Configurable alarm system component

Abstract

A component 10 for use in an alarm system includes a component controller 12 and an offline configuration module 14. The offline configuration module 14 includes a passive RFID tag and is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the configuration module. Upon initialisation of the component 10, the component controller 12 operates the component 10 in accordance with one or more protocol determined by the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module 14.

Claims

1. A component for use in an alarm system comprising: a component controller in the component comprising a memory storing a plurality of protocols; and an offline configuration module in the component, wherein the offline configuration module in the component is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the offline configuration module in the component, when the component is not connected to a power source, wherein the component controller is configured to, upon connection of the component to a power source, acquire the indication of the at least one configuration parameter from the offline configuration module in the component and operate the component in accordance with at least one of the plurality of protocols based on the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module in the component.

2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the offline configuration module in the component comprises an RFID tag.

3. A component according to claim 2, wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag.

4. A component according to claim 1, wherein the alarm system is a fire alarm system or an intrusion alarm system.

5. A component according to claim 4, wherein the component is one of: a heat detector, a smoke detector, a manual call point, a fire alarm control panel, a sprinkler system, a fire door holder, a visual or audible fire alarm, a voice evacuation system, an infrared sensor and a motion sensor.

6. A component according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protocols is a communication protocol for receiving and transmitting information compatibly within a particular alarm system.

7. A component according to claim 1, wherein the component controller is configured to communicate with the offline configuration module through a digital interface internally within the component.

8. A method of configuring a component for an alarm system, the method comprising: receiving, by an offline configuration module in the component when the component is not connected to a power source, wireless transmission of an indication of at least one configuration parameter; and storing, by the offline configuration module in the component when the component is not connected to a power source, the indication of the at least one configuration parameter, wherein a component controller in the component is configured to, upon connection of the component to a power source: acquire the indication of at least one configuration parameter from the offline configuration module in the component; and in response to acquiring the indication of at least one configuration parameter, activate a protocol stored in a memory of the component controller in the component and indicated by the at least one configuration parameter.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising: establishing a configuration zone, wherein a wireless transmission containing an indication of the at least one configuration parameter is transmitted to each component brought into the configuration zone; and bringing the component into the configuration zone.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the component is one of a plurality of components brought into the configuration zone simultaneously.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising: broadcasting a wireless transmission from a transceiver; preferably wherein the wireless transmission is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the transceiver is an interrogator.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method is performed after production of the physical component has been completed.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method is performed after the component has been packaged.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of protocols is a communication protocol to receive and transmit information compatibly within a particular alarm system.

15. A method of configuring a plurality of components for alarm systems, the method comprising: establishing a configuration zone, wherein a wireless transmission containing an indication of at least one configuration parameter is transmitted to each component brought into the configuration zone; bringing the plurality of components into the configuration zone simultaneously; receiving, by an offline configuration module in each component when each component is not connected to a power source, the wireless transmission of the indication of the at least one configuration parameter; and storing, by the offline configuration module in each component when each component is not connected to a power source, the indication of the at least one configuration parameter, wherein a component controller in each component is configured to, upon connection of the component to a power source, operate the respective component in accordance with the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module in that component.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising: broadcasting a wireless transmission from a transceiver; preferably wherein the wireless transmission is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the transceiver is an interrogator.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method is performed after production of each physical component has been completed.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method is performed after each component has been packaged.

19. A component for use in an alarm system comprising: a component controller; and an offline configuration module, wherein the offline configuration module is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the offline configuration module, when the component is not connected to a power source, wherein the indication of at least one configuration parameter is determined for the component independent of other components of the alarm system, and wherein the component controller is configured to, upon connection of the component to a power source, operate the component in accordance with the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred embodiment will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a fire alarm system; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a configurable smoke detector for use in the fire alarm system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a fire alarm system 1.

(5) The fire alarm system 1 comprises a fire alarm control panel 2 that monitors inputs from a plurality of initiating components, processes data from the initiating components, and controls notification components and/or fire suppression systems.

(6) The initiating components of the fire alarm system 1 include components that are automatically actuated, such as smoke detector 3 and heat detector 4, as well as manually actuated components, such as manual call point 5.

(7) The notification components of the fire alarm system 1 include a visual fire alarm 6 and an audible fire alarm 7. The fire suppression systems of the fire alarm system 1 include a sprinkler system 8 and a fire door holder system 9.

(8) The fire alarm system 1 exchanges information with all of the components comprised in its network through wired or wireless communication. The ‘language’ of the communication between the component parts of the network, referred to as the communication protocol, defines the system of rules, syntax, semantics and synchronisation that each component must follow in order to receive and transmit information compatibly within the fire alarm system 1. A single communication could be subject to the rules and conventions set out by multiple communication protocols. The communication protocol is typically defined by the manufacturer of the fire alarm control panel 2.

(9) If any of the components of the fire alarm system 1 break or become faulty, it may become necessary to replace them. However, because the fire alarm system 1 communicates via a particular communication protocol, a replacement part must also communicate via this particular communication protocol. There are a large number of communication protocols, as well as operational protocols and other associated configuration parameters. It would be beneficial to provide a component that could be configured post-assembly in order to operate according to protocols selected by a manufacturer or user.

(10) Advantageously, a non-configured component can be mass produced via a single production line and stockpiled in a storage warehouse. Such a component can then be configured, at the time of order, according to a plurality of configuration parameters specified by the requirements of the fire alarm system 1 of an end user.

(11) Whilst the fire alarm system 2 is illustrated as comprising a particular configuration of initiating devices and notification devices, the techniques described herein are applicable to fire alarm systems 2 comprising only some of these components and/or including additional components not discussed explicitly herein.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a configurable smoke detector 10 for use in the fire alarm system 1.

(13) The smoke detector 10 comprises a component controller 12. The controller 12 could be any microcontroller or processor suitable for controlling the smoke detector 10 during normal operation, i.e. after the smoke detector 10 has been initialised in a fire alarm system 1.

(14) The component controller 12 is configured to operate the smoke detector 10 during normal operation, for example, detecting an increase in smoke levels, determining that the smoke levels exceed a predetermined threshold value, and communicating to fire alarm control panel 2 via a network that the smoke levels have exceeded the threshold value.

(15) The smoke detector 10 also comprises an offline configuration module 14. The offline configuration module 14 of the smoke detector 10 is a RFID tag and comprises an antenna 18 for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The RFID tag 14 is a passive RFID tag and therefore does not include an internal battery. That is to say, the antenna 18 can draw power from an RF (radio frequency) excitation field to power the operation of the RFID tag 14. Therefore, the offline configuration module 14 can still operate even when power is not being supplied to the component controller 12.

(16) The component controller 12 is configured to internally communicate with the offline configuration module 14 through a digital interface 16.

(17) During manufacture of the smoke detector 10, the component controller 12 is programmed to operate in accordance with any of a plurality of configuration parameters, comprising communication and operational protocols, and the like. Thus, the relevant protocols and the like may be programmed into a memory (not shown) of the component controller 12 during manufacture, but the controller 12 is not initially configured to implement the protocols.

(18) Instead the component controller 12 is configured to, upon initialisation, acquire from the offline configuration module 14 a stored indication of at least one configuration parameter, which defines what protocol(s) the controller 12 should implement.

(19) The smoke detector 10 begins an initialisation procedure upon supply of power to the component controller 12, which typically occurs following installation in the fire alarm system 1. Initialisation of the smoke detector 10 comprises the subsequent activation and start-up procedure of the component controller 12.

(20) After initialisation, the component controller 12 implements operational protocols for the smoke detector 10. For example, a predetermined threshold value may be set by industry or national safety standards, which can be configured using the offline configuration module 14. The component controller 12 also follows a communication protocol(s) of the fire alarm system 1 when communicating with the fire alarm control panel 2, which can be configured using the offline configuration module 14.

(21) A method of configuring the smoke detector 10 for use in the fire alarm system 1 is now described.

(22) A selection of configuration parameters are input into an RF transceiver 20. The configuration parameters may, for example, be determined based on an end user's specification when ordering a particular component. For example, the end user may specify a device for use with a particular fire control panel 2, and the configuration parameters may define the communication protocol corresponding to that fire control panel 2. Likewise, the end user may specify a device for use in a specific country and in a particular environment, and the configuration parameter may define the corresponding smoke detection sensitivity thresholds for that environment under the regulations of that country.

(23) The RF transceiver 20 then generates a wireless signal containing an indication of the configuration parameters that the smoke detector 10 is to use.

(24) The RF transceiver 20 generates an RF excitation field around itself within which a non-configured component will be configured in accordance with the configuration parameters. This area may be described as a configuration zone.

(25) Upon the offline configuration module 14 being brought into a configuration zone, the RFID tag of the offline configuration module 14 will be energised. The antenna 18 of the offline configuration module 14 harvests power from the excitation field for the operation of the offline configuration module 14 and receives the wireless signal. The offline configuration module 14 stores the indication of the at least one protocol contained within the wireless signal. Optionally, the offline configuration module 14 may then transmit via antenna 18 a confirmation to the transceiver 20 that the indication of the at least one protocol has been stored.

(26) Upon subsequent initialisation of the configured smoke detector 10, as described above, the controller 12 queries the offline configuration module 14 to acquire the stored indication of the at least one configuration parameter. Once the controller 12 has acquired the stored indication of the at least one configuration parameter, the controller 12 can operate in accordance with the at least one protocol as designated by the stored indication.

(27) The configuration of the smoke detector 10 can occur at any point between production and initialisation of the smoke detector 10. The configuration can be carried out by a manufacturer. This can include configuring the smoke detector 10 after the smoke detector 10 has been packaged and stored in a warehouse.

(28) The smoke detector 10 can be configured by an end user prior to initialisation of the smoke detector 10 within fire alarm system 1.

(29) Advantageously, the use of an RFID tag within the offline configuration module 14 means that the smoke detector 10 does not need to be physically connected, for example to a computer and/or power source. This means that the smoke detector 10 can be configured after packaging, allowing configuration to be performed after manufacture has been completed, or indeed after the smoke detector 10 has left the factory.

(30) Furthermore, the use of RFID allows multiple smoke detectors 10 to be quickly configured in accordance with the same configuration parameters. For example, given a sufficiently powerful transceiver 20, an entire pallet of packaged smoke detectors 10 may be placed within the configuration zone, whereby each smoke detector 10 will receive the same indication of configuration parameters at the same time. Alternative embodiments may include, for example, a transceiver 20 arranged adjacent to a moving belt, whereby smoke detectors 10 are configured as they pass the transceiver 20 on the belt.

(31) In some embodiments, the smoke detector 10 may be configured to undergo one and only one configuration process, i.e. the indication of the at least one configuration parameter is permanently stored in the offline configuration module 14 and cannot be overwritten in the event the offline configuration module 14 receives any subsequent wireless signals containing further indications of configuration parameters.

(32) Alternatively the smoke detector 10 could be configured more than once, wherein the previously stored indication is written over in response to receiving a subsequent wireless signal containing a new indication of at least one configuration parameter. For example, smoke detector 10 could be brought into a configuration zone by accident and receive an incorrect indication of at least one configuration parameter. The smoke detector 10 can then be reconfigured according to the original method as discussed above.

(33) The techniques discussed herein are applicable to any component of a fire alarm system 1, such as the fire alarm control panel 2 or any of the initiating devices or notification devices described above. Furthermore, whilst the techniques disclosed herein have been described in the context of a fire alarm system 1, they may be employed in components for other alarm systems, such as an intrusion alarm system.