Patent Description:
Fire protection systems typically comprise multiple components, including fire detectors (such as smoke and heat sensors), manual call points, fire alarms, and fire suppression systems (such as sprinklers, fire barriers, smoke extractors, etc.). These are typically electrically connected in a loop configuration, with the connecting wiring starting and finishing at a fire control panel.

In these systems, each component may receive electrical power via the loop. In addition, the fire control panel may be configured to communicate with each component via the loop. This communication may be configured in a master/slave configuration, whereby the master fire control panel can request information from each slave component of the fire protection system.

A fire protection system may also be configured such that each (slave) component can communicate with a (master) portable tool via a short-range wireless communication protocol (such as, e.g., RFID). The portable tool can be employed by an operator, for example during installation of the fire protection system, in order to locally communicate with each component.

<CIT> discloses an alarm sensor supporting long-range wireless communication.

There remains scope for improvements to fire protection systems.

The present invention provides a fire protection system according to claim <NUM>.

The first communications circuitry advantageously provides each of the first component and the second component of the fire protection system with the ability to communicate directly with another component of the fire protection system. In other words, the first communications circuitry facilities component-to-component communications in the fire protection system. This in turn improves the flexibility and functionally of the fire protection system.

For example, the first component can communicate (locally) with the portable device (tool), e.g. via short-range wireless communications (such as via RFID), and the first communications circuitry can allow the portable tool to communicate (remotely) with the second component of the fire protection system via the first component. For example, when locally communicating with the first component of the fire protection system (via short-range wireless communications), the portable tool can communicate with the second component of the fire protection system by instructing the first component to communicate with the second component. The first component in effect acts as a relay between the portable tool and the second component, in order to relay communications between the portable tool and the second component.

This then allows the portable tool to communicate with one or more components of the fire protection system that would otherwise be outside of the range of the portable tool's (short-range) wireless communications. This can in turn provide a number of advantages.

For example, this allows an operator to communicate with a component of the fire protection system that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach using the portable tool, for example where the component is installed in a relatively inaccessible location that is outside of the range of the portable tool's (short-range) wireless communications, such as within a high ceiling.

This also allows an operator to communicate with multiple components of the fire protection system without having to physically move to within range of each of those components. This can increase the operator's efficiency, for example during installation or maintenance of the fire protection system, in particular where components of the fire protection system are physically dispersed, such as being installed in different rooms or on different floors of a building.

The first component may comprise any one of a fire detector, a smoke detector, a heat detector, a manual call point, a fire alarm, a fire suppression component, a sprinkler, a fire barrier, a smoke extractor, and the like.

The second component may comprise any one of a fire detector, a smoke detector, a heat detector, a manual call point, a fire alarm, a fire suppression component, a sprinkler, a fire barrier, a smoke extractor, and the like.

The second communications circuitry may be separate (distinct) from the first communications circuitry, or the first and second communications circuitry may share some circuitry, or the first and second communications circuitry may be implemented using the same (shared) circuitry.

The portable device may be configured to act as a master to the first and/or second component, and the first and/or second component may be configured to act as a slave to the portable device.

The second communications circuitry wirelessly transmits the data (received from the other component) to the portable device. Thus, the portable device may obtain data from one component via another component (without involving the fire control panel).

The plurality of components may be connected to the fire control panel by wiring, optionally wherein the wiring has a loop configuration. The fire control panel may be configured to communicate with (and control) each component via the wiring.

The first communications circuitry may be configured to communicate with the other component via the wiring.

The fire protection system is configured such that the plurality of components can communicate with one another using a multi-master communications system. Thus, the fire protection system may be configured such that each of the first component and the second component of the fire protection system can act as a master to each other component of the fire protection system. The fire protection system may be configured such that one or more or each component of the fire protection system can act as a slave to each of the first component and the second component of the fire protection system.

The present invention also provides a building comprising the fire protection system described above.

Certain preferred embodiments will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only and with reference to the following figures, in which:.

<FIG> shows schematically part of a fire protection system <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments. As shown in <FIG>, the fire protection system <NUM> comprises a fire control panel <NUM> and a plurality of components <NUM> connected via wiring <NUM> to the fire control panel <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, each of the components <NUM> is a fire detector, which in this example are illustrated as smoke sensors. However, more generally, the plurality of components may include one or more fire detectors (such as one or more smoke and/or heat sensors), one or more manual call points, one or more fire alarms, one or more fire suppression systems (such as one or more sprinklers, fire barriers, smoke extractors, etc.), and the like.

Thus, each component of the fire protection system may comprise any one of a fire detector, a smoke detector, a heat detector, a manual call point, a fire alarm, a fire suppression component, a sprinkler, a fire barrier, a smoke extractor, and the like.

The plurality of components <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM> may be electrically connected via wiring <NUM>, for example in a loop configuration, with the connecting wiring <NUM> being connected to (for example, starting and finishing at) the fire control panel <NUM>. The fire protection system <NUM> may be configured such that each component <NUM> receives electrical power from the fire control panel <NUM> via the wiring <NUM>.

The fire protection system <NUM> is configured such that the fire control panel <NUM> can communicate with (and control) each component <NUM>, for example via the wiring <NUM>. This communication may be configured in a master/slave configuration, whereby the master fire control panel <NUM> can request information from and/or control each slave component <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM>.

<FIG> shows schematically part of a fire protection system in accordance with various embodiments. As shown in <FIG>, one or more components <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM> may be installed in a ceiling of a building.

The fire protection system <NUM> is configured such that each component <NUM> can communicate with a portable device or tool <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM> via a wireless communication protocol. Each component <NUM> is configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable tool <NUM> using any suitable (e.g. short-range) wireless communications protocol, such as for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, and the like.

The portable tool <NUM> may take any suitable form. For example, the portable tool <NUM> may be in the form of a "standalone" control device which may optionally be controllable via a mobile communications device <NUM> such as a mobile phone (cell phone), tablet computer, laptop computer, and the like. It would, however, also be possible for the portable tool <NUM> to be in the form of a mobile communications device such as a mobile phone (cell phone), tablet computer, laptop computer, and the like.

The communication between the portable tool <NUM> and the component(s) of the fire protection system may be configured in a master/slave configuration, whereby the master portable tool <NUM> can request information from and/or control each slave component <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM>. That is, the portable tool <NUM> may be configured to act as a master to each component <NUM>, and each component <NUM> may be configured to act as a slave to the portable tool <NUM>.

The portable tool <NUM> is configured to transmit one or more commands to a component <NUM>. The one or more commands may, for example, request data from the component <NUM> and/or cause the component to be configured as desired by the operator. The component <NUM> may receive the command(s) and may be configured to operate in accordance with the command(s), for example by configuring itself accordingly and/or transmitting data to the portable tool <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the portable tool <NUM> can be employed by an operator, for example during installation of the fire protection system, in order to locally communicate with each component <NUM>. The operator may use the portable tool <NUM> to obtain component information and/or to configure each component <NUM>.

The component information can comprise, for example, configuration information such as device address and sensitivity profile(s), log information, and the like. The device address, sensitivity profile(s), and the like of each component <NUM> can be configured by the portable tool <NUM>.

<FIG> shows schematically part of a fire protection system in accordance with various embodiments. <FIG> shows two components 14a, 14b of the plurality of components <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM>, which in the example of <FIG> are a fire detector 14a and a manual call point (MCP) 14b.

<FIG> also shows the portable tool <NUM> wirelessly communicating with one component 14a of the plurality of components <NUM> (as described above). In the example shown in <FIG>, the portable tool <NUM> is in the form of a "standalone" control device which may be controlled via a mobile communications device <NUM> such as a mobile phone (cell phone).

As described above, in accordance with the embodiments, each component 14a of the fire protection system <NUM> comprises first communications circuitry configured to communicate with another component 14b of the fire protection system <NUM>. Thus, for example, in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, a first component 14a (being a fire detector) is able to communicate with a second component 14b (being a manual call point (MCP)).

As described above, the first communications circuitry provides the component 14a with the ability to communicate directly with the other component 14b. In other words, the first communications circuitry facilities component-to-component communications in the fire protection system <NUM>. This in turn improves the flexibility and functionally of the fire protection system <NUM>.

Where, as shown in <FIG> (and described above), the fire protection system comprises a portable tool <NUM>, the provision of the first communications circuitry can allow the portable tool <NUM> to communicate (remotely) with the second component 14b of the fire protection system via the first component 14a. For example, when locally communicating with the first component 14a of the fire protection system <NUM> via (e.g. short-range) wireless communications, the portable tool <NUM> can communicate with the second component 14b of the fire protection system <NUM> by instructing the first component 14a to communicate with the second component 14b. The first component 14a in effect acts as a relay between the portable tool <NUM> and the second component 14b, in order to relay communications between the portable tool <NUM> and the second component 14b.

This then allows the portable tool <NUM> to communicate with one or more components 14b of the fire protection system <NUM> that would otherwise be outside of the range of the portable tool's (e.g. short-range) wireless communications. This can in turn provide a number of advantages.

For example, as illustrated by <FIG>, this allows an operator to communicate with a component 14b of the fire protection system that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach using the portable tool <NUM>, for example where the component 14b is installed in a relatively inaccessible location that is outside of the range of the portable tool's <NUM> (e.g. short-range) wireless communications, such as within a high ceiling. This can be done by the operator communicating with a relatively more accessible component 14a, such as a manual call point, and the relatively more accessible component 14a relaying communications to the relatively inaccessible component 14b, for example via the wiring <NUM> of the fire protection system.

As illustrated by <FIG>, this also allows an operator to communicate with multiple components 14a-14d of the fire protection system <NUM> without having to physically move to within range of each of those components 14a-14d. For example, as shown in <FIG>, an operator can use the portable tool <NUM> to communicate with multiple components 14b-14d via one component 14a (such as a relatively accessible manual call point (MCP)) of the fire protection system <NUM>.

This can increase the operator's efficiency, for example during installation or maintenance of the fire protection system, in particular where components of the fire protection system are physically dispersed, such as being installed in different rooms or on different floors of a building.

In various embodiments, it would be possible for the first communications circuitry to be configured to communicate with the other component via wireless communication, such as for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, and the like.

However, in various particular embodiments, the first communications circuitry is configured to communicate with the other component via a wired connection. For example, the first communications circuitry may be configured to communicate with the other component via the connecting wiring <NUM>.

The component-to-component communication may be configured in a master/slave configuration, whereby a master component 14a can request information from and/or control each slave component 14b-14d of the fire protection system <NUM>. That is, a component 14a may be configured to act as a master to another component 14b-14d, and the other component 14b-14d may be configured to act as a slave to the component 14a.

The first communications circuitry of the master component 14a may transmit one or more commands to the slave component(s) 14b-14d. The one or more commands may, for example, request data from the slave component(s) 14b-14d and/or cause the slave component(s) 14b-14d to be configured as desired by the operator. The slave component(s) 14b-14d may receive the command(s) and may be configured to operate in accordance with the command(s), for example by configuring itself accordingly and/or transmitting requested data back to the master component 14a.

The data may comprise data relating to the status or configuration of the slave component(s) 14b-14d such as device address and sensitivity profile(s), log information, and the like. The device address, sensitivity profile(s), and the like of each slave component(s) 14b-14d can be configured by the portable tool <NUM> via the master component 14a.

The first communications circuitry allows the portable tool <NUM> to be used to communicate with any one of a plurality of components 14a-14d, via one 14a of the components.

The communication between the portable tool <NUM> and the slave component(s) 14b-14d via the one component 14a may be configured in a master/slave configuration, whereby the master tool <NUM> can request information from and/or control each slave component 14a-14d of the fire protection system <NUM>. That is, the tool <NUM> may be configured to act as a master to each component 14a-14d, and each component 14a-14d may be configured to act as a slave to the portable tool <NUM>.

The portable tool <NUM> may be configured to transmit one or more commands to the slave component(s) 14b-14d via the one component 14a. The one or more commands may, for example, request data from the slave component(s) 14b-14d and/or cause the slave component(s) 14b-14d to be configured as desired by the operator. The slave component(s) 14b-14d may receive the command(s) and may be configured to operate in accordance with the command(s), for example by configuring itself accordingly and/or transmitting requested data back to the portable tool <NUM> via the one component 14a.

Thus, in various embodiments a first component 14a is configured to communicate with a second component 14b-14d of the fire protection system <NUM> in response to one or more commands received (via the wireless communications protocol) from the portable tool <NUM>. The portable tool <NUM> is configured to receive, in response to the one or more commands, data from one or more of the second component(s) 14b-14d via the first component 14a. In these embodiments, the fire control panel <NUM> is not involved in the communication between the portable tool <NUM> and the first component 14a and/or the second component 14b-14d.

In various particular embodiments, there are plural components of the plurality of components <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM> that each comprise first communications circuitry configured to communicate with another component of the fire protection system <NUM>.

In these embodiments, each of those component of the plurality of components <NUM> is able to act as a master to other components of the plurality of components <NUM>. Correspondingly, the fire protection system may be configured such that one or more or each component of the plurality of components <NUM> can act as a slave to those component of the plurality of components <NUM>. Thus, the fire protection system <NUM> may be configured as a multi-master system.

<FIG> shows schematically a component <NUM> of the fire protection system configured in accordance with various embodiments. The component <NUM> may comprise any one of a fire detector, a smoke detector, a heat detector, a manual call point, a fire alarm, a fire suppression component, a sprinkler, a fire barrier, a smoke extractor, and the like.

As shown in <FIG>, the component <NUM> may comprise a master control unit (MCU) <NUM>. This may communicate with a memory <NUM>, which may store (e.g.) configuration information such as device address, sensitivity profile, etc., and log information, and the like.

As also shown in <FIG>, the (master control unit (MCU) <NUM> of the) component <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the fire alarm control panel (FACP) <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM>, for example via the loop wiring <NUM>, as described above.

The component <NUM> is configured to communicate wirelessly with a portable tool <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, this is done via RFID communication, and so the component <NUM> comprises RFID communications circuitry in the form of an RFID tag <NUM>. It would be possible, however, for the component <NUM> to communicate with the portable tool <NUM> using some other wireless communications protocol (as described above). Thus, the component <NUM> comprises second communications circuitry configured to communicate wirelessly with a portable tool <NUM> of the fire protection system <NUM>.

The master control unit (MCU) <NUM> may communicate with the RFID tag <NUM> via an internal wired connection, using any suitable protocol such as for example I2C communication.

It will be appreciated that allowing the component <NUM> to communicate wirelessly with the portable tool <NUM> (which can optionally be controlled by a mobile application) means that an operator can query device information. It also allows parameter configuration such as device address or sensitivity profiles.

As also shown in <FIG>, the (master control unit (MCU) <NUM> of the) component is configured to communicate with another component 14b-14d of the fire protection system <NUM>, as described above. This communication may be via the loop wiring <NUM> or otherwise (as described above).

This allows the operator to communicate with other devices via the component <NUM>. As described above, this means that the operator need not be near a component in order to be able to interact with it (which may be impractical in installations such as buildings with several floors, or with high ceilings in which the available range may be insufficient).

Various embodiments accordingly allow fire devices to transmit information through the wired loop <NUM> using a multi-master system which enables communication between any two devices. The protocol can carry information on demand from one device to another. In this way, an operator can use the portable tool <NUM> via a relatively accessible component 14a such as a manual call point (MCP), in order to obtain information from a device 14b-14d installed in another location.

Claim 1:
A fire protection system (<NUM>) comprising:
a fire control panel (<NUM>);
a plurality of components (<NUM>) connected to the fire control panel (<NUM>); and
a portable device (<NUM>) configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more of the plurality of components (<NUM>);
wherein the plurality of components (<NUM>) comprise a first component (14a) and a second component (14b), wherein the first component (14a) and the second component (14b) each comprises first communications circuitry, and wherein the first component (14a) comprises second communications circuitry; and
wherein the first communications circuitry is configured to receive data from another of the pluralitly of components;
wherein the second communications circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit the data to the portable device (<NUM>);
characterised in that the first and second components (14a, 14b) are configured to communicate with one another in response to one or more first commands wirelessly received from the portable device (<NUM>), by transmitting one or more second commands to one another via the first communications circuitry;
wherein the second communication circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive the one or more first commands from the portable device (<NUM>);
wherein the first communications circuitry is configured to transmit the one or more second commands to the other component, and is configured to receive, in response to the one or more second commands, the data from the other component;
wherein the data comprises data relating to the status and/or configuration of the other component;
wherein the second component (14b) also comprises second communications circuitry;
wherein each of the first component (14a) and the second component (14b) is configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable device (<NUM>) via its second communication circuitry; and
wherein each of the first component (14a) and the second component (14b) is configured to, when communicating with the portable device (<NUM>) via its second communication circuitry, communicate with the other component so as to act as a relay between the portable device (<NUM>) and the other component.