Abstract:
A cell phone based test capability enables a tester to audibly communicate with a fire alarm control unit. A detector can be selected and tested. Test results can be audibly communicated to the tester via the cell phone. The tester can initiate the next test via the cell phone.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to fire alarm systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems which incorporate cost effective test facilities. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It has been recognized that there are benefits to incorporating various types of monitoring systems in residential and commercial regions. Some of these types of monitoring systems include HVAC-type systems, intrusion monitoring systems (burglar alarm systems) as well as fire alarm and gas detection systems. Fire alarm and gas detection systems are often subject to mandatory testing on a regular basis. Some of these tests are conducted during an initial installation, expansion or modification of the system. Others are required on a periodic basis. 
     Where the fire alarm system incorporates smoke detectors which might be distributed throughout a region being monitored one form of testing is to sequentially direct smoke at each of the detectors. The respective detector, if functioning properly, can be expected to exhibit an alarm condition which can be sensed at a fire alarm control panel. The fire alarm control panel in response can then display or announce the presence of the detected alarm condition to a local operator. 
     The above process historically has required two individuals. One at the control panel. The other carries out a walk test and provides a smoke sample for each of the detectors. The individual at the fire alarm control panel can then reset the system and the individual conducting the test can be instructed via a wireless device such as a walkie-talkie or cell phone to move to the next detector to be tested. Confirmatory information can be provided to the individual conducting the walk test as to which of the detectors the system has been tested. 
     The above-described process requires two individuals, one at the control panel and one to conduct the walk test. In view of the expense associated with the needing to dedicate two individuals to carry out the testing process it would be desirable to be able to automate at least some of the functions that need to be carried out at the control panel in order to implement the testing process. Preferably the control panel could interact with that individual substantially in the same way as the operator has historically interacted with the individual conducting the walk test. 
     It would also be preferable to use the equipment presently available to such control panels to implement a one person test function. Further it would also be desirable to automatically maintain a real time log of the ongoing test process for audit purposes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a region with a monitoring system in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a portion of the region of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While embodiments of this invention 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 of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     Embodiments on the invention eliminate a need for an individual to be present at a control unit of an ambient condition monitoring system, such as a fire alarm system, while another person is out in the region being monitored testing of various of the detectors. In a disclosed embodiment, a wireless communication device, such as a cell phone, can automatically send and receive either verbal or text messages between the control unit and the individual testing the detectors in the region being monitored. 
     The control unit in one aspect of the invention can prompt the test individual to enter a number for the respective phone, such that the phone can be accessed via the switched telephone network prior to activating an audio walk test mode. The wireless device or cell phone can then be used to generate commands off the keypad or to generate a verbal commands to the control unit or to receive voice prompts or text messages therefrom. During the test sequence for a given detector, when an alarm has been detected the control unit can communicate the detected condition as well as an identification of the location and/or detector via either text messaging or voice prompts. The tester can then enter a command either via a keypad or verbally to reset the test condition and then move on to the next detector. 
     In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, the control unit of a fire alarm system can include control software as well as a DTMF-type interface for communication via the switched telephone network with a cellular telephone. The control unit can incorporate speech recognition programs and circuitry to receive verbal commands as well as text messages from the cellular telephone. Additionally, the control unit can incorporate speech synthesizing circuitry to provide verbal prompts to the individual conducting the tests in the region being monitored and can also send text messages to that individual. 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view which illustrates a region R being monitored by a ambient condition detection system, such as a fire alarm system  10  in accordance with the invention.  FIG. 2  is a partial side elevational view of the region R and system  10 . 
     It will be understood that the exact nature of the system  10  is not a limitation of the present invention. System  10  could encompass alternately HVAC-type systems, intrusion detection systems and the like all without limitation. 
     System  10  incorporates a control unit  12  which communicates via medium  14  to a plurality  16  of detectors installed throughout the region R. As can be seen in the figures the detectors are installed so as to be fixedly mounted and stationary. The detectors  16  can include smoke detectors, flame detectors, heat detectors, humidity detectors, intrusion detectors and the like all without limitation. It will be understood that the medium  14  could be either wired or wireless in-part or wholly all without limiting the present invention. 
     In accordance with the invention an individual I can conduct a walk test relative to each of the members of the plurality  16 ,  16 - 1 , - 2  . . . -n. While conducting this test process the individual I, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in the visual and/or audio vicinity of the detectors to be tested, can utilize a wireless communication device  20 , such as a wireless telephone for purposes of communicating, via the public switched telephone network  22  with the control unit  12 . It will be understood that the type of wireless service provided as well as the exact characteristics of the wireless communication device  20  are not limitations of the present invention. Preferably the device  20  will include a keypad  20   a , a display  20   b  as well as audio input and output transducers  20   c, d  as is conventional with such devices. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the individual I can initiate communications with the control unit  12  via the telephone network  22 , using wireless device  20 , for purposes of directing the control unit  12  to enter a predetermined walk test mode. Commands can be communicated via the device  20  either verbally, to be recognized by speech recognition circuitry and programs of the unit  12  or via the keypad  20   a  also for recognition by the control unit  12 . 
     The individual I can select a particular detector, such as detector  16 - 1  and present to that detector an appropriate physical stimuli. For example, for smoke detectors the individual I could spray a smoke substitute at the respective detector to establish a test condition. Alternately, a heating element can be used to blow hot air at a thermal detector. 
     The control unit  12  in response to signals received from the respective detectors such as  16 - i  via media  14  can verbally or via text messaging communicate with the individual I using the switched telephone network  22  and the wireless unit  20 . In addition, the control unit  12  can enter an alarm state causing one or more system audible output devices such as horns, sirens, strobe lights or the like to emit an output indicative of the state of the respective detector  16 - i . The individual I can then issue a follow-up command via wireless device  20  to the control unit  12  terminating the test state so that the next detector in the region R can be tested. 
     The control unit  12  can incorporate a variety of hardware and software to implement the processing of the present invention, best seen in  FIG. 2 . Control unit  12  can incorporate a telephone DTMF-type interface  12   a , a detector interface  12   b  which can be in bi-directional communication with the detectors  16 - i  via medium  14 . The invention also contemplates the interface  12   b  may only receive signals from the respective detectors such as  16 - i  and does not necessarily communicate on a bi-directional basis with those detectors. The medium  14  could be wired or wireless or both. 
     Unit  12  can also include control and communication software  12   c  for carrying out the various functions including analysis of signals received from the members of the plurality detectors  16  as well as from the wireless unit  20 , generating or producing either verbal or textual feedback coupled via the switched telephone network  22  to the wireless device  20 . Control unit  12  also includes control circuits  12   d  which might include one or more processors for execution of the software  12   c  for implementing the above described functions. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a process  100  which implements various aspects of the present invention. In a step  102  tester or installer I causes the control unit  12  to enter an audio walk test mode and also enters the identification of telephone number of unit  20 . The control unit  12  can dial the wireless unit  20  via the switched telephone network  22 . Control unit  12  can also maintain the connection on an on-going basis. 
     In a step  104  the control unit  12  can establish a current status as normal and can clear keys captured buffer. In a step  106  the control unit  12  can provide audible or text based prompts concerning the current status of system  10  via the switched telephone network  22  and the unit  20 . 
     In a step  108  the control unit  12  can establish a time duration with a repeating timer. In a step  110  various received keys are analyzed by the software  12   c  at the unit  12  to determine the nature and the requirements of the command or commands. Where an ACK, acknowledge or, reset code has been received in a step  112  the control unit  12  can reset an existing alarm condition and return the current status of the system  10  to normal or a non-alarm state. 
     In a step  120  where a new event has arrived from one of the detectors, such as  16   i , indicative of an alarm condition (created for example by the individual  1 ), the control unit  12  can set the system&#39;s status to that indicated by the new event, step  122 . Unit  12  can also annunciate the source of the alarm, the detector  16   i , to the individual I via the telephone network  22  and wireless unit  20 . In addition, the respective detector can emit an alarm indicator if locally available. If desired, other alarm indicators can be activated. Where an incomplete command has been received, in a step  126  the system  12  can sense the presence of any key depression at the unit  20 . 
     Alternately, in step  126  a received verbal message could be analyzed by software  12   c  as an alternate to received key signals. Newly received key signals can be added to the buffer, step  128 . 
     In the event that the timer has expired step  130  the control unit  12  can re-enter step  106  for further processing. 
     It is will be understood that the processing of method  100  of  FIG. 3  is exemplary only. Variations therein come within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     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.