Patent ID: 7689632
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of storing configuration data for use in configuring an alarm panel while a program utilizing said configuration data is undergoing a revision within the alarm panel, said method comprising: connecting a memory device directly to the alarm panel; providing a data structure indicating a manner in which configuration data is to be stored, said data structure further comprising a class identifier for identifying each of a plurality of classes of information within the alarm panel, a number of items within each of the plurality of classes and a number of fields elements within the class wherein alarm zoning defines a class identifier of the plurality of classes within the alarm panel, a number of alarm zones defines the number of items within the alarm zoning class and alarm sensors within the alarm zones defines the number of field elements; storing said data structure and current configuration data according to said data structure within the memory device; enabling a revised software program in said device to identify the data structure and access a particular configuration data, along with its format within the memory device; and, applying a conversion function that translates the stored current configuration data within the alarm panel to a format compatible for use by the revised software, whereby access to the stored data is achieved with no corruption of the configuration data.