panel in a fire loop; wherein the fire panel is configured with an addressing mode for addressing the plurality of remote units in the fire loop, the addressing mode comprising: (1) requesting an initial identifier from each remote unit; (2) for each remote unit which responds with a unique initial identifier: (a) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (b) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (3) for each remote unit which responds with an initial identifier matching the initial identifier of at least one other remote unit: (a) initialising an identifier array with the initial identifier for the remote unit in question; (b) requesting a further identifier and adding it to the identifier array for the remote unit; (c) for each remote unit which responds with a unique identifier array: (i) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (ii) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (d) for each remote unit which responds with an identifier array matching the identifier array of at least one other remote unit, repeating steps (3)(b)-(c) until all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced; and (4) enabling communication of the plurality of remote units in the fire loop.

9. The fire system of claim 8, wherein the fire panel is electrically connected to the fire loop at each end and is configured to be able to control the voltage and/or current in the fire loop from either end of the fire loop.

10. The fire system of claim 8, wherein each remote unit comprises a memory in which is stored a plurality of identifiers.

11. The fire system of claim 8, wherein each remote unit is configured to randomly generate an identifier in response to a request.

12. The fire system of claim 8, wherein the identifiers are comprised of binary digits.

13. The fire system of claim 8, wherein the fire loop comprises one or more isolator units separating the fire loop into a plurality of loop portions, and wherein the addressing mode comprises: opening all isolator units; for each isolator unit, in sequence from one end of the fire loop: closing the isolator unit; and performing steps (1)-(3) in respect of the remote unit(s) not isolated from the fire panel; and performing step (4) once all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced.

14. The fire system of claim 8, wherein one or more of the plurality of remote units comprise an embedded isolator, the one or more embedded isolator remote units separating the fire loop into a plurality of loop portions, and wherein the addressing mode comprises: configuring the addresses of the embedded isolator remote units; opening the embedded isolator of all embedded isolator remote units; for each embedded isolator remote unit, in sequence from one end of the fire loop: performing steps (1)-(3) in respect of the remote unit(s) not isolated from the fire panel; and closing the embedded isolator of the embedded isolator remote unit; and performing step (4) once all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor of a fire panel, will cause the fire panel to perform a method of addressing a plurality of remote units electrically connected to the fire panel in a fire loop, and the method comprises: (1) requesting an initial identifier from each remote unit; (2) for each remote unit which responds with a unique initial identifier: (a) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (b) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (3) for each remote unit which responds with an initial identifier matching the initial identifier of at least one other remote unit: (a) initialising an identifier array with the initial identifier for the remote unit in question; (b) requesting another identifier and adding it to the identifier array for the remote unit; (c) for each remote unit which responds with a unique identifier array: (i) assigning a unique address to the remote unit; and (ii) silencing the response of the configured remote unit to further identifier requests; (d) for each remote unit which responds with an identifier array matching the identifier array of at least one other remote unit, repeating steps (3)(b)-(c) until all remote units of the plurality of remote units have been silenced; and (4) enabling communication of the plurality of remote units in the fire loop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] Certain embodiments of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0090] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a fire system; and

[0091] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a method of addressing a plurality of remote units in a fire system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0092] connected in a loop configuration, joined by wire 20, with each remote unit positioned at a different location along the loop. This fire panel 12 may be used to additionally provide power to the remote units 14, 16, 18. Alternatively, the remote units 14, 16, 18 may be powered independently of the fire panel 12. The remote units of FIG. 1 comprise indicating devices 14, indicator devices 16, and combined indicating and indicator device 18. Indicating devices 14 are used to detect conditions indicative of an emergency, and may include manual call points, smoke detectors, and/or heat detectors. Indicator devices 16 are used to alert users of an emergency condition and may include audible or visual devices, such as lights and/or bells. The combined indicating and indicator device 18 has a detection capability alongside an alarm, and may comprise a fire and/or smoke alarm. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the fire system may further comprise fire suppression devices and/or a connection module for enabling communication with external devices.

[0093] The remote units 14, 16, 18 communicate with the fire panel 12 in a master-slave relationship. The remote units 14, 16, 18 send signals to the fire panel 12 through the wire 20 in the form of modulations in the current. These signals inform the fire panel 12 of the status of the remote units 14, 16, 18. The modulations in the current created by the remote units 14, 16, 18 may be increases or decreases in current, and may be encoded with information such as alarm, address, and/or fault information. For example, the modulations in current may be encoded with a digital binary code containing such information. In response, the fire panel 12 may issue a command to the remote units 14, 16, 18. For example, if indicating device 14 modulates the current in such a way that is indicative of a possible emergency, the fire panel 12 may send a command to the remaining remote units 14, 16, 18 instructing them to enter an alarm condition. Alternatively, the fire panel 12 may send this command to only some of the remote units 14, 16, 18, depending on the location and nature of the possible emergency. The command may be in the form of a modulation of the voltage, and may be encoded with information. For example, the command may be encoded with a digital binary code containing such information. Typically, the current is modulated in one direction through the loop, whilst the voltage is modulated in the opposite direction. The remote units 14, 16, 18 therefore each comprise a voltage sensor, and are configured to enter an alarm condition when they detect a voltage that is indicative of a possible emergency.

[0094] The fire panel 12 may also periodically send polling signals to the remote units 14, 16, 18, and the remote units 14, 16, 18 may respond with information regarding their status, their address, and/or their manufacturer code. The fire panel 12 may poll the remote units 14, 16, 18 at regular time intervals, which may be determined based on a communications protocol that the fire system 10 is employing. Thus, the frequency of polling may be determined by the communications protocol of the fire system 10. The fire panel 12 may poll the remote units 14, 16, 18 by transmitting one or more commands in the form of one or more polling signals. As mentioned above, these polling signals may be encoded with information, such as an address of a remote unit. This information may be used to communicate which remote unit 14, 16, 18 the polling signal is intended for. The fire panel 12 may comprise means for alerting a user of a possible emergency. These means can include, but are not limited to, lights and/or a display.

[0095] The loop also comprises one or more isolator units 22. Isolator units are installed in fire loops to protect the continuity of the circuit in the event that a part of the detection loop is damaged (for whatever reason, e.g. fire). If damage occurs to a particular stretch of circuitry of the loop, the isolators connected to either end of that piece of the loop will cut it out of the circuit, thus isolating it from the remaining devices. For instance, referring to FIG. 1, if damage has occurred to the indicator device 16, the two isolator units 22 adjacent to the indicator device 16 allow for that device 16 and that corresponding section of the loop to be bypassed. Thus, as a result of the action of the isolator units 22, none of the remaining remote units 14, 16, 18 outside of the isolated section have been lost from the fire loop.

[0096] Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the remote units 14, 16, 18 may comprise an integral/embedded isolator unit 22.

[0097] The operation of the fire panel 12 is controlled by a loop controller, which may be a central processing unit (CPU). The loop controller may process the information received from the remote units 14, 16, 18 and decide how to respond. The loop controller may decide whether it is necessary to communicate an alarm condition to some or all of the remaining remote units 14, 16, 18. The loop controller may cause the remote units 14, 16, 18 to enter an alarm condition at different times, in order to aid and manage evacuation of a building.

[0098] For the operations described above, it is necessary for the various remote units 14, 16, 18 to be identifiable by the fire panel 12 and/or by other systems, such as systems used by the installer. An addressing system and method, automatically managed by the loop controller of the fire panel 12, is proposed herein.

[0099] As discussed earlier, the complexity of automatically addressing a plurality of remote units in a fire loop circuit is highly dependent on the types of remote units in the fire loop circuit.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a method 100 of addressing a plurality of remote units which is automatic and probabilistic, making it faster and more reliable than existing methods.

[0101] The fire panel 12 utilises one or more aleatory (randomly generated) identifier fields associated with a particular remote unit to specifically target the particular remote unit in order to configure it with a unique official address. The one or more identifier fields are randomly generated and stored in a memory of the remote unit during the manufacturing process, or the remote unit is configured with the capability to randomly generate an identifier when prompted by a request for an identifier from the fire panel. Each one of the one or more identifier fields may comprise one or more bits. While the one or more identifier fields are preferably randomly generated, they may be parameters that correspond to parts of technical or manufacturer information of the remote unit in question.

[0102] When a fire loop is first installed, and prior to the plurality of remote units on the fire loop have been addressed, there is no way for the fire panel to specify the intended recipient of a communication signal, and accordingly each one of the plurality of remote units will consider that every communication signal issued by the fire panel is intended for it. Thus, typically, a fire panel is unable to automatically assign an official address to each remote unit as it is unable to target the configuration instructions to only a single remote unit.

[0103] The addressing method may be performed by initiating an addressing mode of the fire panel 12 after the fire loop has been installed and the fire panel 12 has been electrically connected to each of the plurality of remote units on the fire loop. This addressing mode may be initiated manually or configured to be initiated automatically.

[0104] Firstly, as shown in step 101, the fire panel 12 requests, from each remote unit 14, 16, 18, an initial (first) identifier. The initial identifier may be the identifier stored in a first identifier field of the memory, or may be a randomly selected field, or may be randomly generated in response to the request from the fire panel 12.

[0105] The fire panel 12 then checks which of the remote units have presented initial identifiers that are unique. An identifier presented by a remote unit is unique if it does not match (is not the same as) any of the initial identifiers presented by the rest of the plurality of remote units.

[0106] For example, in a fire loop with three remote units, if, following the request for the initial identifier, the first remote unit responds with ‘1’, the second remote unit responds with ‘0’ and the third remote unit responds with ‘0’, then the first remote unit has responded with a unique initial identifier.

[0107] In step 102a, for each remote unit which responded to the request for an initial identifier with a unique initial identifier, the fire panel 12 is able to use the unique initial identifier to address specific configuration instructions to each one of these remote units. Thus, the fire panel 12 is able to configure the official address of the targeted remote unit and store the configuration information in its internal database. The official address may be assigned as a part of a numeric sequence of unique addresses.

[0108] Once a remote unit has been configured with an official address, it can be silenced (step 102b) so that it will not respond to any further polling/query communications—particularly so that it will not respond to further identifier requests.

[0109] For each remote unit 14, 16, 18 which responded to the request for an initial identifier with a non-unique (e.g. shared by at least one other remote unit) initial identifier, the fire panel 12 needs further/different information in order to be able to address a configuration communication solely to each of them.

[0110] Accordingly, the fire panel 12 sends out another request for an identifier through the fire loop (step 103b). As those remote units which have already been assigned an official address are silenced, this request for a further identifier is only responded to by those remote units which have not yet been configured.

[0111] At least one of the fire panel or the remote unit may keep a record of the array of identifiers presented in response to the requests from the fire panel 12. The identifier array is initialised by the initial identifier, and further identifiers are added to the identifier array as and when they are generated (step 103a).

[0112] For example, where the remote unit maintains the identifier array in its memory and is configured to randomly generate identifiers, in response to a request for a further identifier the remote unit will randomly generate a new identifier, add it to the identifier array and then present the updated identifier array to the fire panel 12.

[0113] As with the initial identifier, for each remote unit which responded to the further identifier request with a unique identifier array, the fire panel 12 is able to use the unique identifier array to address specific configuration instructions to each one of these remote units (step 103c(i)). Thus, the fire panel 12 is able to configure the official address of the targeted remote unit and store the configuration information in its internal database.

[0114] Once a remote unit has been identified based on the unique identifier array and then assigned a unique address, it can be silenced (step 103c(ii)) so that it will not respond to any further polling/query communications—particularly so that it will not respond to any more identifier requests.

[0115] As the identifier array increases in the number of identifiers it comprises, the probability that the identifier array is not unique decreases rapidly. Thus only very few iterations of further identifier requests (step 103(d)) are required before each remote unit has a unique identifier array and can be silenced.

[0116] Once all remote units have been silenced, e.g. the fire panel 12 receives no responses to a request for identifiers, then the fire panel 12 knows that the addressing of the plurality of remote units has been completed. Therefore the fire panel 12, at step 104, is able to conclude the process by re-enabling communication of all of the remote units in the loop. This can be done according to any known method.

[0117] As discussed earlier in relation to FIG. 1, the fire loop can comprise one or more isolator units 22 depending on the number of remote units 14, 16, 18 on the fire loop and/or the operating protocols of the fire system 10.

[0118] In this case, the isolator units 22 can be used to isolate certain loop portions of the loop and apply the addressing method to each of the loop portions sequentially in turn.

[0119] For example, the fire loop can open all the isolator units so that it is communicating only with a first loop portion of the fire loop (e.g. the loop portion closest to the fire panel 12 at one end of the fire loop), with the rest of the loop portions isolated from the fire panel 12.

[0120] Subsequently, the fire panel can perform the method as described above on the loop portion with which it is communicating, until all remote units along that portion of the loop have been configured with an official address, and silenced.

[0121] Once the fire panel 12 recognises that this has been done, the first isolator unit is closed, which connects the next loop portion to the previous loop portion and the fire panel 12. Therefore, the fire panel is able to send communications to both the first loop portion and the next loop portion. However, because all the remote devices on the first loop portion have been silenced, only the remote devices on the next loop portion will respond to identifier requests, and the fire panel can therefore perform the method as described above on the next loop portion.

[0122] The addressing process continues as described, with the fire panel 12 sequentially closing isolator units to introduce new loop portions one by one back into the fire loop, and configuring the addresses of all those remote units on the fire loop which have not yet been silenced.

[0123] Using the isolator units 22 to separate the fire loop into loop portions before applying the addressing method reduces the number of remote units that are being handled at any one time which reduces the probability of two or more remote units generating the same identifier(s).

[0124] As discussed earlier in relation to FIG. 1, the fire loop can comprise one or more remote units 14, 16, 18 comprising an embedded isolator. These embedded isolator units 14, 16, 18 provide the functionality of distinct isolator units 22, allowing the portion of the loop comprising the embedded isolator unit 14, 16, 18 to be isolated from the fire loop.

[0125] If all remote units have embedded isolators, the fire panel 12 is able to sequentially configure the address of each remote unit 14, 16, 18 in order along the loop, starting from the remote unit 14a closest to the fire panel 12.

[0126] Firstly, the fire panel 12 commands each of the plurality of embedded isolator remote units 14, 16, 18 to open their respective isolator. This isolates all remote units 14, 16, 18 from the loop.

[0127] Next, the fire panel 12 closes the embedded isolator of the first remote unit 14a so that the fire panel 12 is able to communicate with the first remote unit 14a, configures the address of the first remote unit 14a, and suppresses/silences the configured first remote unit 14a.

[0128] Subsequently, the fire panel 12 opens the embedded isolator of the first remote unit 14a and closes the embedded isolator of the next remote unit 14b, before configuring the address of the second remote unit 14b and suppressing/silencing the configured second remote unit 14b.

[0129] These steps are then repeated for each one of the plurality of remote units 14, 16, 18 in the fire loop until all the embedded isolator remote units have been configured with an official address. Finally, in order to complete the process, the fire panel 12 re-enables communication of the plurality of remote units 14, 16, 18 by sending a command signal and/or resetting the loop.

[0130] Advantageously, with this method the fire panel 12 is able to configure all the addresses of a complete loop with the addresses simply ordered by the relative position of the remote unit 14, 16, 18 from the fire panel 12 along the loop. Moreover, during the method, the fire panel 12 can detect any issue in the loop and locate it because it is managing the loop one section (each section comprising one remote unit) at a time. The fire panel 12 can store the number of remote units 14, 16, 18 installed in the fire loop and can launch a fault if this number is out of range (e.g. the number of remote units between two isolators exceeds the number as limited by the protocol).

[0131] However, if one or more remote units 14, 16, 18 do not have embedded isolators then the fire panel 12 needs some way of addressing these remote units 14, 16, 18 in between the embedded isolator remote units 14, 16, 18.

[0132] In this scenario, similar to the situation where the fire loop comprises one or more isolator units 22, the embedded isolator remote units 14, 16, 18 may be used to isolate certain loop portions of the fire loop so that the fire panel 12 can selectively apply the addressing method as discussed above.

[0133] Depending on the specific arrangement of the fire loop, it may be preferable to assign an official loop address to each one of the embedded isolator remote units 14, 16, 18 first, then closing all the embedded isolators and applying the addressing method as described above in order to assign an address to all of the remaining remote units 14, 16, 18 in the loop. Alternatively, it may be preferable to apply the addressing method as described above to each loop portion sequentially, in order to assign an official address to all of the remote units 14, 16, 18 on one loop portion before moving onto the next loop portion. In accordance with the methods as described above, the embedded isolators (and/or isolator units 22) can be used to isolate one or more loop portions from the fire panel 12 as required.