Patent Publication Number: US-2023153480-A1

Title: Auto guide for fire panel configuration

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 63/280,306 filed Nov. 17, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the field of fire detection systems, and more specifically, an apparatus and method for designing fire detection systems. 
     Conventional building fire detections systems consist of distributed components that must be designed, identified, installed, and commissioned in accordance with requirements and regulations. The design process is also a major determinant of the total system cost. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method of designing a fire detection system is provided. The computer implemented method including determining a fire detection device placement scheme for one or more fire detection devices within a building based on inputs received from a user and a fire detection device database; determining an alert device placement scheme for one or more alert devices within the building based on the inputs received from the user and an alert device database; determining one or more fire detector loop wires to connect the one or more fire detection devices to a fire panel in a fire detection loop; determining one or more alert loop wires to connect the one or more alert devices to the fire panel in an alert loop; and generating a map that displays a location of each of the one or more fire detection devices, the one or more alert devices, the one or more fire detector loop wires, and the one or more alert loop wires within the building. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include displaying the map on a computing device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include determining an autoconfiguration of the fire panel to associate a specific alert device of the one or more alert devices with a specific fire detection device of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: activating the specific fire detection device; detecting whether the specific alert device activates in response to the specific fire detection device being activated; and determine whether the autoconfiguration was successful based on detecting whether the specific alert device activates in response to the specific fire detection device being activated. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the fire detection device placement scheme includes a number of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the alert device placement scheme includes a number of the one or more alert devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the fire detection device placement scheme includes a type of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the alert device placement scheme includes a type of the one or more alert devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include determining a length of the fire detection loop and a length of the one or more detector loop wires within the fire detection loop. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include determining a length of the alert loop and a length of the one or more alert wires within the alert loop. 
     According to another embodiment, a system for designing a fire detection system is provided. The system including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations including: determining a fire detection device placement scheme for one or more fire detection devices within a building based on inputs received from a user and a fire detection device database; determining an alert device placement scheme for one or more alert devices within the building based on the inputs received from the user and an alert device database; determining one or more fire detector loop wires to connect the one or more fire detection devices to a fire panel in a fire detection loop; determining one or more alert loop wires to connect the one or more alert devices to the fire panel in an alert loop; and generating a map that displays a location of each of the one or more fire detection devices, the one or more alert devices, the one or more fire detector loop wires, and the one or more alert loop wires within the building. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include displaying the map on a computing device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include determining an autoconfiguration of the fire panel to associate a specific alert device of the one or more alert devices with a specific fire detection device of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: activating the specific fire detection device; detecting whether the specific alert device activates in response to the specific fire detection device being activated; and determine whether the autoconfiguration was successful based on detecting whether the specific alert device activates in response to the specific fire detection device being activated. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the fire detection device placement scheme includes a number of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the alert device placement scheme includes a number of the one or more alert devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the fire detection device placement scheme includes a type of the one or more fire detection devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the alert device placement scheme includes a type of the one or more alert devices. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: determining a length of the fire detection loop and a length of the one or more detector loop wires within the fire detection loop. 
     According to another embodiment, a computer program product tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: determining a fire detection device placement scheme for one or more fire detection devices within a building based on inputs received from a user and a fire detection device database; determining an alert device placement scheme for one or more alert devices within the building based on the inputs received from the user and an alert device database; determining one or more fire detector loop wires to connect the one or more fire detection devices to a fire panel in a fire detection loop; determining one or more alert loop wires to connect the one or more alert devices to the fire panel in an alert loop; and generating a map that displays a location of each of the one or more fire detection devices, the one or more alert devices, the one or more fire detector loop wires, and the one or more alert loop wires within the building. 
     Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include automatically designing a fire detection system and configuring the fire detection system based on building maps and known constraints. 
     The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting. 
    
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic illustration of a system for designing a fire detection system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG.  2    is a flow diagram illustrating a computer implemented method of designing a fire detection system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , a schematic view of a system  100  for designing a fire detection system  20  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. In an embodiment, the system  100  for designing a fire detection system  20  may be a web-based system. In an embodiment, the system  100  may be used by a user  101  to design a fire detection system  20  that may be for residential homes/buildings or commercial buildings. For example, the system  100  may be for a user  101  to design a fire detection for their home via a tablet or any other computer device. The user  101  may be a do-it-yourself (DIY) customer  102  or a professional designer  104 . 
     The customer  102  or professional designer  104  may utilize a computing device  300  to provide inputs  110  into a fire detection system design application  350  that may be installed on the computing device  300  and/or a system builder device  200  connected to the computing device  300  through the interne  500 . For example, the software code of the fire detection system design application  350  may be installed completely on the computing device  300  or partly on the mobile device and partly on the system builder device  200 , such as, for example, a software-as-a-service. 
     The system builder device  200  includes a controller  210  configured to control operations of the system builder device  200 . The controller  210  may be an electronic controller including a processor  230  and an associated memory  220  comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor  230 , cause the processor  230  to perform various operations. The processor  230  may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory  220  may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. 
     The computing device  300  may be desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a smart watch, a tablet, a laptop, or any other mobile computing device known to one of skill in the art. 
     The computing device  300  includes a controller  310  configured to control operations of the computing device  300 . The controller  310  may be an electronic controller including a processor  330  and an associated memory  320  comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor  330 , cause the processor  330  to perform various operations. The processor  330  may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory  320  may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. 
     The computing device  300  includes a communication device  340  configured to communicate with the internet  500  through one or more wireless signals  160 . The one or more wireless signals  160  may include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Sub-GHz RF Channel or any other wireless signal known to one of skill in the art. Alternatively, the computing device  300  may be connected to the internet  500  through a hardwired connection. The computing device  300  is configured to communicate with the system builder device  200  through the internet  500 . Communication from the computing device  300  may have to pass through the internet  500  to the system builder device  200 . Likewise, communication from the system builder device  200  may have to pass through the internet  500  to computing device  300 . 
     The computing device  300  may include a display device  380 , such as for example a computer display, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a touchscreen of a smart phone, tablet, or any other similar display device known to one of the skill in the art. The user  101  operating the computing device  300  is able to view the fire detection system design application  350  through the display device  380 . 
     The computing device  300  includes an input device  370  configured to receive a manual input from a user  101  (e.g., human being) of computing device  300 . The input device  370  may be a keyboard, a touch screen, a joystick, a knob, a touchpad, one or more physical buttons, a microphone configured to receive a voice command, a camera or sensor configured to receive a gesture command, an inertial measurement unit configured to detect a shake of the computing device  300 , or any similar input device known to one of skill in the art. The user  101  operating the computing device  300  is able to enter feedback into the fire detection system design application  350  through the input device  370 . The input device  370  allows the user  101  operating the computing device  300  to enter feedback into the fire detection system design application  350  via a manual input to input device  370 . For example, the user  101  may respond to a prompt on the display device  380  by entering a manual input via the input device  370 . In one example, the manual input may be a touch on the touchscreen. In an embodiment, the display device  380  and the input device  370  may be combined into a single device, such as, for example, a touchscreen. 
     The computing device  300  device may also include a feedback device  360 . The feedback device  360  may activate in response to a manual input via the input device  370 . The feedback device  360  may be a haptic feedback vibration device and/or a speaker emitting a sound. The feedback device  360  device may activate to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device  370  was received via the fire detection system design application  350 . For example, the feedback device  360  device may activate by emitting an audible sound or vibrate the computing device  300  to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device  370  was received via the fire detection system design application  350 . 
       FIG.  1    also shows a schematic illustration of a map  60  of a fire detection system  20 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fire detection system  20  is an example and the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to other fire detection systems not illustrated herein. The fire detection system  20  comprises one or more fire detection devices  30 , one or more fire detector loop wires  40 , one or more alert loop wires  42 , one or more alert devices  50 , and one or more fire panels  54 . The one or more fire detection devices  30 , one or more fire detector loop wires  40 , one or more alert loop wires  42 , one or more alert devices  50 , and one or more fire panels  54  may be located throughout various rooms  64  of a building  62 . The map  60  of a single floor  61  of a building  62  is shown in  FIG.  1   . It is understood that while the building  62  only shows a particular number of fire detection devices  30 , fire detector loop wires  40 , alert loop wires  42 , alert devices  50 , and fire panels  54 , the fire detection system  20  may include any number of fire detection devices  30 , fire detector loop wires  40 , alert loop wires  42 , alert devices  50 , and fire panels  54 . 
     The fire detection device  30  may be a smoke detector, a CO 2  detector, a CO detector, a heat sensor, or any other fire detector known to one of skill in the art. The alert device  50  may be an alarm that makes an audible sound and/or a visual alert. The alert device  50  may include a bell, a siren, a speaker, a strobe light, or any combination thereof. For example, certain strobes may be utilized if the occupants  112   c  indicate that certain people will be in located in the building that have adverse effects to different some strobes but not others. The alert device  50  may additionally include any other attention-grabbing device known to one of skill in the art. 
     The fire detector loop wires  40  connect the one or more fire detection devices  30  with the fire panel  54  in a fire detection loop  32 . The fire detection system design application  350  is configured to determine a length of the fire detection loop  32  and a length of the one or more detector loop wires  40  within the fire detection loop  32 . This may be done by determining a distance between each fire detection device  30  and then a distance to the fire panel  54  from one or more fire detection devices  30  that are located nearest to the fire panel  54 . The fire detection loop  32  may organize the fire detection device  30  in series. The fire detector loop wires  40  may be hardline wires. Alternatively, the one or more fire detection devices  30  and the fire panel  54  within the fire detection loop  32  may be wirelessly connected and the fire detector loop wires  40  may not be present. 
     The alert loop wires  42  connect the one or more alert devices  50  with the fire panel  54  in an alert loop  52 . The alert loop  52  may organize the alert devices  50  in series. The fire detection system design application  350  is configured to determine a length of the alert loop  52  and a length of the one or more alert wires  42  within the alert loop  52 . This may be done by determining a distance between each alert device  50  and then a distance to the fire panel  54  from the one or more alert devices  50  that are located nearest to the fire panel  54 . The alert loop wires  42  may be hardline wires. Alternatively, the one or more alert devices  50  and the fire panel  54  within the alert loop  52  may be wirelessly connected and the alert loop wires  42  may not be present. 
     As discussed below, the system  100  is configured to determine placement of the fire detection devices  30  of a fire detection system  20  within a room  64  based on the inputs  110 . For example, the system  100  determines whether the fire detection device  30  should be placed on a ceiling or wall of the room  64 , where on the ceiling or wall of the room  64  the fire detection devices  30  should be placed. Certain types of fire detection devices  30  may be required to be placed on a ceiling, wall, or an air duct. This information regarding specific placement of different fire detection devices  30  may be found in the fire detection device database  150   a.    
     The system  100  is also configured to determine what type of fire detection devices  30  should be used based on the inputs  110 , building requirements  114 , and/or data in a fire detection device database  150   a.  For example, a particular type of fire detection device  30  may be better equipped to detect a smoke from burning certain articles  112   e  or hazards  112   f  located in the room  64 . This information regarding specific detection capability of different fire detection devices  30  may be found in the fire detection device database  150   a.    
     The system  100  is configured to determine placement of the alert device  50  of a fire detection system  20  within a room  64  based on the inputs  110 , building requirements  114 , and/or data in an alert device database  150   b.  For example, the system  100  determines whether the alert device  50  should be placed on a ceiling or wall of the room  64 , where on the ceiling or wall of the room  64  the alert device  50  should be placed. The system  100  is also configured to determine what type of alert device  50  should be used based on the inputs  110 . Certain types of alert devices  50  may be required to be placed on a ceiling, wall, or an air duct. This information regarding specific placement of different alert devices  50  may be found in the alert device database  150   b.    
     The system  100  is configured to determine connections between the fire detection devices  30  using the fire detector loop wires  40  and a connection between the fire panel  54  and the fire detection devices  30  using the fire detector loop wires  40 . 
     The system  100  is configured to determine connections between the alert device  50  using the alert loop wires  42  and a connection between the fire panel  54  and the alert devices  50  using the alert loop wires  42 . 
     The system  100  is configured to determine a location of the fire panel  54 . The location of the fire panel  54  may be iterated multiple times in order to reduce a total length of the fire detector loop wires  40  and a total length of the alert loop wires  42 . Alternatively, multiple different location options for the fire panel  54  may be provided to the user  101  to select from. 
     The system  100  is then configured to generate a map  60  as an output illustrating the location of each of the one or more fire detection devices  30 , the one or more alert devices  50 , the fire panel  54 , the fire detector loop wires  40 , and the alert loop wires  42 . The map  60  may be generated by the fire detection system design application  350  to be displayed on the computing device  300  or printed out via a computer printer. 
     The system  100  comprises a plurality of inputs  110  that are entered into a fire detection system design application  350  configured to determine outputs  140  based on at least the inputs  110 . The inputs  110  may be entered manually, such as, for example, the user  101  entering in the inputs  110  through the computing device  300 . The inputs  110  may also be entered automatically, such as, for example a user  101  scanning a floor plan  112   a,  capturing images of a floor plan  112   a  with a camera, or emailing in the inputs  110 . 
     The inputs  110  may include but are not limited to building information  112  and building requirements  114 , as shown in  FIG.  1   . Building information  112  may include but is not limited to floor plans  112   a  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, an address  112   b  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, a number of occupants  112   c  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, a typical building usage  112   d  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, types of articles  112   e  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, types of hazards  112   f  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located, and evacuation points  112   g  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located. It is understood that the input  110  are examples and there may be additional inputs  110  utilized in the systems  100 , thus the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the inputs  110  listed. 
     The floor plans  112   a  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include details about the floors  61  of the building  62 , including, but not limited to, a number of floors  61  within the building  62 , the layout of each floor  61  within the building  62 , the number of rooms  64  on each floor  61  within the building  62 , the height of each room  64 , the organization/connectivity of each room  64  on each floor  61  within the building  62 , the number of doors  80  within each room  64 , the location of the doors  80  in each room  64 , the number of windows  90  within each room  64 , the location of the windows  90  within each room  64 , the number of heating and ventilation vents within each room  64 , the location of heating and ventilation vents within each room  64 , the number of electrical outlets within each room  64 , and the location of electrical outlets within each room  64 . The address  112   b  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include, but is not limited to, a street address of the building  62 , the geolocation of the building  62 , the climate zone where the building  62  is located, and objects surrounding the building  62  (e.g., water, trees, mountains). 
     The number and type of occupants  112   c  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include, but is not limited to a number of occupants  112   c  currently in the building  62  and details about the type of occupants  112   c  (e.g., child, adult, elderly). Further the number of occupants  112   c  may be updated in real-time of may be a predication. The type of occupants  112   c  may indicate if they require any specific accommodations from the fire detection system  20 . For example, certain people may require certain strobes to be used for the alert device  50  based on a vision impairment. The typical building usage  112   d  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include what the building  62  is being used for such as, for example, residential, lab space, manufacturing, machining, processing, office space, sports, schooling, etc. 
     The types of articles  112   e  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include detail regarding objects within the building  62  and the known flammability of each object such as, for example, if the building  62  used to store furniture or paper, which is flammable. The articles  112   e  may include but are not limited to furniture, tables, chairs, rugs, flooring, drapes, cable trays, and/or beds. The articles  112   e  in the building  62  may help determine what fire detection device  30  to utilized. For example, if a room  64  has a chair and table then a multi-detector may be suggested by the fire detection system design application  350 . In another example, if a room  64  has a cable tray then a linear heat detector may be suggested by the fire detection system design application  350 . The size of the room  64  may also help determine what type of fire detection device  30  is utilized. In one example, if a room  64  has a high ceiling, a beam detector may be suggested by the fire detection system design application  350 . 
     The types of hazards  112   f  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include a detailed list of hazards  112   f  within the building  62  and where the hazards  112   f  are located. For example, the types of hazards  112   f  may state that an accelerant (e.g., gasoline) is being stored in a room  64  on the second floor  61 . In another example, types of hazards  112   f  may include that a room  64  is mainly used as office where the main components are electronics (e.g., electronics that are possible source of fire) and stationary paper (e.g., accelerants). The types of hazards  112   f  in the building  62  may help determine what fire detection device  30  to utilized. In an example, if a room  64  has a highly flammable liquid stored then a flame detector may be suggested by the fire detection system design application  350 . 
     The types of evacuation points  112   g  within the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located may include a detailed list of evacuations points  112   g  within the building  62  where an individual may exit the building  62 . For example, the types of evacuation points  112   g  may be windows  90  and doors  80 . 
     Building requirements  114  may include but are not limited to building system requirements  114   a  of the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located and a desired level of certification  114   b  for the building  62  where the fire detection system  20  is to be located. The building system requirements  114   a  may include but are not limited to the type of fire detection system required and/or desired for the building  62 . The desired level of certification  114   b  may include laws, statutes, regulations, city certification requirements (e.g., local ordinances), state certification requirements (e.g., state laws and regulations), federal certification requirements (e.g., federal laws and regulations), association certification requirements, industry standard certification requirements, and/or trade association certification requirements (e.g., National Fire Protection Association). The building requirements  114  may also include a required number of fire detection devices  30  per room  64 , a required distance between each of the fire detection devices  30 , a required number of alert devices  50 , and a required distance between each of the alert devices  50 . 
     The required distance between each of the fire detection device  30  may also be stored in data located in the fire detection device database  150   a  because it may be specific to the specific type of fire detection device  30  being used. The required distance between each of the alert devices  50  may also be stored in data located in the alert device database  150   b  because it may be specific to the specific type of alert device  50  being used. 
     The inputs  110  are provided to the fire detection system design application  350  to be analyzed with device details in data located in a fire detection system database  150 . 
     The fire detection device database  150   a  may include data or information such as the types of fire detection devices  30  that may be utilized, performance characteristics for different types of fire detection devices  30 , and installation requirements of different type of fire detection devices  30 . The installation requirements may include specifications/datasheets for installation constraints as it can be preferred locations for placement, forbidden places, and/or recommended distances from possible fire sources or sources of false detection. For example, a smoke detectors may not be installed in bathrooms as it can trigger false alarms due the vapor, smoke detectors may be installed in a kitchen no close than 3 meters from the fire source (cook/oven) and not further away than 5 meters to avoid late detection, nor the device should be placed closer than 30 centimeters to the ceiling, or preferred placement should be closer to ceiling than to the floor. In another example, in the case of ceiling placement, a device should not be placed closer than X cm to the wall or any blockage object. Other information stored in the fire detection device database  150   a  may include if the device is battery powered or if the device requires an outlet/what kind of outlet/plug. 
     The alert device database  150   b  may include information such as the types of alert devices  50  that may be utilized, performance characteristics for different types of alert device  50 , and installation requirements for different types of alert devices  50 . The performance characteristics of alert device  50  may include the loudness, brightness, patterns, and/or configurations of each alert device  50 . 
     The fire panel database  150   c  may include information such as the types of fire panels  54 , installation requirements for different types of the fire panels  54 , the performance characteristics of each fire panel  54 , the compatibility of each fire panel  54  with different types of fire detection devices  30 , and the compatibility of each fire panel  54  with different types of alert device  50 . The fire panel  54  may be a standalone fire panel or may be networked with one or more other fire panels. 
     The fire detection system design application  350  is configured to analyze the inputs  110  and data from the fire detection device database  150   a  to determine a fire detection device placement scheme  140   a  that includes a number (i.e., quantity), a location, and/or a type of each of the fire detection devices  30  within the building  62 . The fire detection system design application  350  is configured to analyze the inputs  110  to determine the fire detector loop wires  40  connecting the fire detection devices  30  to each other and to the fire panel  54 . This analysis may be done autonomously by the system  100  or semi-autonomously by the system  100  with the assistance of a user  101 . 
     The fire detection system design application  350  is also configured to analyze the inputs  110  and data from the alert device database  150   b  to determine an alert device placement scheme  140   b  that includes a number (i.e., quantity), a location, and/or a type of alert devices  50 . The fire detection system design application  350  is configured to analyze the inputs  110  to determine the alert loop wires  42  connecting the alert devices  50  to each other and to the fire panel  54 . This analysis may be done autonomously by the system  100  or semi-autonomously by the system  100  with the assistance of a user  101 . 
     The fire detection system design application  350  is also configured to analyze the placement of each fire detection device  30 , each alert device  50 , and data from the fire panel database  150   c  to determine an autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54  to associate particular alert devices  50  with particular fire detection device  30 . Advantageously, this ensures that when a first detection device  30  detects a fire, then the proper alert devices  50  are activated. The associate of a particular alert device  50  with a particular fire detection device  30  may be based on the relative location to each other. For example, all alert devices  50  may be associated with all fire detection devices  30  within the same room  64 . In another example, all alert devices  50  may be associated with all fire detection devices  30  on a particular floor  61 . In another example, all alert devices  50  that are located within a selected distance of a particular fire detection device  30  may be associated that particular fire detection device  30 . The algorithm used for the autoconfigurations will analyze all the inputs  110  from the user  101  and data from the fire detection system device database  150 , then provide the advice/options to the end users  101  to configure the fire detection system  20 . During this analysis, the algorithm may also consider subject matter expert advice and/or master data that is stored into the internet  500  and/or the system builder  200 . 
     The fire detection system design application  350  may analyze the inputs  110  in an autonomous and/or semi-autonomous manner to determine the fire detection device placement scheme  140   a,  the alert device placement scheme  140   b,  and the autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54 . For example, in a semi-autonomous manner, the fire detection system design application  350  may generate multiple different fire detection device placement schemes  140   a,  alert device placement schemes  140   b,  and autoconfigurations  104   c  of the fire panel  54  for a user  101  to then review, adjust, and/or make a selection. The fire detection system design application  350  may include artificial intelligence (AI) that learns from the edits made by the user  101  and updates the algorithms behind the fire detection system design application  350  to better generate future determinations of the fire detection device placement scheme  140   a,  the alert device placement scheme  140   b,  and the autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54 . 
     In another example, in an autonomous manner, the fire detection system design application  350  may determine a single best option or multiple best options for the fire detection device placement scheme  140   a,  the alert device placement scheme  140   b,  and the autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54  to then be presented to the user  101 . 
     The fire detection system  20  may then run a test and activate certain fire detection devices  30  to confirm the proper alert devices  50  activate in response to the fire detection devices  30  that were activated based on the autoconfiguration  140   c.    
     The fire detection system design application  350  may organize the fire detection device placement scheme  140   a,  the alert device placement scheme  140   b,  and the autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54  into outputs  140 . The outputs  140  may also include the fire detection device placement scheme  140   a,  the alert device placement scheme  140   b,  and the autoconfiguration  140   c.  The outputs  140  may be in the form of a list, a chart, a map  60 , or a bill of materials. 
     The system  100  may also include or be in communication with a fire detection system device databases  150 , as aforementioned. The fire detection system device database  150  may be included with the fire detection system design application  350  or accessible to the fire detection system design application  350  through the interne  500 . The fire detection system device database  150  may be one or more separate databases stored in one or more locations. The fire detection system device database  150  may include data, details, and specifications of devices that may be utilized in a fire detection system  20 . The fire detection system device databases  150  may be a single central repository that is updated either periodically or in real-time. The fire detection system device databases  150  may also link to outside databases in real-time, such as, for example online supplier databases of components for a fire detection system  20 . The fire detection system device databases  150  may include a fire detection device database  150   a,  an alert device database  150   b,  and a fire panel device database  150   c.    
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , with continued reference to  FIG.  1   , a flow diagram illustrating a computer implemented method  600  of designing a fire detection system  20  is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In embodiment, the computer implemented method  600  is performed by the fire detection system design application  350 . 
     At block  604 , a fire detection device placement scheme  140   a  for one or more fire detection devices  30  within a building  62  is determined based on inputs  110  received from a user  101  and a fire detection device database  150   a.  The fire detection device placement scheme  140   a  may include a number of the one or more fire detection devices  30 . The fire detection device placement scheme  140   a  may also include a type of the one or more fire detection devices  30 . 
     At block  606 , an alert device placement scheme  140   b  for the one or more alert devices  50  within the building  62  is determined based on the inputs  110  received from the user  101  and an alert device database  150   b.  The alert device placement scheme  140   b  may include a number of the one or more alert devices  50 . The alert device placement scheme  140   b  may also include a type of the one or more alert devices  50 . 
     At block  608 , one or more fire detector loop wires  40  are determined to connect the one or more fire detection devices  30  to a fire panel  54  in a fire detection loop  32 . 
     At block  610 , one or more alert loop wires  42  are determined to connect the one or more alert devices  50  to the fire panel  54  in an alert loop  52 . 
     At block  612 , a map  60  is generated that displays a location of each of the one or more fire detection devices  30 , the one or more alert devices  50 , the one or more fire detector loop wires  40 , and the one or more alert loop wires  42  within the building  62 . 
     The computer implemented method  600  may further include that the map  60  is displayed on a computing device  300 . The computer implemented method  600  may also include that an autoconfiguration  140   c  of the fire panel  54  to associate a specific alert device  50  of the one or more alert devices  50  with a specific fire detection device  30  of the one or more fire detection devices  30  is determined. 
     The autoconfiguration  140   c  may then be tested by activating certain fire detection devices  30  and seeing if the proper alert devices  50  respond. The computer implemented method  600  may further include activating the specific fire detection device  30 , detecting whether the specific alert device  50  activates in response to the specific fire detection device  30  being activated, and determining whether the autoconfiguration  140   c  was successful based on detecting whether the specific alert device  50  activates in response to the specific fire detection device  30  being activated. 
     The computer implemented method  600  may yet further include that a length of the fire detection loop  32  and a length of the one or more detector loop wires  40  within the fire detection loop  32  are determined. The computer implemented method  600  may also include a length of the alert loop  52  and a length of the one or more alert wires  42  within the alert loop  52  are determined. 
     While the above description has described the flow process of  FIG.  2    in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied. 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media (e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium), such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.