Patent Publication Number: US-2019197878-A1

Title: Integrated voice over ip communication in fire systems

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application number 17382882.3 filed Dec. 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of fire alarm and control systems and more specifically to integrated voice over IP communication in fire systems. 
     A typical alarm system for a building, such as an office building or an apartment building, has multiple types of detectors and alarms. These include smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors as well as fire and smoke alarms. In addition, the typical alarm system has a control center including multiple panels that can be operated to show a status of the alarm system as well as multiple individuals who are required to install and support the alarm system. 
     Typically, for live, technical support from an authorized or certified service provider, a technician will use a communication apparatus or a personal computer. In some cases, the support service provider telecommunication apparatus is not available or out of date (stickers in the front). Also, in some cases communication apparatus service coverage is an issue and access to a communication apparatus or a personal computer is not possible. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed is a system for fire control and detection with integrated voice over IP communication. The system includes alarm system devices which are respectively operable to detect various conditions within a predefined space and to take various actions relative to the various conditions within the predefined space. The alarm system devices are monitored by an alarm monitoring system and at least one of the alarm system devices includes a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communication apparatus. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with the alarm monitoring system. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with at least one other VOIP communication apparatus. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with another alarm system device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is configured in accordance with access-rights of a user. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the alarm system devices comprise smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors, pull alarms, manual call points, sounders, strobes and relay modules. 
     Disclosed is alarm system for deployment in a building. The system includes alarm system devices distributed throughout an interior of the building, the alarm system devices being respectively operable to detect various conditions within the building and to take various actions relative to the various conditions within the building. The alarm system devices are monitored by an alarm monitoring system and at least one of the alarm system devices includes a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communication apparatus. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the alarm monitoring system is remote from the building. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with the alarm monitoring system. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with at least one other VOIP communication apparatus. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is operable to communicate with another alarm system device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the VOIP communication apparatus is configured in accordance with access-rights of a user. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the system may include that the alarm system devices comprise smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors, pull alarms, manual call points, sounders, strobes and relay modules. 
     Disclosed is a method of operating an alarm system integrated with voice over internet protocol deployed at a location in which alarm system devices are distributed to detect and to take various actions relative to various conditions within the location. The method includes installing an integrated VOIP system on each of the alarm system devices. A user input into the integrated VOIP system by a user is received at a first alarm system device and based at least in part on the user input, access-rights of the user are identified. A call is routed to a support system based at least in part on the user input and the access-rights of the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a computer system for use in implementing one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a diagram of a system for integrated VOIP communication in a fire system according to embodiments; and 
         FIG. 3  depicts a diagram of a building with a system for VOIP communication in a fire system according to embodiments. 
     
    
    
     The diagrams depicted herein are illustrative. There can be many variations to the diagram or the operations described therein without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For instance, the actions can be performed in a differing order or actions can be added, deleted or modified. Also, the term “coupled” and variations thereof describes having a communications path between two elements and does not imply a direct connection between the elements with no intervening elements/connections between them. All of these variations are considered a part of the specification. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a processing system  100  for implementing the teachings herein. In this embodiment, the system  100  has one or more central processing units (processors)  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c , etc. (collectively or generically referred to as processor(s)  101 ). In one embodiment, each processor  101  may include a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microprocessor. Processors  101  are coupled to system memory  114  and various other components via a system bus  113 . Read only memory (ROM)  102  is coupled to the system bus  113  and may include a basic input/output system (BIOS), which controls certain basic functions of system  100 . 
       FIG. 1  further depicts an input/output (I/O) adapter  107  and a network adapter  106  coupled to the system bus  113 . I/O adapter  107  may be a small computer system interface (SCSI) adapter that communicates with a hard disk  103  and/or tape storage drive  105  or any other similar component. I/O adapter  107 , hard disk  103 , and tape storage device  105  are collectively referred to herein as mass storage  104 . Operating system  120  for execution on the processing system  100  may be stored in mass storage  104 . A network adapter  106  interconnects bus  113  with an outside network  116  enabling data processing system  100  to communicate with other such systems. A screen (e.g., a display monitor)  115  is connected to system bus  113  by display adaptor  112 , which may include a graphics adapter to improve the performance of graphics intensive applications and a video controller. In one embodiment, adapters  107 ,  106 , and  112  may be connected to one or more IVO busses that are connected to system bus  113  via an intermediate bus bridge (not shown). Suitable IVO buses for connecting peripheral devices such as hard disk controllers, network adapters, and graphics adapters typically include common protocols, such as the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI). Additional input/output devices are shown as connected to system bus  113  via user interface adapter  108  and display adapter  112 . A keyboard  109 , mouse  110 , and speaker  111  all interconnected to bus  113  via user interface adapter  108 , which may include, for example, a Super I/O chip integrating multiple device adapters into a single integrated circuit. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the processing system  100  includes a graphics processing unit  130 . Graphics processing unit  130  is a specialized electronic circuit designed to manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display. In general, graphics processing unit  130  is very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing, and has a highly parallel structure that makes it more effective than general-purpose CPUs for algorithms where processing of large blocks of data is done in parallel. 
     Thus, as configured in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes processing capability in the form of processors  101 , storage capability including system memory  114  and mass storage  104 , input means such as keyboard  109  and mouse  110 , and output capability including speaker  111  and display  115 . In one embodiment, a portion of system memory  114  and mass storage  104  collectively store an operating system coordinate the functions of the various components shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Turning now to an overview of technologies that are more specifically relevant to aspects of the disclosure, fire systems include various system devices that can be deployed within a facility, such as an office building, and/or a vessel, such as a ship. Each system device performs specific tasks such as detection of smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide. A system device for a fire system can also include a control panel that communicates with the other devices and monitors the status of the fire system. Often, these system devices are distributed throughout a facility or vessel to maximize the detection of adverse conditions and alerting occupants of the facility or vessel as to any adverse conditions. These system devices require periodic maintenance to ensure proper operation. During maintenance, a support technician telecommunication apparatus is not always available or service might not be available in the specific location. Usage of cellular communication apparatuses can be problematic as system devices may be located in bad coverage areas or are blocked based on the location of the system device within the building or vessel (e.g., building basement). 
     Turning now to an overview of the aspects of the disclosure, one or more embodiments address the above-described shortcomings of the prior art by providing a system to integrate a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) service call capability into a fire system (e.g., fire alarm control panel, repeater panels, and control &amp; monitoring stations). 
     Turning now to a more detailed description of aspects of the present,  FIG. 2  depicts a diagram of a system for integrated VOIP communication in a fire system according to embodiments. The system  200  includes alarm system devices  202 , a network  210 , and an alarm monitoring system  212 . The alarm system devices  202  are in electronic communication with the alarm monitoring system  212 . The alarm monitoring system  212  can be any type of alarm control and/or monitoring system such as, for example, an AutroMaster system. The alarm system devices  202  can be any type of alarm device such as, for example, a multi detector-occupancy-temperature-smoke (MDOTS) sensor mounted in a monitored space of a building or vessel. Additional alarm system devices  202  include but are not limited to smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors, pull alarms, manual call points, sounders, strobes and relay modules. The alarm system devices  202  can communicate with each other. For example, a control panel is communicative coupled to the various alarm system devices  202 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the system  200  includes voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communication apparatuses  204  that are included with the alarm system devices  202 . VOIP is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. A VOIP communication apparatus  204  uses voice over IP technologies for placing and transmitting telephone calls over an IP network, such as the Internet, instead of the traditional public switched telephone network. 
     In one or more embodiments, a service technician  206  can access the VOIP communication apparatus  204  at the alarm system device  202 . The VOIP communication apparatus  204  can communicate over a network  210  to the alarm monitoring system  212  and to a technical support representative  208  controlling the alarm monitoring system  212 . Additionally, the service technician  206  can communicate with a remote service technician  210  by utilizing the VOIP communication apparatus  204  to communicate with an electronic device such as another VOIP communication apparatus, a smart communication apparatus, tablet, or computer system. In one or more embodiments, the service technician  206  can utilize the VOIP communication apparatus  204  to communicate with a second service technician  212  that is located at another alarm system device  202  utilizing the VOIP communication apparatus  204  at the alarm system device  202 . For example, a technician in a control room can communicate with a service technician that is investigating an issue around a facility or vessel. 
     In one or more embodiments, the alarm system devices  202  can provide access to a technician based on the identity of the service technician. For example, a low level service technician may only be allowed limited access to the VOIP communication apparatus  204 , where the VOIP communication apparatus  204  can make calls to the alarm monitoring system  212  only. Higher level service technicians may be allowed full access allowing the higher level service technicians to make calls through the VOIP communication apparatus  204  to other VOIP communication apparatuses  214  on other alarm system devices  202  and to remote service technician  210  cell phones, for example. Also, the type of service technician accessing the VOIP communication apparatus  204 , based on their identity, may have direct VOIP communication apparatus  204  calls to specific support technicians such as, for example, installers, distributor tech support, manufacturer support, emergency services, and the like. The fire alarm and control system can store in memory the specific support numbers or IP addresses to route the call depending on the user accessing the system. The number or IP addresses can be updated locally or remotely using remote services and connectivity to keep the correct information always up to date on the fire alarm and control system. 
     In one or more embodiments, the alarm system devices  202  and communication system  212  can be implemented on the processing system  100  found in  FIG. 1 . Additionally, the network  210  can be in wired or wireless electronic communication with one or all of the elements of the system  200 . Cloud computing can supplement, support or replace some or all of the functionality of the elements of the system  200 . Additionally, some or all of the functionality of the elements of system  200  can be implemented as a cloud computing node. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a building  300  is provided and can include multiple floors  11  with multiple areas at each of the multiple floors  11  that together make up an interior  12  to the building  300 . The building  300  includes a system for VOIP communication in a fire system  200 . The system  200  includes various alarm system devices  202  that are distributed though the interior  12  of the building  300  and, in some cases, may also include an alarm monitoring system that may be local or remote with respect to the building  300 . The alarm system devices  202  operate by detecting various conditions within the interior  12  of the building  300  and/or take various actions relative to those various conditions within the interior  12  of the building  300 . To that end, the alarm system devices  202  may include, but are not limited to, smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors, pull alarms, manual call points, sounders, strobes and relay modules. 
     In one or more embodiments, the alarm system devices  202  include VOIP communication apparatuses as described herein. An authorized user, such as a service technician  206 , can access the VOIP communication apparatuses at any of the alarm system devices  202 . The VOIP communication apparatuses at the alarm system devices  202  can communicate with other VOIP communication apparatuses at other alarm system devices  202 . This allows communication between a service technician  206  and another service technician  212  that may be on a different floor  11 . 
     In each case and for most but not necessarily all types of the alarm system devices  202 , the alarm system devices  202  are installed in various areas of the interior  12  of the building  300 . Upon installation, each device may be configured for a certain detection or action purpose, and may be tested to determine that they are functioning as configured and intended. Each device may also be configured to provide certain information upon request. 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures. 
     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.