EP2568457A1 - Method for operating a decentralised warning system and decentralised warning system - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves informing possible change of status of respective input in input station (14) of central free alarm system (10), based on the obtained state information determined at internal state by all the other stations (12). The output in output station (16) is enabled or disabled, based on the determined internal state information received from all the stations. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) input and output stations in central free alarm system; and (2) central free alarm system.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a centralless security alarm system for building automation with a plurality of communicatively linked stations and then such a centralless security alarm system and provided for use in such a centralless security alarm system, communicatively linkable stations.

Danger alarm systems are known per se in building automation. A distinction is made between home systems, especially for privately used real estate or smaller commercial real estate, and professional systems, which are usually used in large commercial real estate, especially buildings with several floors. In the home systems usually devices are used, which can detect and display hazards at the same time, such as smoke detectors or the like. Networking of such individual devices is usually not provided. In professional systems, a station referred to below as a control center usually takes over the function of collecting and linking the state of connected devices of the danger detection system and of activating one or more outputs based on the result of the connection, for example if smoke is developed by a connected device functioning as a fire detector indicative signal is received.

Unfavorable in previous networked hazard detection systems, so especially in the above-described professional systems, however, is that in case of failure of the central station no detection of hazards is possible and accordingly no signaling of detected dangers to users of the respective building.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a security alarm system for building automation which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantage. This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. For this purpose, in a method for operating a centralless security alarm system for building automation, which comprises a plurality of communicatively linked stations, at least some of which function as an input station and comprise at least one input, and at least some of which act as output station and correspondingly comprise at least one output in that at least each input station informs all other stations of any change in a state of the or each respective input, and that each output station determines at least one internal state based on all status information received from other stations and activates or deactivates at least one output based thereon.

The invention in claim 1 solves the above object, because the hazard detection system acts as a centralless hazard detection system in that each input station informs all other stations about their state or states and transmits related state information. Each output station, of which the hazard detection system comprises a plurality, determines from all state information obtained from other stations at least one internal state and activates or deactivates at least one output with regard to the or each internal state. Each output station of the hazard detection system thus functions like a control center in previous hazard detection systems. The danger detection system proposed here thus comprises, as it were, a plurality of control centers in a first approach. However, because none of the output stations acting as the central station are out of the way of the other outgoing stations, and because each output station receives the status information of all the other stations, the name of the danger detection system justifies itself as a centralless danger reporting system. In addition, a decision on the activation of outputs is made directly at the respective output station, so that no further communication is necessary. The majority of the output stations takes the place of the previous single center and the majority of the output stations takes over in redundant manner the function of the previous headquarters. In case of failure of one or more output stations, the treatment of dangerous situations is still possible, as long as at least one output station remains active in the centralless security alarm system.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. This used backlinks point to the further development of the subject matter of the main claim by the features of the respective subclaim; they should not be construed as a waiver of obtaining independent, objective protection for the feature combinations of the dependent claims. Furthermore, with a view to an interpretation of the claims, it should be assumed in a more detailed specification of a feature in a subordinate claim that that such a restriction is not present in the respective preceding claims.

If each output station makes the determination of the internal state each time a state information arrives from another station, an immediate response to the state information and any state changes at one of the input stations is possible. Alternatively, it is also possible that the output station carries out the determination of the internal state in a fixed time grid and thereby cyclically evaluates the status information obtained. If the cycle time of such processing is sufficiently short, such cyclic processing of the state information as real-time processing also appears. Actual real-time processing is more likely to occur, however, if the determination of the internal state is made each time state information arrives from another station. In order to ensure this, it is possible, for example, for the receipt of an external status information to trigger a so-called interrupt at the respective output station, so that a so-called interrupt service routine initiated by the interrupt can trigger the determination of the internal status and, for example, activates a linking unit for this purpose , which may be executed, for example, in software and includes a coding of a conditionable by the user or the operator of the hazard detection system linkage of the state information. If the output station is implemented only in hardware, this already results in a determination of the internal state every time a conditional information arrives from another station, by processing a corresponding signal from the hardware, that is to say a hardware logic in particular becomes.

If at least one or each output station comprises a programmable logic unit having at least one internal logic unit with which at least one internal state can be determined on the basis of all status information received from other stations and on the basis of which at least one output can be activated or deactivated, a functionality results for the output station significantly increased flexibility. The programmability allows to influence the logic and / or time and / or arithmetic combination of the obtained state information and / or internal states coded by the at least one internal logic operation. In this way, the functionality of each logic link can be determined as needed. For example, it can be specified that an output is only activated if at least two inputs are active (AND operation). Furthermore, it can also be specified, for example, that an output is activated when a first input is active and a second input is activated within a predefined or predefinable time span. However, these are just examples, and the complexity of each logic that is implemented can be significantly greater.

Such programmability or configurability can be realized, for example, in that the configuration takes place via a web browser, which accesses a web server maintained on the programmable station for this purpose. As a platform for the web browser is any type of computer, so for example, a laptop, notebook, handheld computer, tablet computer, etc., or mobile devices with processing functionality, such as a mobile phone or the like. This is the respective station designed so that a communicative connection with the external device and an exchange of necessary for programming or configuration data is possible. In the case of a programming / configuration provided by means of a web browser and web server, the respective station is accordingly equipped with an Ethernet, WLAN, GPRS, UMTS connection or the like. With such a programmability or configurability eliminates the need to develop or acquire a rarely used in practice after the initial installation of a hazard detection system control device to access at least one station of the danger detection system. Instead, can be used on normally already existing devices, so a computer or a mobile device of the type mentioned above.

If each output station comprises a linking unit with at least one internal logic unit and activates at least one output by means of this logic operation, provided that the status information obtained signal at least one active input, a secure basic setting of the treatment of incoming status information is guaranteed. Namely, if at least one output is activated, that is, if the status information obtained signal at least one active input, takes place within the danger detection system at least one active input, a conditional by the activation of the output response, wherein the activation of an output, e.g. turns on a light indicator or the like.

When at least individual output stations comprise a linking unit having at least first and second linking logic, each one Logic logic single or multiple inputs and / or outputs are assigned and wherein with each logic logic based on the or each associated input state information (s) at least one internal state determined and based on at least the or each associated output enabled or disabled or the or each associated output is activated, provided that the state information received to the or each associated input signal at least one active input, a grouping of the state information from the input stations is possible. Depending on the particular grouping, specific outputs can be activated and specific output signals generated. By way of example, this can be assumed, for example, as a situation in which a centralless security alarm system, as described here and below, is installed in a commercial property with several rooms on one or more floors. In that case, for example, all input stations of a room or a floor functioning as fire detectors can be processed by processing status information obtained from them by exactly one logic unit, eg the input stations arranged in a first room through the first logic unit and the input terminals arranged in a second room the second logic operation, etc. By such a grouping can be in the event of danger, activate an output or produce an output signal that encodes not only the respective hazardous situation, but also the location of the dangerous situation. Of course, starting from the simple example presented here, more complex groupings or more extensive groupings are possible. If the linking unit is executed in software and the first, second and possibly Further linking logic software routines are, with which the respectively associated state information are linked according to predetermined or predetermined program code instructions within these software routines, a quasi arbitrary organization and grouping of the input stations and also any combination of the state information supplied from there is possible.

The invention thus also relates to an input station having at least one input and for use in a method as described here and below, with means for communicative linking with other stations in a centralless alarm system for building automation and with means for communicating state information when a state changes of the or each respective input. As a means for communicative linking, the input station has a communication unit at least for transmitting data to a remote station. The communication unit may also allow the reception of data from a remote station, such as when a status, such as a stand-by, of the input station is polled. As a communication unit is a communication unit for wireless or line-bound transmission of data into consideration. So that each input station can inform all other stations about a possible change of state of the or each respective input, it is provided that with the communication unit, the transmission of the data and therein the respective state information or status information, for example, as a so-called broadcast telegram or multicast telegram , As is known, a broadcast telegram was addressed to all subscribers in a communication network, that is to say all other stations of the central security alarm system. A multicast telegram Turns well known to a group of communication participants in a communication system, in this case the centralless alarm system, and with appropriate grouping also reaches a multicast telegram all other stations of the centralless security system or at least all other relevant stations, namely in particular the covered by the central security alarm system output stations , Otherwise, it is considered that individual connections are established between the stations.

With regard to the term input and the at least one input comprised by an input station, it should be pointed out that this means an analogue or digital input channel or another connection point of an external sensor or such a sensor itself. In the first case, the sensor as an external sensor is not part of the input station and is connected to it via the input. In the second case, the sensor as an internal sensor is part of the input station and as such delivers measured values directly within the input station. As used herein, the term input means any signal received from an external or internal sensor, as well as either the internal sensor or the signal path provided by the external sensor for receiving signals.

Like the input station specifically designed for the centralless hazard detection system, the invention also relates to an output station having at least one output and for use in a method as described herein and below. Such a base station comprises means for communicative linking with other stations in a centralless security alarm system for building automation, ie in particular one Communication unit as already described above for the input station. The communication unit of an output station allows at least the reception of data from a remote station, that is to say at least from the input stations covered by the danger detection system. Possibly. The communication unit of the output unit also allows the transmission of data to remote stations, namely, for example, to inform other stations about a status change at an output and / or to eg actively query status information at an input station and / or to query status information at an input station to there possibly to recognize an error situation or the like and to be able to handle accordingly. Furthermore, each output station has a linkage unit with at least one internal link logic. By means of this logic operation, at least one output of the output station can be activated if, during operation, the received status information signals at least one active input of an input station. The linking unit as well as the linking logic can be implemented in software and hardware. In an implementation in hardware, a particularly simple and here only exemplarily mentioned internal logic operation is an OR gate with a plurality of inputs to which each obtained external state information is supplied to one of the inputs. If at least one of the status information obtained signals at least one active input of an external input station, appears at the output of the OR gate, a signal with which the output or an output of the output station can be activated. In such a simple logic link logic and logic unit can coincide. In at least one such other such internal logic logic comes as linking unit such as an ASIC, FPGA or the like Consideration, which also includes spatially the or each logic of logic. Depending on the implementation of the logic link, a distributed implementation is also possible, eg a first OR gate for a first internal logic gate and a second OR gate for a second internal logic gate and the logic unit is then the entirety of all provided for implementing the or each logic logic Components and units. In an implementation of the logic operation in software, the linking unit is a processing unit in the form of or in the manner of a microprocessor and a memory in which a computer program executable by the processing unit is loaded or loadable. The computer program includes either the or each logic or is designed to call the or each logic logic. The logic operation itself is then a sequence of program code instructions that realizes a predetermined or predefinable combination of the obtained external state information, for example an OR operation of all status information received or all state information associated with a logic operation.

Thus, the invention also relates in its entirety to a centralless hazard detection system for building automation with a plurality of input stations as described here and below, a plurality of output stations as described here and below, and at least one actuator, wherein the at least one actuator can be activated by a plurality of output stations , As an actuator comes, for example, a signal lamp, a siren or any other downstream system into consideration, with the direct or indirect signals of danger or can be further processed. In contrast to a situation where a source station eg a siren comprises directly as an actuator and the siren is activated upon receipt of at least one state signal indicating an active input, a possible plurality of such actuators is dispensable if one and the same actuator can be activated by a plurality of output stations. A siren or the like can therefore be connected to a plurality of output stations and if at least one of the output stations activates an output to which the siren is connected, ie in case of danger, the siren is activated so that users of the building are informed about the dangerous situation. Even if one output station or even several output stations fails, the siren or another actuator can still be activated as long as at least one output station remains active. The output stations act as redundant units in the centralless hazard detection system and the redundancy causes that in case of failure of one or more units, the overall functionality is still guaranteed as long as at least one output station is functional. In practice, depending on the application situation, such redundancy will possibly also be provided with regard to the actuators, so that the wording that an actuator can be activated by a plurality of starting stations should not be interpreted as meaning that the central-free hazard detection system comprises only one actuator. Similarly, a plurality of actuators, for example, a plurality of sirens or the like, conceivable, each actuator can be activated by a plurality of output stations, so that so far, a redundancy is achieved with respect to the actuators. This is even with eg a mechanical damage of a light alarm or a siren as an actuator still signaling a possible danger situation to the users of each building possible.

The advantage of the invention and its embodiments is thus in particular that the cost of a danger detection system can be massively reduced. A previously required center is in fact considerably more expensive than an input or output station. The input / output stations are at most marginally more expensive than in previous centralized systems, since the communication capability is also necessary there and the stations are equipped accordingly. In addition, a local link, with which each output station determines at least one internal state from all the state information received from other stations, requires only little computing power in the respective output station and such a link can be combined with the functional units already included in the already existing devices, e.g. Microprocessor or ASIC, etc., realize without further notice. In addition, a space saving is possible because no space for a security alarm center must be permanently provided. Since there is no need to centralize alarming, a centralized hazard detection system may be faster when it comes to enabling or disabling outputs. Outstanding advantage is that a failure of a part of the stations does not affect the other, normally functioning stations. Thus, there is no so-called single-point-of-failure, as it is given in conventional alarm systems by the local headquarters.

Individual aspects of the invention, namely the processing and linking of incoming state information, are preferably implemented in software, although an implementation in hardware may alternatively be considered. The invention is thus on the one hand, a computer program with by a computer executable program code instructions and on the other hand a storage medium with such a computer program and finally a station for use in a centralless security alarm system as described herein, in the memory of which such a computer program is loaded or loadable as means for carrying out the method and its embodiments. An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Corresponding objects or elements are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals. The or each embodiment is not to be understood as limiting the invention. Rather, numerous modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure, in particular those variants and combinations, for example, by combination or modification of individual features described in the general or specific description part as well as in the claims and / or the drawing Elements or process steps for the expert with regard to the solution of the problem can be removed and lead by combinable features to a new subject or to new process steps or process steps.

FIG 1

eine Struktur eines zentralenlosen Gefahrenmeldesystems,

FIG 2

eine Eingangsstation und eine Ausgangsstation eines Gefahrenmeldesystems gemäß FIG 1,

FIG 3

eine schematisch vereinfachte Darstellung einer von jeder Ausgangsstation umfassten Verknüpfungslogik,

FIG 4

eine Ausgangsstation mit einer programmierbaren Verknüpfungseinheit und einem dafür auf der Ausgangsstation vorgesehenen Webserver und

FIG 5

ein zentralenloses Gefahrenmeldesystem mit einer Mehrzahl von Ein- und Ausgangsstationen und einem an mehrere Ausgangsstationen angeschlossenen Aktor.

Show it

FIG. 1

a structure of a centralless alarm system,

FIG. 2

an input station and an output station of a hazard detection system according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a schematically simplified representation of a logic included by each output station,

FIG. 4

an output station with a programmable linking unit and a web server provided for this purpose on the output station and

FIG. 5

a centralless hazard detection system with a plurality of input and output stations and an actuator connected to a plurality of output stations.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a simplified structure of a centralized security alarm system 10 for building automation with a plurality of communicatively linked stations 12. Of the stations 12, at least some act as an input and are hereinafter referred to as the input station 14. Furthermore, at least some of the stations 12 function as an output and are referred to below as the output station 16 in each case. To illustrate the communicative linkage of the individual stations, individual communication paths 18 are shown by way of example, which can stand for a line-bound or even a wireless communication in a manner known per se. For example, a communication path 18 may represent a means for serial data transmission between two stations 12 with a communication medium passing between the respective stations 12, eg, data transmission cables. As a communication medium is any known communication medium into consideration. The communication protocol can be any known and future communication protocol, eg RS-232, FireWire, USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, BACnet, etc.

The functionality as an input or output station 14, 16 is not exclusive and individual, multiple or all stations 12 can readily act simultaneously as input station 14 and as output station 16 in the network of the central security alarm system 10. Furthermore, the network may also comprise stations which function neither as input station 14 nor as output station 16 and serve only for communication purposes, such as routers and / or amplifiers.

FIG. 2 shows an input station 14 and an output station 16 with further details. For the representation, it is assumed that the communicative connection is established in a line-less way. In any event, each input station 14 and output station 16 each includes a communication module 20 or communication unit for communicating data to a remote station 12 and / or for receiving data from a remote station 12.

Each input station 14 includes at least one input 22. The term input is to be interpreted broadly and includes both a situation in which the respective input 22 substantially only as an input channel (digital or analog) or as a connection point for example, an external sensor or the like ( not shown) acts as well as a situation in which the respective sensor or the like of the input station 14 is included and thus almost represents the input 22 itself. Examples of such sensors are temperature sensors, smoke detectors, door sensors, buttons or switches, etc. In principle, each input station 14 may comprise a plurality of inputs 22 of the type described above, that is, a plurality of sensors or connection possibilities for a plurality of sensors.

Each output station 16 includes at least one output 24. The term output is also to be interpreted broadly and includes both a situation in which the respective output 24 essentially only as an output channel (digital or analog) or as a connection point for example, an external actuator or the like (Not shown) acts as well as a situation in which the respective actuator or the like of the output station 16 is included and thus almost represents the output 24 itself. Examples of such actuators are acoustic or optical alarms, such as e.g. a siren, warning lights, fire doors and generally any subordinate system, so for example, a programmable logic controller, a computer or the like, which or makes a comprehensive processing of the respective signal due to a signal through the output 24 or an output 24 of the output station 16 and thus, in addition to an activation of audible or visual warning devices, fire protection systems, fire doors, etc. also allows a logging of the respective results and user interventions. In principle, each output station 16 may comprise a plurality of outputs 24 of the type described above, that is to say a plurality of actuators or connection possibilities for a plurality of actuators.

Each output station 16 comprises a linkage unit 26 having at least one internal link logic 28, 30. With this link logic 28, 30, at least one internal state is determined on the basis of all status information obtained from other stations 12, 14, and in particular embodiments at least one output 24 is activated, if the from other stations 12, in particular input stations 14, state information received signal at least one input 22 active there. In the network of the centralless security reporting system 10, individual Stations 12 function both as the input station 14 and as the output station 16, so that incoming status information does not necessarily have to come from a dedicated input station 14, but can also come from stations 12, which at least also include the functionality of an input station.

The linking unit 26 with at least one internal linking logic 28, 30 may be implemented in hardware. Alternatively, an implementation in software comes into consideration. Then the linking unit comprises a processing unit in the form of or in the manner of a microprocessor and a memory in which a computer program is stored, with which the or each internal linking logic 28, 30 is implemented, or which in turn calls separate computer programs, which is an implementation of the respective ones internal logic logic 28, 30 include. The linking unit 26 is for this purpose connected to the communication module 20 and the or each output 24, so that incoming state information can be evaluated by the linking unit 26 and the respective internal logic logic 28, 30 and at least one output 24 is activated, if the status information obtained at least one active Signal input 22.

As a counterpart to the linking unit 26 of the output station 16, each input station 14 comprises a functional unit 32 for checking the or each input 22 and for activating the communication module 20 so that either cyclically or at least during the status change of an input 22 by the communication module 20 a telegram with a corresponding Status information is sent.

FIG. 3 shows a schematically simplified representation of a first and a second internal logic logic 28, 30 of a linking unit 26 of an output station 16. The logic logic 28, 30 is exemplarily each symbolized by an OR gate. In general, the functionality of a logic link 28, 30 can be expressed symbolically as follows: $$\mathrm{Ausgang\_i}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="f\; Entrance\_"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">f\; </figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{Entrance\_}\right)\left(\mathrm{1}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{Entrance\_}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{...}\mathrm{Eingang\_j}\left[\mathrm{.}\mathrm{t}\right]\right)$$

This means that the value of an output (output_i) depends on one or more inputs (input_1 ... input_j) and the status information received for this purpose. In addition, the time (t) can also be taken into account. In addition, it may also be considered to consider the status of the outputs, so that the above symbolic expression can be extended as follows: $$\mathrm{Ausgang\_i}\mathrm{=}\mathrm{f}\left(\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="Entrance\_"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">Entrance\_</figure-callout>}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{Entrance\_}\mathrm{2}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{...}\mathrm{Eingang\_j}\left[\mathrm{.}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="Output\_"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">Output\_</figure-callout>}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{..}\mathrm{Ausgang\_i}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{.}\mathrm{Ausgang\_i}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{1}\mathrm{..}\mathrm{Ausgang\_k}\right]\left[\mathrm{.}\mathrm{t}\right]\right)$$

If the respective logic logic 28, 30 also takes into account the statuses of the outputs, it is not sufficient that only each input station 14 informs all other stations 12, 16 of a possible change of state of the or each respective input 22 and it is additionally required Also, each output station 16 informs all other stations 12, 14 of a possible change in a state of the or each respective output 24.

The respective logic logic 28, 30 may be implemented in software or in hardware. Each logic logic 28, 30 are single or multiple inputs and / or outputs 22, 24th assigned. The assignment of at least one output 24 to a logic logic 28, 30 can take place within the output station 16. The assignment of one or more inputs 22, which are comprised by a usually remote input station 14, is effected by a corresponding coding of the status information transmitted for this purpose. Such coding makes a state information exactly generated by a status change of exactly one input 22 to exactly one input station 14 and arriving at the respective output station 16 unambiguously identifiable as starting from the respective input 22 of the respective input station 14. Such a coding can be present as a hardware coding, for example by using a corresponding connection point within the communication module 20. In a software coding, each incoming state information receives a unique identifier according to its respective source, so that an assignment is possible on this basis. Such an identifier is assigned to the state information already in the generation of a corresponding telegram by the communication module 20 of the respective input station 14.

A plurality of linkage logic 28, 30 as in FIG. 3 shown, allows a grouping of supervised in the central security alarm system 10 inputs 22 and a dedicated, corresponding activation of special outputs 24, so that, for example, depending on the risk situation different outputs 24 can be activated, or drawn on the basis of the respective activated output 24 conclusions on the location of the danger situation can be.

The linking unit 26 and the at least one internal linking logic 28, 30 included therein are programmable and / or configurable, both here and hereinafter sometimes also summarized under the term programmability. A configurability allows, for example, the selection of simple logical networks as linking logic 28, 30. A programmability allows the individual definition of the functionality of a logic link. The programming of the linking unit 26 may, as the representation in FIG. 4 schematically shows a made available at the output station with the programmable logic unit 26 web server 36. FIG. 4 shows that the programmable functional unit 26 is kept in a memory 34, in which also a web server 36 is loaded. During operation of the output station, the web server 36, as well as the linking unit 26, is executed by a processing unit 38 in the form of or in the manner of a microprocessor. On the web server 36 takes place with an external device 40, for example, a mobile phone or a laptop computer, in the memory in a conventional manner, a web browser 42 is loaded to make access to a programming of the linking unit 26. The web server 36 acts as an interface between the external device 40 and the linking unit 26. The web browser 42 functions in programming the linking unit 26 as a user interface.

FIG. 5 shows conclusively that in a centralless alarm system 10 with a plurality of input stations 14, a plurality of output stations 16 and at least one actuator 44, shown here by way of example as a horn, the at least one actuator 44 can be activated by a plurality of output stations 16. In such a configuration, the actuator 44 is an external actuator 44, that is, an actuator not included in the respective output station 16. Because of the external Actuator 44 can be activated by a plurality of output stations 16, that is connected to a corresponding output 24 of each output station 16, the activation of the external actuator 44 remains possible even if one or more output stations 16 fail as long as at least one output station 16 is functional.

Claims (10)

A method for operating a centralless security alarm system (10) having a plurality of communicatively linked stations (12), at least some of which act as input station (14) and at least one input (22) and at least some of which act as output station (16) and at least include an output (24),
wherein at least each input station (14) informs all other stations (12, 16) of any change of state of the or each respective input (22) and
wherein each output station (16) determines at least one internal state based on all state information obtained from other stations (12, 14) and activates or deactivates at least one output (24) on its basis. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one or each output station (16) comprises a programmable combining unit (26) with at least one internal logic unit (28, 30) with which at least one internal state based on all state information obtained from other stations (12, 14) can be determined and based on which at least one output (24) can be activated or deactivated. The method of claim 2, wherein the internal logic (28, 30) is programmable by a web server (36) executable on the source station (16) by accessing the web server (36) with a web browser (36). A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each output station (16) makes the determination of the internal state each time state information arrives from another station (12, 14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each output station (16) comprises a linking unit (26) with at least one internal logic unit (28, 30) and activates at least one output (24) by means of this logic unit (28, 30) if the status information obtained signal at least one active input (22). Method according to claim 5, wherein at least individual output stations (16) comprise a linking unit (26) with at least a first and a second linking logic (28, 30), each linking logic (28, 30) having one or more inputs and / or outputs (16). 22, 24) and with each logic (28, 30) activating the or each associated output (24) when the state information received at the or each associated input (22) signals at least one active input (22). An input station (14) having at least one input and for use in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising means (20) for communicatively linking to other stations (12, 16) in a centralless hazard reporting system (10) and means (20 ) for communicating state information upon a change of state of the or each respective input (22). Output station (16) having at least one output and for use in a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, with means (20) for communicatively linking with other stations (12, 14) in a centralless security reporting system (10) and with a linking unit (26) having at least one internal logic unit (28, 30), whereby by means of this logic logic (28, 30), at least one output (24) can be activated if, during operation, the status information obtained signals at least one active input (22). Output station according to Claim 8, having a programmable logic unit (26) with at least one internal logic unit (28, 30) and a web server (36) for programming the logic unit (26). A centerless hazard detection system (10) having a plurality of entry stations (14) according to claim 5, a plurality of exit stations (16) according to claim 6 and at least one actuator (44), said at least one actuator (44) being interconnected by a plurality of exit stations (16 ) is activated.

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