WO2003025874A1

WO2003025874A1 - Alarm system

Info

Publication number: WO2003025874A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/004239
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dean Arnold; Kieron Chapman; Robert Choppen
Original assignee: Fulleon Limited
Priority date: 2001-09-17
Filing date: 2002-09-17
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: GB2381636B; GB0122395D0; GB0407961D0; GB2396470A; EP1428186A1; GB2381636A; GB0221478D0

Abstract

An alarm system comprising a control panel (50) connected to sounding devices (10) for storing and reproducing messages according to an alarm input (e.g. output from heat sensor). The messages (usually pre-recorded spoken messages) are downloaded to memories (12) in the sounding devices (10) by message controller (55) from a local message store (70), when initially setting up the alarm system and when a sounding device (10) needs to reproduce a message not currently stored in its memory (12). This downloading of messages to the sounding devices (10) gives the alarm system flexibility and reduces the necessary size of each sounding device's internal memory. The sounding devices may simultaneously reproduce a first message whilst having a second message downloaded thereto.

Description

Alarm System

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an alarm system which reproduces spoken messages. More specifically, the present invention relates to an alarm system whereby different messages can be reproduced according to the location of the device or the situation. It is particularly, but not exclusively, related to a fire alarm system. SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART

Sounding devices which reproduce a spoken message are well known. These messages may be pre-recorded and stored, often in digital format, either in the device itself or a central system, or broadcast live across a system. However, in order to be able to change the message during an emergency situation or to provide multiple functions by selecting different messages for different situations, it is necessary to have a number of messages stored and the selection determined by electrical wire connections, switches or data signals.

Thus there is a reguirement for message based warning or communication systems to be able to broadcast different messages simultaneously from different devices, for example in the emergency evacuation of a complex building where partial or phased evacuation procedures- are necessary or even to provide messages in different languages in different areas. To achieve this with the prior art described above requires either many different messages to be stored in each device or separate cabled circuits to provide messages to different zones independently. The latter system is still limited to zonal control rather than individual device control.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a cost effective solution for providing flexible message distribution to devices connected on the same electrical circuit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, at its most general, the present invention proposes an alarm system with a control means that is capable of selecting any one of a plurality of stored messages for each of the sounding devices connected to it, downloading the message (s) to the respective memory (memories) of the respective sounding device (s), and causing one or more of those sounding devices to reproduce the message downloaded to it e.g. on the detection of an alarm input.

Normally the selection of the stored messages is performed according to an alarm condition. Initially the control means may download to the or each sounding device a default message, or select for each sounding device a message according to a default alarm condition and download it to the memory of that sounding device. The control means may have permanently stored message data therein or may be connected to a separate, but local, message store. Additionally, it may download message data from a remote message store (e.g. from a web-based source via the internet) and store it on the local message store (which may be internal to, or separate from but connected to the control means) . This downloading to the local message store could for example be carried out manually during commissioning of the alarm system. Once the relevant message data has been downloaded to the local message store, the control means can then use the downloaded message data to program individual devices connected to the circuit.

The ability to communicate individually between a control system and individual devices is known, and is usually achieved by allocating an address to each device by switch selection or similar means. This is the case, for example, in fire detectors communicating the status of a fire to a control panel.

The present invention uses these addressable techniques to identify each sounding device and download ■ the necessary message data to each sounding device. Once the data has been downloaded to the device, it can be reproduced when the device receives operating instructions, such as an appropriate instruction or data signal.

In a development of the present invention, each sounding device is able to download data at the same time as reproducing a message, thus avoiding delays in message reproduction, or a silent period, when, for example, the message needs to be changed during an alarm condition.

Each sounding device must be capable of storing at

■ < i least one message. In order to be capable of downloading one message whilst another is being reproduced, the device must be capable of storing at least two downloaded messages. The device may store more than two messages, and a new message is only downloaded if it is not currently stored. However, the more messages a device is capable of storing, the more expensive the device will be to manufacture.

In a development of the present invention, when an alarm condition is determined, the control means of the alarm system may initially only send instructions on which message is to be broadcast by each sounding device or group of sounding devices. If any of the sounding • devices do not have the appropriate message currently stored in their memory, it is downloaded from the local message store. This may be as a result of those devices returning an error signal; the control means then causes the appropriate message (s) to be downloaded to those devices, or the individual sounding devices may request the appropriate message from the message store themselves. Alternatively, when an alarm condition is determined, the control means may determine (e.g. by reference to data stored in a memory device) those . sounding devices where the message according to the present alarm condition differs from the message currently stored, and cause the appropriate messages to be downloaded to the memories of those devices. The network that connects the devices to the control system or panel may be a dedicated network or it may also connect to other devices such as detectors or alarm points. The network may also be comprised of more than one sub-network, each of which connects to a group of sounding and/or detection devices.

A further aspect of the present invention may provide a method of controlling an alarm system comprising storing a plurality of messages (which may be spoken messages) ; determining at least one alarm condition; selecting one of said messages for each of a plurality of sounding devices, according to at least one said alarm condition; downloading the respective selected message to each sounding device; and, on the basis of one or more alarm inputs, causing at least one of said sounding devices to reproduce a downloaded message. Normally, the one or more alarm inputs will also determine an alarm condition, which may be different from that according to which the messages to be downloaded were selected. An exception to this is the initial set- up during which a default alarm condition may be determined and the appropriate messages downloaded to the appropriate sounding devices.

The present invention may also provide for changing, whe≤e appropriate, the message to be broadcast from each sounding device, even whilst the device is reproducing a first downloaded message, and downloading a second message to that device, even whilst the device is reproducing a first downloaded message.

Another aspect of the present invention may provide an alarm system comprising: means for storing a plurality of messages; a plurality of sounding devices, each being adapted to store and reproduce any one of said messages; a controller connected to said sounding devices, the controller being adapted: i) to determine at least one alarm condition ii) to select a respective one of said messages for each sounding device according to said alarm condition, iii) to cause each selected message to be downloaded to the corresponding sounding device, iv) to cause at least one of said sounding devices to reproduce the message which is downloaded thereto. Again, this may be on the detection of an alarm signal, which may also set or change the alarm condition. The messages are preferably spoken messages (this applies to all aspects of the invention) . Further aspects of the invention are defined by the claims .

DETitlLED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an alarm system according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an alarm system according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a sounding device for use in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a message controller for use in the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a combined detection and alarm system according to the present invention.

A first embodiment of an alarm system according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. It comprises a plurality of sounding devices 10, connected by communication/control lines or wires 40 in a network (the network shown is a loop, but other network arrangements are possible) . Activation of the network and determination of the alarm condition are controlled by alarm control panel 50 and/or the message controller 55. These units may be separate, with the alarm control panel 50 being, for example, a conventional fire alarm control panel or an addressable fire alarm control panel, as curϊently used in this field, and the message controller 55 being, for example, that shown in Fig. 4. In the case that they are separate, the message controller and the control panel will be connected together and one of them will be connected to the network. Alternatively message controller and control panel units 50, 55 may be combined into a dedicated control panel as shown in Fig. 1. In either case the control panel may have additional networks of detection devices, such as smoke detectors, heat rise detectors or alarm points, or of sounders, which may be sounders according to the present invention, or conventional devices. The activation of the network and the determination of the alarm condition is controlled according to one or more inputs to the control panel, such as a fire detection system or user input.

According to the alarm condition, the control panel 50 and message controller 55 determine which message is to be downloaded to the memory of and/or broadcast by each sounding device 10 or group of sounding devices. The alarm conditions may include partial or phased evacuation schemes or a set of evacuation directions dependent on the location of the fire or even to provide messages in different languages in different areas. Initially, the control panel 50 and message controller 55 may only send instructions on which message is to be broadcast by each sounding device 10 or group of sounding devices, and if any of the sounding devices do not have that message currently stored, it is downloaded from local message store 70. This may be as a result of those devices returning an error signal; the control panel 50 then causing the appropriate message (s) to be download to those devices, or the individual sounding devices requesting the appropriate message from message store 70 themselves (usually via the message controller 55) . Alternatively, when an alarm condition is determined, the control panel 50 may determine (e.g. by reference to data stored in a memory device) those sounding devices where the message according to the present alarm condition differs from the message (s) currently stored in the sounding device, and cause the appropriate messages to be downloaded to those devices. Messages are stored in the local message store 70, which may be an integral part of message controller 55 or, as shown in Fig. 1, a separate unit connected to the message controller 55. Additional messages may be read into and stored in the local message store 70 via an input means 60 which may e.g. be a CD-ROM reader or a sound recording device. Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention where the local message store 70 is capable of downloading messages from a site remote from the alarm system (i.e. from a remote message store 90). If a messuage is required that is not currently stored in the message controller 55, the controller may download the message from the remote e.g. web-based source 90 via internet interface 80. Generally downloading of messages to the local message store 70 (which may be internal to the message controller 55 or provided as a separate unit as shown in Fig 2) is carried out via the message controller 55. Downloading will be carried out when required, e.g. when commissioning the alarm system or when an update is required, but for safety and reliability considerations it should not be carried out during an alarm condition. An update may be required if for example a native German speaker will shortly be staying in a hotel room having a sounding device, but the alarm system' s local message store does not yet have German language messages; in that case the German language messages could be downloaded ahead of the German visitor's stay. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a sounding device that may be used in the present invention. Message downloads and alarm condition signals are received in data communication unit 13, which can also provide feedback to the alarm control system regarding, for example, the successful download of a message, or the current alarm status of the sounding device. Messages are stored in data storage 12 in digital format, according to instructions from CPU 11, which also determines, according to the alarm condition, which message is to be reproduced. When a message is to be reproduced, the appropriate stored digital message is selected. That digital message is converted to an analogue signal in digital-to-analogue converter 16, amplified by amplifier 15 and reproduced by transducer 14.

Power for the sounding device may be internal (e.g. batteries or capacitors) or external, or a combination of both as, for example, in many standard emergency devices, or fed from an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) . In the embodiment shown, external power input 18 feeds voltage regulator 17, which also allows change-over to an internal emergency source when external power is not available. It is also possible that the data may be communicated to and from the device by superposition on the power line. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a message controller 55 that may be used in the present invention. As described above in relation to the first embodiment of the alarm system, the message controller 55 may be an integrated part of, or a separate unit from, control panel 50.

Messages are stored in a local message store 70. Messages may be downloaded to the local message store 70 froϊf remote message store 90 via internet interface 80. The local message store 70 may comprise one or more modules of random access memory (RAM) read only memory (ROM) or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) . Storage memory 70 may be a separate unit from message controller 55 or integral as shown in Fig. 4. Additional messages may be recorded and stored in storage memory 70 using microphone 65 and live voice recording module 60 or downloaded via the internet interface 80.

Instructions and control information is received from the control panel by input interface 58 and passed to control unit 56. The control unit 56 executes the selection and downloading of messages from storage memory 54 to the relevant sounder devices.

Messages which are to be downloaded from the local message store 70 to sounding devices are passed through output interface 57 to the network of communication/control lines linking the sounding devices.

If the message controller 55 is separate from the control panel 50, then it may have a separate power supply 59. This power supply may take any of the forms usually used for emergency devices, such as a combination of mains supply and backup batteries/capacitors or a separate feed from an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) . ' /_'Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of an alarm system according to the present invention. This system integrates sounding devices 10 and detection devices 20, of the kind found in prior art alarm systems, such as smoke detectors, heat-rise detectors and alarm points. Sounding and detection devices may or may not be co- located, but are all connected to the same network of communication/control lines. The network shown in Fig. 5 is a simple loop, but other network arrangements are possible.

Activation of the network and determination of the alarm condition are controlled by alarm control panel 50 and the message controller 55. These units may be separate, with the alarm control panel 50 being, for example, a conventional fire alarm control panel or an addressable fire alarm control panel, as^' currently used in this field, and the message controller 55 being, for example, that shown in Fig. 4. Alternatively these units may combined into a dedicated control panel as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The activation of the network and the determination of the alarm condition is controlled according to one or more external inputs, such as a fire detection system or user input at the control panel. Initially, the control panel 50 and message controller 55 may only send instructions on which message is to be broadcast by each sounding device 10 or group of sounding devices, and if any of the sounding devices do not have that message currently stored in their memory, it is downloaded from message store 70. This may be as a result of those devices returning an error signal; the control panel 50 then causing the appropriate message (s) to be download to those devices, or the individual sounding devices may request the appropriate message from message store 70 themselves. Alternatively, when an alarm condition is determined, the control panel 50 may determine (e.g. by reference to data stored in a memory device) those sounding devices where the message according to the present alarm condition differs from the message currently stored, and cause the appropriate messages to be downloaded to those devices.

Messages are stored in local message store 70, which may be an integral part of message controller 55 or, as shown in Fig. 5, a separate, but connected unit. The local message store may be updated or additional messages may be added thereto by downloading from a remote message store 90 via an internet interface 80 or by use of an audio input device (not shown) .

Claims

1. An alarm system having a control means with one or more sounding devices connected thereto, the control means being adapted to select any one of a plurality of stored messages for downloading to a respective sounding device, to effect downloading of said message to a memory in said, respective sounding device, and to cause said respective sounding device to reproduce upon command said message downloaded thereto.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1, having a local message store internal to said control means for storing said messages.

3. An alarm system according to claim 1, having a local message store for storing said messages, the local message store being external to said control means and said sounding device (s), but connected to said control means .

. An alarm system according to either one of claims 2 or 3, wherein said alarm system is capable of downloading messages stored on a remote message store to its local message store.

5. An alarm system according to claim 4 wherein said remote message store is connected to said alarm system via an internet interface.

6. An alarm system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is adapted to select messages according to an alarm condition.

7. An alarm system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each sounding device has a memory for storing more than one message.

8. An alarm system according to claim 7 wherein the alarm system is capable of downloading a second message to a sounding device whilst said sounding device is reproducing a first message.

9. A method of controlling an alarm system comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of messages; determining an alarm condition; selecting one of the messages for each of a plurality of sounding devices according to said alarm condition; downloading the selected message or messages to the respective memories of the respective sounding devices; and, on the basis of one or more alarm inputs, commanding at least one of the sounding devices to reproduce a message.

10. A method of controlling an alarm system comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of messages; determining an alarm condition; instructing one or more sounding devices to reproduce one of said messages according to said alarm condition; downloading the instructed message to the sounding device' s memory if said instructed message is not stored on the sounding device; and commanding said one or more sounding devices to reproduce the instructed message.

11. A method of controlling an alarm system having one or more sounding devices, the method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of messages; determining an alarm condition; detecting whether any of the sounding devices require a message appropriate to said alarm condition to be downloaded to their respective memories, and if so, downloading an appropriate message to the or each sounding device's memory; and commanding said one or more sounding devices to reproduce a message appropriate to the alarm condition.

12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the messages are stored in a message store locial to the alarm system and messages are downloaded from said local message store to said sounding device (s).

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the messages stored in the local message store has been downloaded to the local message store from a remote message store remote from but connected to the alarm system.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said messages are downloaded from the remote message store to the local message store via an internet interface.

15. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein a second message is downloaded to a sounding device whilst said sounding device is reproducing a first message.