Abstract:
An installation support system includes a smart phone which executes a downloaded installation application. An installer can create a visual map of a virtual region, corresponding to a portion of a monitored space. One or more units being installed can be associated with locations in the virtual region. Identification tags for the units can be located throughout the virtual region. A representation of the virtual region can be stored for later retrieval and use.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The application pertains to systems and methods to facilitate installation of regional monitoring systems. More particularly, the application pertains to such systems and methods usable in the installation of some or all of the units, sensors, or detectors distributed through a region being monitored. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When installing an alarm system, it can be difficult to get a map of the locations where the distributed devices, such as condition detectors, or sensors are located. 
         [0003]    The problem is compounded for wireless monitoring systems, an increasing population, as the detectors, or sensors, cannot be traced back to a specific hard wired bus device. It can also be tedious and error prone for an installer to have to manually take notes on the locations of the devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system in accordance herewith. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0006]    Moving from manually created maps to maps created, at least in part with interactive communications devices can be expected to promote accuracy and increase installer productivity. In one aspect, using a smart phone and an associated software application to record device placement and device parameters, and any other relevant information, can make the documentation creation process easier and more efficient. Additionally, systems with better over-all documentation should be easier to maintain. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present system and method, using a cellular-type communications device for example, a smart phone, an installer can easily create a virtual map of the environment in which an alarm unit is being installed, in a new or an existing monitoring system, as well as details of the installation itself. This map could then be used in conjunction with any previously existing physical, or electronic, building maps. 
         [0008]    As discussed subsequently, the phone can record movement. For example, the recorded movements of the installer during the installation process can be used to create a virtual map of the building. That map can be annotated, in real-time during the installation process, by the installer as he/she moves from room to room, or area to area installing units, sensors, or detectors of a monitoring system. 
         [0009]    Each new room can be assigned either a text or voice tag. Voice recognition software could convert voice tags to text. The movement could be detected by the onboard accelerometer. Alternately, a GPS system can be used. When installing specific device types, it will be possible to cross-reference other devices, in the case of hardwired detectors on a RIO, to the RIO to which they are going to be connected. Wireless, or RF devices, become easier to locate and maintain as they have specific locations that can be easily found. 
         [0010]    The equipment ID mark, for example, a serial number, or other information which could be represented by a machine readable code, such as a barcode, or an optical code, can then be photographed. The location within the room recorded. 
         [0011]    The bar code or optical, character, code can also be scanned and the recognized information can be loaded into the cell phone. The device type can be cross referenced in the system and can also be annotated, again by either a text or voice tag. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system  10  in accordance herewith. System  10  includes a regional monitoring system  12  which monitors events in a region R. System  12  includes a control element, or panel  14  which is in wireless communication with a plurality of sensors or detectors  16  which have previously been installed through the region R. Sensor or detectors  16  can include position detectors, movement detectors, glass breakage detectors, smoke detectors, fire detectors, or gas detectors, all without limitation. 
         [0013]    Monitoring panel  14  can be implemented with control circuits  14 - 1 , a local data base  14 - 2 , an internet, or intranet communications interface  14 - 2  for communication with server  20 , a unit interface  14 - 4  for wired or wireless communications with members of the plurality of previously installed units  16 . 
         [0014]    The control circuits  14 - 1  can be implemented, in part with one or more programmed processors  14   a . The processors  14   a  execute pre-store control software  14   b . The control circuits  14  can carry out bidirectional communications with the units  16  as well as the server  20  as would be understood by those of skill in the art. 
         [0015]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , another detector, unit  18 , is ready for installation. Unit  18  carries bar coded or character coded information  18   a . The information  18   a  can include equipment identification information, serial number or other parametric information relative to the respective unit. 
         [0016]    The monitoring system panel  14  can also be in wireless communication with the unit  18 , when installed, and also can be in wireless communication with a server  20 . Server  20  can include a database of information pertaining to the plurality of units  16 , for use by the panel  14 . The monitoring panel  14  thus has on-going access to the contents of database  20 - 1  and can update same in response to its communications with the units  16 : 
         [0017]    A smart phone  28  can be in wireless communication with a phone server  30 . Smart phone  28  can download from the server  30  an installation support application  28 - 1 . The application  28 - 1  can be stored for execution in circuitry at the phone  28 . 
         [0018]    The phone  28  carries peripheral devices such as a display  32 , a keypad  34 , audio input and output devices  36 , a reader of bar codes or optical character codes  38 , location tracking circuits  40  and a camera with a port  42 . The phone  28  can be in communication with the monitoring panel  14  directly, via server  20  or via server  30 , all without limitation. 
         [0019]    When the unit  18  is to be installed, the installer can use the phone  28  to read the coded information  18   a  concerning the unit  18  and forward that information to be stored in database  20 - 1 . Additionally, the installer via keypad  34  and audio input circuitry  36  enter the location of the unit  18  in the region R. A portion of the region R, in the vicinity of the location of unit  18  can be visually presented  32   a  on the display device  32  of the phone  28  for the installer to view and to annotate with audibly enter tags, or keypad entered tags. The tags can provide additional information for the monitoring panel  14  and can also be incorporated into an installation map of the region R as noted previously. 
         [0020]    In summary, in a disclosed implementation the smart phone  28  can be used in combination with a downloaded application  28 - 1  that can automatically record the details of the installation and provide an electronic map which will facilitate the installation process. Additionally, when it is necessary to visit the site for maintenance, the electronic map will be able to indicate the location of the faulty device. 
         [0021]    The electronic location information can be exported to a personal computer, or to the monitoring system control panel  14 . Asset tracking can also be provided for the alarm installer or other personnel. This capability could be implemented using any smart phone, or smart device-type (for example a PDA), communications device. In another aspect, this functionality could be implemented by having a phone interface coupled to the monitoring system control panel. The configuration information can then be entered automatically using wireless technologies such as blue tooth, wifi, or a USB. 
         [0022]    Further, as those of skill will understand, that parameters and other information concerning the detectors or sensors can be included in the on-line database  20 - 1  of installable products, maintained for example at server  20 . The database  20 - 1  can be accessed via a barcode or optically readable code on or associated with the respective installable produce. 
         [0023]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments.