WO2012089355A1

WO2012089355A1 - Network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses and method for managing the network

Info

Publication number: WO2012089355A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/064816
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto MONTAGUTI
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industrie Italia S.P.A.
Priority date: 2010-12-28
Filing date: 2011-08-29
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: IT1403519B1; ITBO20100765A1

Abstract

A network (1) for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses (2) of the type comprising at least one emergency light source (3) provided with an electric power source and with at least one respective element for communication with at least one control and management unit (4). The source (3) is designed for emergency power-on in case of failure of the electric power supply from the provider. Each emergency light source (3) comprises a signal transceiving device (5), which constitutes the communication element. At least one signal repeater (6) is interposed between the at least one control and management unit (4), which also is provided with at least one respective transceiver (7), and at least one of the emergency light sources (3) distributed in the respective installation environments (8).

Description

NETWORK FOR INTERCONNECTING EMERGENCY LIGHTING APPARATUSES AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE NETWORK

Technical field

The present invention relates to a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses and to a method for managing said network. Background Art

As is known, emergency lighting is required in all environments (rooms, areas or locations) in which the lack of light (natural or artificial) can constitute a danger for the people who are present.

Safety lighting is generally provided to allow the safe evacuation of the room or to ensure the completion of a process in progress which is potentially dangerous or vitally important before abandoning the room.

In order to meet specific safety standards, these emergency lighting systems require the provision of tests and checks both during installation and, periodically, during their operation.

These checks must be performed mainly in order to ensure compliance with the required performance characteristics, established by specific laws and standards, and to ensure the immediate activation of the emergency lighting systems in case of necessity.

In order to meet these requirements, the management of the systems is generally entrusted to a centralized control unit capable of performing:

- functional tests, with the goal of verifying that the individual lamps connected to the system are present and operating correctly. This goal is achieved by performing periodic power-on tests.

- endurance tests, with the goal of verifying the actual endurance of the devices connected to the network in case of power outage (lack of supply of electric power).

- real-time checking of the efficiency and operation of the lamps in case of emergency.

The results of these tests are then reported by the control unit by displaying them on a screen or printing information reports or in another alternative manner.

All this allows the system to always be perfectly efficient, facilitating periodic checks by an external operator.

The system is constituted substantially by at least one lamp, which is intended to be installed in environments in which the lack of light (natural or artificial) can constitute a danger for those who are present and is connected to a controller by means of an interface circuit, which in turn is interconnected to the control unit.

This at least one lamp can thus "communicate" with the control unit by means of an adapted device and can be identified by the control unit by means of a unique identification code that is assigned to it.

One of the drawbacks is that its installation requires the provision of a network of cables that makes it possible to connect all the components which constitute it.

Accordingly, the installation costs rise as the area covered by the system increases, and building work is furthermore necessary if concealment of the connecting cables is requested for purely aesthetic reasons.

It is known to resort to connections that do not use cables for the management of the emergency lighting systems and are based on a theoretical estimate of the radio links that exist among all the components, with reference to which the wireless network is to be designed.

These systems have the limitation of not allowing effective checking of the match with the theoretical model.

Furthermore, since they are substantially static systems, they cannot be reconfigured easily as a function of any modifications that need to be applied to the system following the occurrence of a failure.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by proposing a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses capable of allowing effective checking of the match of the real case with the theoretical model.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses that makes it possible to assess the quality of the connection among all the components that constitute the network.

Another object of the invention is to propose a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses that makes it possible to identify any inefficiencies of the connection among all the components that constitute the network.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method for the management of a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses that is suitable for checking and comparing the match of the practical embodiment with the theoretical model.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method for the management of a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses that is suitable for estimating and indicating the quality of the connection among all the components that constitute the network.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method for the management of a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses that is suitable for identifying any inefficiencies of the connection among all the components that constitute the network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses and a method for the management of said network that allow simple and quick reconfiguration of the network if necessary.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses and a method for the management of said network that have a low cost, are relatively simple to provide in practice and safe in application.

This aim and these objects are achieved by a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses of the type comprising at least one emergency light source provided with an electric power source and with at least one respective element for communication with at least one control and management unit, said source being designed for emergency power-on in case of failure of the electric power supply from the provider, characterized in that each emergency light source comprises a signal transceiving device, which constitutes said communication element, at least one signal repeater interposed between said at least one control and management unit, which is also provided with at least one respective transceiver, and at least one of said emergency light sources distributed in the respective installation environments.

This aim and these objects are also achieved by means of a method for the management of networks for the interconnection of emergency lighting apparatuses, comprising the steps of

detecting an electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source provided with at least one respective transceiving device, of each repeater and of each transceiver, for a definition of the area potentially covered by the signal transceived thereby in the possible installation environment;

planning the layout of the emergency light sources in a drawing of the installation environments of the network, according to statutory prescriptions regarding emergency lighting and the associated lighting technology calculation;

representing the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source that is present in the plan, in order to check the correct interconnection of all the components with a control and management unit provided with a respective transceiver having a known radiation pattern which can be represented in the drawing; arranging at least one signal repeater at the areas of the installation environments in which there is no interference of the electromagnetic models, radiation patterns, of the emergency light sources with each other and with the control and management unit, until theoretical complete electromagnetic interconnection of all sources with each other and with the unit through the respective repeaters is achieved, determining a theoretical model of the network;

installing the network according to the theoretical model;

activating the network, attributing to each transceiving device of one of said emergency light sources, to each repeater and to the transceiver of said at least one control and management unit an identification code of its own, which is transmitted together with the information signal;

detecting the actual electromagnetic connections among all components, on the basis of the respective identification codes that are present in the transceived signals;

checking the matching of the actual electromagnetic connections with the theoretical model;

implementing the network with at least one additional repeater in case of failed electromagnetic connection of at least one component with the other components of the network.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses and of the method for its management according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an example of a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram that represents a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of two networks for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses which are mutually proximate and at risk of incorrect connection of some components;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of two networks for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses which are mutually proximate but non- conflicting;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of an emergency lighting apparatus of a network according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the three-dimensional emission diagram of emergency lighting apparatuses of a network according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the two-dimensional emission diagram according to the directions of particular specific interest of emergency lighting apparatuses of a network according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of an environment provided with emergency light sources according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the plan of Figure 8 with the indication of the radio links and of the components of a network according to the invention suitable for managing the light sources that are present. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses.

The network 1 for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses 2 is of the type comprising at least one emergency light source 3 provided with an electric power source and with at least one respective element for connection to at least one control and management unit 4.

The source 3 is conveniently preset for emergency power-on in case of failure of the electric power supply from the provider in accordance with the statutory provisions on the subject of emergency lighting. Each emergency light source 3 of a specific apparatus 2 comprises a device for transceiving a signal 5 which constitutes the respective communication element.

It should be specified that at least one signal repeater 6 is interposed between the at least one control and management unit 4, also provided with at least one respective transceiver 7, and at least one of the emergency light sources 3 distributed in the respective installation environments 8.

It should be specified that the transceiving devices 5, the transceiver 7 of the at least one unit 4 and the at least one repeater 6 comprise low-power digital antennas for transmission of the signal according to a communications protocol that is based substantially on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and is preferably of the type known as Zigbee.

In particular, Zigbee protocols operate on the radio frequencies assigned for industrial, scientific and medical purposes; it is possible to identify a range comprised between 700 MHz and 3 GHz for the specific application.

More precisely, it is noted that Zigbee protocols operate on diversified frequencies as a function of the standards applicable in the geographical area of use: for example, the frequency intended for these protocols is in the order of 868 MHz in Europe, in the order of 915 MHz in the United States and 2.4 GHz in most of the rest of the world.

This technology is intended to be simpler and cheaper than other WPANs (Wireless Personal Area Networks), such as for example the one related to Bluetooth technology. The Zigbee node of the most complex type is said to require only 10% of the code required for a typical Bluetooth or WiFi node, while the simplest should require about 2%.

Zigbee protocols are designed for use in applications of the type normally known as embedded (i.e., microprocessor-based electronic processing systems designed specifically for a given application, i.e., not reprogrammable by the user for other purposes) that require a low transfer rate (transmission or transfer rate, i.e., the maximum quantity of data that can be transferred via a connection on a channel in a given period of time) and low consumption. The current goal that has been set in the field of Zigbee protocols is to define a dynamically configured cooperative wireless mesh communications network constituted by a number of nodes that act as receivers, transmitters and repeaters, is not targeted, is cheap and self- managed and can be used for purposes such as industrial control, sensor networks, home automation and telecommunications. The resulting network has such a low energy consumption that it can operate even for one or two years by using the battery that is incorporated in the individual nodes.

Each transceiving device 5 installed within a respective emergency light source 3 is suitable for detecting, and storing temporarily, data received from other devices 5, transceivers 7 and repeaters 6, for the packaging of a signal string that comprises the data of the respective source 3 and the data stored temporarily (i.e., the data received from the other components).

It is therefore evident that every transceiving device 5 behaves like a repeater 6 for such temporarily stored data.

It is particularly relevant for correct operation of the network 1 that the transceiving device 5 is arranged within the emergency light source 3 at the area affected by the lowest interference with the main components, in particular all the components that have considerable electromagnetic interference with radio emissions.

This is particularly important for minimizing any interference introduced by electromagnetic fields in transceiving.

According to a specific application, the transceivers 7 associated with respective control and management units 4 are exclusively receivers and in particular are constituted by components known as bridges.

Typically, a bridge is provided with ports by means of which it is connected to various segments of the local network, routing information strings among them.

The method for the management of networks 1 for the interconnection of emergency lighting apparatuses 2 consists of a sequence of consecutive steps.

During a first step (a), which is substantially preliminary to the actual provision of the network 1, it is necessary to detect an electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source 3 provided with at least one respective transceiving device 5, of each repeater 6 and of each transceiver 7, in order to define the area that is potentially covered by the signal transceived thereby in the potential installation environment 8.

It is then possible to carry out a second step (b) of planning the layout of the emergency light sources 3 on a drawing of the installation environments 8 of the network 1.

This layout is determined according to the statutory provisions regarding emergency lighting and the corresponding lighting technology calculation.

Once the lighting technology plan has been carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of the statutory provisions, it is necessary to start a third step (c), which consists in representing the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source 3 that is present in the plan on the design plan of the environments 8.

This is necessary in order to verify the correct interconnection of all the components that are present (devices 5 and/or repeaters 6) with a control and management unit 4 provided with a respective transceiver 7 which has a known radiation pattern that can be represented in the drawing.

Once the radiation patterns of each component (devices 5, repeaters 6 and transceivers 7) have been represented on plans and drawings, it is in fact possible to identify their intersections, identifying all the possible radio links that can be provided by the network 1, estimating the correct and complete interconnection or assessing any connection faults. The subsequent step (d) entails arranging at least one signal repeater 6 at the areas of the installation environments 8 in which there is no mutual interference among the electromagnetic models (there is no intersection among the radiation patterns represented in the drawings) of the emergency light sources 3 with each other and with the control and management unit 4.

This addition of repeaters 6 is required until theoretical complete electromagnetic interconnection of all sources 3 to each other and to the unit 4 via the respective repeaters 6 is achieved, determining a theoretical model of the network 1 in which all the components can communicate with the unit 4 (directly or with the interposition of other components such as repeaters 6 or devices 5).

Step (e) consists in the practical installation of the network 1 according to the theoretical model, i.e., in compliance with the planned arrangements estimated in the drawings in the preceding steps.

Step (f) requires activation of the network 1, attributing to each transceiving device 5 of an emergency light source 3, to each repeater 6 and to the transceiver 7 of the at least one control and management unit 4 an identification code of its own.

This code is always transmitted together with the information signal so as to render the component to which such signal corresponds immediately identifiable.

Step (g) entails a study of the network 1 thus provided in order to detect the actual electromagnetic connections among all the components, on the basis of the respective identification codes that are present in the transceived signals.

Each signal in fact also identifies the components through which (by successive transmissions) such signal has been able to reach the control and management unit 4: the unit 4 can thus provide a clear identification of all the electromagnetic connections that have occurred in the network 1 on the basis of the data that are sent to it by the various components. On the basis of this information, in a subsequent step (h) the matching of the actual electromagnetic connections with the complete theoretical model obtained in step (e) can be verified.

If the match between the real situation and the theoretical model is not perfect and some components have not been connected correctly with the others, it is necessary to implement the network 1 , step (i), by inserting at least one additional repeater 6 in order to establish the correct continuity of connection.

According to a particular application, which is particularly effective and functional, of the method according to the invention step (a) of detecting the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source 3 provided with at least one respective transceiving device 5, of each repeater 6 and of each transceiver 7 must provide for the arrangement of the source 3 in an electromagnetically controlled environment, of the type preferably selected among an anechoic chamber and a semianechoic chamber, in the presence of adapted sensors designed to detect the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

The purpose of these measurements is to determine the radiating characteristics of the devices 5, repeaters 6 and transceivers 7 and provide data to be used for the fine-tuning of the electromagnetic models of prediction of the field irradiated by such components.

Furthermore, by means of these measurements the parameters required for the operation of the software to be used for the assessments of the radio coverage of the network 1 are also assessed.

For a good characterization of the various components, it is necessary to determine the radiation patterns on the main planes for the two different types of polarization, the one that matches the transmitter antenna installed on the component and the cross-polarization (i.e., arranged at 90° with respect to the preceding one). Since the transmitting antenna installed on the light sources 3 is generally of the linear type, a single significant polarization of the electrical field is expected. By measuring cross- polarization as well, it is possible to verify the presence of spurious phenomena that can generate significant field components even on unexpected polarizations.

The emergency light sources 3 are, according to a possible example which is particularly compliant with the requirements of application, always to be considered as transmitting components.

In an anechoic chamber (or in a semianechoic chamber) these sources will have been installed on a wooden stand and fixed to it without using metallic parts. During the measurements, each component will be supplied with power in the normal conditions of operation.

It is convenient for the measurement technique to be managed in a fully automated manner by the instrument control software.

In order to obtain the radiation patterns on the main planes, it is necessary to consider three different positions for each component: the ones in which the component is arranged horizontally (for a source 3, consider a wall mounting with the lamp arranged horizontally), those in which it is arranged vertically (again for a source 3, consider a wall mounting with the lamp arranged vertically) and those in which the source 3 is arranged parallel to the floor. For each position, furthermore, it is necessary to perform two measurements: one with polarization of the receiving antenna in polarization match with the transmitter and one with cross-polarization.

For each measurement, the component must be rotated through 360° (with an increment of 5°) and the received signal must be sampled on the receiver and transferred into a file, so as to allow subsequent processing. It is convenient to adopt software suitable to provide an on-screen chart, in Cartesian or polar coordinates, of the radiation pattern thus measured.

For the sources 3, detection of the radiation pattern when the light source is on, off and in transient (during power-on) is also fundamental: it is stressed that the transient step is generally the one that is most affected by noise of an electromagnetic kind for the transceiving device 5.

It may be appropriate, in order to obtain exhaustive information regarding the characteristics of electromagnetic emission of each source 3 in any operating condition, to place the source 3 first in an electromagnetically controlled environment (anechoic and/or semianechoic chamber), when the source does not have the transceiving device 5, in order to detect the electromagnetic radiation of its active components.

This in fact gives assurance to the designers that the transceiving device 5 is installed in the particular area of the source, identified by means of the measurement, that is least subjected to interfering electromagnetic fields emitted by said components.

It is necessary to specify that step (c) provides for the assignment, to all the building and furnishing elements that are present in the installation environments 8 of the network 1 , of respective coefficients of attenuation of the signal that passes through them, of signal reflection and in general of signal shielding.

This is necessary in order to estimate the behavior of the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each component when its signal crosses respective building and furnishing elements that are present.

Information related to the shielding effects of building elements and furnishing elements is available in the literature in the field and/or can be detected directly by means of suitable measurement methods and instruments.

From a practical point of view, it is necessary to point out that the control and management unit 4 comprises an apparatus for interfacing with the user, of the type of a screen, a display, a printer, an indicator, for visualizing the interconnection of all the components and verifying the actual electromagnetic connections provided in accordance with step (h): the presence of the identification codes of each component in fact allows particularly simple and intuitive representations of the type and characteristics of the connections provided among the various components of the network 3.

The fact is stressed that if a component fails to operate, the ones that are normally electromagnetically coupled to it in the network 1 provided according to this method perform an automatic coupling to at least one of the other components that are present within the area delimited by their electromagnetic model, radiation pattern.

This ensures the correct operation of the network 1 even if one component fails.

Furthermore, the absence of signals that bear the identification code of the non-functioning component in the train of information that arrives at the control and management unit 4 determines the immediate identification thereof and the reporting of a fault.

Moreover, it is not secondary to point out that in case of a modification of the installation environments, for example by means of the insertion of new furnishing elements, the components that were mutually interconnected electromagnetically prior to the modification and are mutually shielded after it (for example the placement of a set of metallic cabinets might constitute a shield between a source 3 and a repeater 6) perform an automatic coupling to at least one of the other components that are present within the area delimited by their electromagnetic model, radiation pattern.

This will ensure the correct operation of the network 1 ; any absence of possible electromagnetic couplings of the components that are mutually shielded with other components proximate thereto will instead cause a reporting, by the control and management unit 4, of the irregularity in operation, with consequent indication and request of insertion of at least one additional repeater 6 in a specific area of the installation environments 8 in order to eliminate such irregularity.

Of course, if an emergency light source 3 is arranged in a region that cannot be reached easily by electromagnetic transceiving, the wiring thereof with adapted cables 9 for signal transmission is in any case provided.

These cables 9 shall be arranged between the source 3 and the control and management unit 4, even indirectly, with the optional interposition of a respective repeater 6.

The network 1 according to the invention performs the same operations that are normally performed by a centralized control assembly (even of a known type) for emergency lighting apparatuses 2 which are powered by a battery or by an electrical mains and are capable of performing different activities that are fundamentally important for the user and the operator of such network.

It can in fact perform functional tests, with the goal of checking the presence and correct operation of the individual apparatuses 2 connected to the network 1. This goal is achieved by performing periodic power-on tests that are set in the software of the control and management unit 4.

It also performs endurance tests with the goal of checking the actual endurance of the apparatuses 2 connected to the network 1 in case of power failure (lack of supply of electric current by the organization that manages the environments in which said network 1 is installed). This test also, like the functional one, is predefined in the software of the control and management unit 4.

The network 1 can furthermore check continuously and during operation the efficiency and operation of the apparatuses 2 in case of an emergency.

The results of these tests are then reported by the control and management unit 4 by visualization on a display, on a screen or by means of a printout of information reports.

All this allows the network 1 to always be perfectly efficient, facilitating periodic checks by an external operator.

The individual apparatuses 2 can communicate with the control and management unit 4 by means of a specific two-wire bus (a channel that allows peripherals and components of the system to "talk" to each other; differently from point-to-point connections, a single bus can connect a plurality of components to each other) and are identified by means of a unique identification code that can be set by means of switches located within each individual apparatus 2.

According to a constructive solution that can be easily implemented and provided in practice, it is possible to address a maximum of 100 apparatuses 2.

The main purpose of the network 1 and of the method according to the invention is to eliminate the wiring costs/times of the current system by means of a radio link among the parts that belong to the network 1.

With the prospect of integration with existing circuits, nevertheless the interface between the control and management unit 4 and the transceiver 7 with the corresponding protocol is to be kept unchanged, so that the current interface that is present within the optional wired controller and the radio implementation according to the invention can coexist simultaneously.

The network 1, in addition to performing the functions of the preceding wired networks (control units of a known type), must also:

- trace the network 1 at a given instant (i.e., determine which path the signal must follow starting from a single apparatus 2, which constitutes a node of the network 1, to reach the transceiver 7, known normally in the jargon as bridge). The purpose is to highlight any critical paths.

- offer an index of quality of the connection among the individual components that belong to the network 1.

The set of functionalities of the components that operate in the network 1 that is interconnected by radio must allow full compatibility with the wired control network of the known type. In this manner, subnets with control over a wired line and subnets with control provided by radio link (wireless) can coexist in the same network 1 ; moreover, with this logic system it is possible to convert an existing system from wired control to wireless control by connecting to the existing control and management unit 4 a transceiver 7 (generally known as a bridge) and replacing the existing components with components of the wireless type (with radio link at a preset frequency).

Installation of the components of the wireless type shall be performed as usual on the basis of the indications extracted from the lighting technology plan; optional repeaters 6 shall then be used to resolve critical radio coverage situations.

The functionalities and methods of installation of the components of the wireless type shall be the same as those of wired components (with the obvious difference that any wired control connection line shall be absent); therefore, components of the wireless type shall be numbered and identified by means of switches (for example rotary switches) that are present on the components themselves and shall respond to queries arriving from the control and management unit 4 associated with the transceiver 7 (bridge), reporting the results of the functional and endurance tests and any malfunctions.

The components of the wireless type of the network 1 , moreover, shall have the possibility of reporting at the local level (signaling LEDs) any lack of radio coverage and the status of the light source 3.

In case of lack of the wireless connection, the components of the wireless type shall show the same behavior that components intended for wiring would exhibit in case of disconnection from the bus (channel that allows peripherals and components of the system to "talk" to each other); this means that in the described situation the components of the wireless type of the network 1 shall not perform any diagnostic tests requested by the control and management unit 4 provided with the transceiver 7.

As regards the functionalities of the control and management unit 4 provided with the transceiver 7, too, it can be said that they shall be the same as those of current wired controllers in terms of control of the components that they supervise; therefore, the control and management unit 4 provided with transceiver 7 shall schedule the functional and endurance tests of the network 1, shall command the execution of such tests and shall gather the information related to the results of the tests, as well as the reports, arriving from the components of the wireless type, of any malfunctions. From the point of view of installation, the control and management unit 4 shall be connected to the respective transceiver 7 (i.e., to a bridge operating at a radio frequency) by means of a connection to a two- wire bus of the type described previously. The transceiver 7 shall verify periodically the actual radio coverage of all components of the wireless type and of the repeaters 6 related to the control and management unit 4 to which it is connected; this check shall be followed by the provision of information reports regarding any problems observed.

It is useful to provide some clarifications regarding the information reports released by the control and management unit 4.

These reports shall be related exclusively to the apparatuses 2 configured in the network 1 ; only the emergency light sources 3 stored during the initialization of the control and management unit 4 shall be considered by the unit 4 during the tests.

As regards the apparatuses 2 that can have malfunctions, they shall be identified based on the detection of information from the network 1 by the control and management unit 4:

- they are the apparatuses 2 that despite being configured in the control and management unit 4 do not respond with a respective signal;

- they are the apparatuses 2 that after a functional test are found to be non-functional;

- they are the apparatuses 2 that are not part of the set of charged sources 3 and are not switched on in the absence of electric power supply from the service provider. The apparatuses 2 shall instead be defined as apparatuses whose endurance does not correspond to the statutory provisions if:

- after an endurance test they do not match the endurance prescribed by the standards and/or do not work;

- despite belonging to the set of charged sources 3, in the absence of electric power supply from the service provider they are not switched on for the stated endurance.

Apparatuses 2 that have continuously reported the presence of electric power supply from the service provider for recharging to the control and management unit 4 for 12 or 24 hours are instead defined as correctly charged apparatuses 2.

Each device 5 (which within the apparatus 2 in which it is installed constitutes a wireless communication node for the network 1) shall have the following operating characteristics:

- operation both with power supply from the service provider and in emergency conditions (in case of a lack of power from such provider);

- bidirectional radio frequency (wireless) communication with routing of the messages toward the control and management unit 4 provided with the transceiver 7;

- routing of the messages arriving from the other components of the wireless type (be they other devices 5 or repeaters 6) toward the control and management unit 4 provided with the transceiver 7 and arriving from the control and management unit 4 provided with the transceiver 7 toward the other components of the wireless type (be they other devices 5 or repeaters 6);

- management of a plurality of communication paths toward devices 5 in order to ensure greater robustness of the connection;

- interfacing between the wireless communication protocol and the protocol adopted in networks of the wired type.

The devices 5 of the described type shall furthermore: - have such dimensions that they can be integrated within all current emergency light sources 3, mounted at the region less affected by interfering electromagnetic fields induced by the components of the source 3;

- be connectable to the electric power supply both when said supply arrives from the service provider and when it arrives from a battery;

- be constituted by a circuit with extremely low energy consumption in order to avoid an important increase in the batteries that are present in the apparatus 2;

- comprise a radio antenna integrated in the circuit;

- allow signaling at the local level (signaling LEDs) of the possible lack of radio coverage;

- comprise a memory bank capable of storing status variations (memory bank of the type of an RAM);

- withstand operating temperatures of 50°C.

Each transceiver 7 instead performs the following main functions:

- operation both with power from the service provider and in emergency conditions (in case of lack of power supply from said provider);

- bidirectional radio frequency (wireless) communication with routing of the messages toward the components that operate at radio frequency, i.e., of the wireless type, be they other devices 5 or repeaters 6;

- management of a plurality of paths for communication with devices 5, in order to ensure greater robustness of the connection;

The transceivers 7 of the described type shall furthermore:

- have reduced dimensions, for wall-mounted installation proximate to the control and management unit 4;

- comprise, for emergency operation in the absence of power supplied by the provider, a backup battery that ensures operation for a minimum of six hours with local indication of the state of charge of the battery (signaling LEDs);

- be constituted by a circuit with extremely low energy consumption in order to allow the use of small batteries;

- comprise an external radio antenna having such characteristics as to ensure a good level of radio coverage;

- allow the detection of any radio coverage problems and consequent indication by means of LEDs;

- comprise a memory bank capable of storing the status variations of the devices 5 connected thereto (memory bank of the type of an RAM).

Each repeater 7 instead performs the following main functions:

- operation both with power supply from the service provider and in emergency conditions (if power from said provider is not available);

- bidirectional radio frequency (wireless) communication with routing of the messages toward the components that operate at radio frequency, i.e., of the wireless type, be they other devices 5 or repeaters 6 or the transceiver 7;

- management of a plurality of paths for communication with devices 5 in order to ensure greater robustness of the connection.

The repeaters 6 of the described type shall furthermore:

- have reduced space occupation, for wall-mounted installation;

- comprise, for emergency operation in the absence of power from the service provider, a backup battery that ensures operation for a minimum of six hours with local indication of the state of charge of the battery (signaling LEDs);

- comprise a radio antenna (which is integrated in the circuit or external) having such characteristics as to ensure a good level of radio coverage;

- comprise means for signaling at the local level (signaling LEDs) any lack of radio coverage.

The main purpose of the network 1 according to the invention is to eliminate the wiring costs/times required with current networks by means of a radio link among the components.

With the prospect of integration with existing networks, nevertheless the interface between the control and management unit 4 and the transceiver 6, with the corresponding protocol, must be kept unchanged so as to allow the coexistence of the wired network with the network that operates at radio frequency in a single network 1.

There can be multiple transceivers 7 (bridges) connected to the same control and management unit 4, giving rise to a plurality of radio subnets; in this case, the total number of the sources 5 must always be 100 and there will be a different network identification code for each transceiver 7 (bridge) and a different identification code of the apparatus 2 for each source 3 which is unique even among different transceivers 7 (bridges).

It is furthermore possible to connect apparatuses 2 on the same backbone on which the transceivers 7 (bridges) are connected, i.e., the coexistence of the wired system with the radio system must be envisaged.

As mentioned previously, the transceiver 7 (bridge) and the control and management unit 4 communicate with each other by means of the protocol normally used also in wired networks. The transceiver 7 (bridge) is then entrusted with routing these requests/information to the individual devices 5 (the nodes of the network 1) within the apparatuses 2.

The protocol normally used also in wired networks, therefore, remains valid and it is the transceiver 7 (bridge) that converts the information collected from the bus, routing it to the individual device 5. For command transmission, the transceiver 7 (bridge) is perfectly transparent.

During the step of tracing of the network 1, communication with the control and management unit 4 is suspended temporarily.

This interface is intended to inform the control and management unit 4 about the status of the devices 5 (nodes) connected via radio. Any devices

5 (nodes) that are connected to the wired bus (provided by means of cables for data transmission) in fact can continue to communicate with the control and management unit 4 via cable without in any way being influenced (at the protocol level) by the existence of the network 1. Therefore, the transceiver 7 (bridge) shall collect the information from the devices 5 connected to the network 1 within a fixed period and, by synchronizing itself with the bus, shall make this information available to the control and management unit 4.

According to a particular constructive architecture that is particularly effective, it is noted that multiple transceivers 7 (bridges) can be connected to each control and management unit 4; each transceiver 7 (bridge) must have its own unique network identification code; the maximum number of apparatuses 2 that can be connected to a network 1 is 100, even if they are distributed over a plurality of subnets connected to different transceivers 7 (bridges) connected to the same control and management unit 4; during a functional test it is necessary to update, immediately after the test command, the status of the apparatus 2 toward the bus with information that the source is operating (on); at the moment when the updated data from the network 1 are available, the data directed toward the bus must be updated, following the actual status.

Therefore, the transceiver 7 (bridge) shall send the commands received to the apparatuses 2 via the radio frequency bus.

The mechanism for determining whether the apparatus 2 is malfunctioning is based on a double consecutive confirmation of the source 3 which is off during the active test period on the bus.

Recovery of this condition shall be possible only after another test command.

This rule is valid both for functional tests and for endurance tests. Merely by way of example, a possible application of means for signaling the status of each apparatus 2 is provided hereafter.

A fixed red LED shall constitute the "Battery Fail" (battery drained status) indication, displaying the battery status on transceivers 7 (bridges) and repeaters 6.

A flashing red "Radio Error" LED shall indicate the absence of radio coverage on transceivers 7 (bridges) and repeaters 6.

A green and red LED on an apparatus 2 may indicate various states of malfunction depending on the frequency of the flashing and on the combination of the LEDs.

The management of the signaling LEDs described above can be applied specifically as follows.

The "Battery Fail" LED (battery drained status) must be on when the battery voltage drops below 1.2 V for each component used (in the case of n components, the minimum voltage shall be equal to n times 1.2 V) and the apparatus (transceiver 7 and/or repeater 6) must be switched off both in case of failure of the electric power supply from the service provider and if the battery voltage drops below 1.1 V for each component used (in the case of n components, the minimum voltage shall be equal to n times 1.1V); upon return of the electric power supply from the service provider, the apparatus 2 shall be switched on again, as signaled by a green LED.

The "Radio Error" LED (state of failed and/or incorrect radio frequency transmission) must be on if a component (device 5, repeater 6 and transceiver 7) is unable to receive/transmit messages; i.e., the mapping of the objects stored during configuration does not correspond to the mapping of the objects (device 5, repeater 6 and transceiver 7) that are actually communicating.

It is specified that the red/green LED shall be allowed to flash with a frequency of 0.5 Hz on a device 5 if at least one other device 5 has the same identification code; in this case the data transmission from said device 5 must be deactivated. It shall instead be allowed to flash red/green with a different frequency on a device 5 if it does not receive data.

The "repair" of the network 1 , if it can change permanently or not due to variations of the environment in which the network 1 is installed, is furthermore managed automatically.

The radio interface is based on the Zigbee structure, according to a specific constructive application of unquestionable interest in practice and application; the application interface can be provided on the basis of a customized profile.

For radio frequency communications of the network according to the invention, the frequency of 2.4 GHz shall be used which allows transmission rates (data rates) of approximately 250 kbps and 16 available channels.

Having 16 channels available solves many problems that are due first of all to destructive interferences.

For example, any interference with Bluetooth networks is minimal, since the latter network is based on FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) whereas Zigbee and W-LANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) are based on DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, i.e., a transmission technology with broadband "direct frequency"). In the case of interference with W-LANs, in the case of three W-LANs that are simultaneously on, each network occupies 4 channels of the 2.4-GHz band, leaving free four that can be used by the Zigbee network. The switching on of a fourth W- LAN would overlap one of the other three networks that are already on; the 4 channels cited above have been left free indeed to allow Zigbee networks to be able to communicate safely.

Each network 1 shall be constructed with a network identification code (PAN ID) selected by means of a switch (for example of the rotary type).

In the case of successive interference on the channel selected previously, the choice of the new channel shall be performed automatically by the transceiver 7 (bridge) by means of adapted preventive analysis scans.

The antennas preferably adopted on each component shall be:

- external and able to be directed onto transceivers 7 (bridges) and repeaters 6;

- internal and fixed in the devices 5 (which constitute the nodes). The power of the antennas preferably used in the network 1 according to the invention shall be 0 dBm in transmission and -92 dBm in reception (RX sensitivity).

All the components (device 5, repeater 6 and transceiver 7) to be provided shall have signaling systems for notifying the status of the connection (any lack of radio coverage).

This lack of radio connection is to be performed at the application level by means of an adapted algorithm.

For the correct use of the components (device 5, repeater 6 and transceiver 7), in order to provide a network 1 according to the invention, there must be a switch for providing the associations with the transceiver 7 (bridge) during installation. The operator, after checking correct installation, must therefore provide the associations with the transceiver 7 (bridge) in order to prevent devices of other networks from connecting thereto and routing incorrect messages.

The creation of the network 1 by the coordinator occurs as follows: a preventive scan of the 16 radio channels is required in order to determine the one to be used; then it is necessary to create the network by using an appropriate 16-bit network identification code that is selected by means of a switch (preferably a rotary switch).

The devices 5 (nodes) and the repeaters 6 connect to the network 1 with a network identification code 1 that is equal to the one selected by means of their internal switch.

Once the installation technician has checked the correct operation of the network 1 , ascertaining that all the devices 5 are connected and capable of communicating, he shall give the appropriate command for connection and closure of the network 1.

The condition in which two coordinators having the same network identification code 1 have radio visibility must absolutely be avoided.

In the planning of the various networks 1 it is necessary to take into consideration these factors and especially that a device 5 might not necessarily be associated by means of best connection characteristics criteria (Best Link Quality); a device 5 will in fact generally seek the path with the smallest number of successive steps (hops).

The routing of the transceiver 7 (bridge) occurs by setting of the switch (rotary switch) of the network identification code by means of which the network 1 (or subnet) to which it is connected is identified.

The network identification code must be unique (one network code for each transceiver 7, bridge); the condition in which two networks 1 connected to different control and management units 4 have the same network identification code must be avoided during installation, since it would lead to errors.

The network identification code of the hexadecimal type is used to identify the owner network 1 and must be unique.

The routing of each individual repeater 6 of the network 1 in radio frequency (wireless) occurs by the setting of switches (generally rotary switches) of the network identification code and of the repeater identification code 6 by means of which the owner network 1 is identified and the component identification number.

In particular, the hexadecimal network identification code is used to identify the owner network 1 ; the identification code of the repeater 6 identifies the individual repeater 6 and must be unique; within the same network 1 there cannot be two repeaters 6 with the same identification code. If this occurs, the red "Radio Error" LED (defined previously) is switched on.

The routing of each individual device 5 of the wireless network 1 occurs by setting of the switches. The identification code of each device 5 identifies the individual device 5 (in practice the individual source 2) while the network identification code 1 identifies the owner network.

The identification code of the device 5 also must be unique; the presence of two devices 5 having the same code shall be reported locally by means of the lighting of the respective communication LED.

If several control and management units 4 are installed within the same building, the respective network identification codes 1 set at the level of the transceivers 7 (bridges) must be mutually different, as already stated earlier.

A plurality of transceivers 7 (bridges) can be connected to the same control and management unit 4: in this case, the respective identification codes of the network 1 must in any case be mutually different, and so must be the identification codes of the device 5.

Subnets are extremely useful for increasing coverage and reducing the depth of the network 1 in order to reduce the data collection time.

The depth of the network 1, i.e., the number of successive retransmissions (signal hops) that a packet must undergo in order to reach its destination, influences greatly the data collection time and the amount of memory required. For this reason, it is necessary to set limitations to this critical parameter (which is difficult to measure): one useful way can be to create a plurality of subnets that lead to different transceivers 7 (bridges).

The Zigbee functionalities used in a particular constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application are as follows:

- ACK Frame/Data Frame (device recognition): managed directly by the library;

- Beacon (signals of uncertain origin): the implemented network 1, being a mesh network (a mesh network implemented by means of a Wireless Local Area Network, W-LAN), has no signals of uncertain origin (beaconless).

- The information regarding the radio coverage of each individual component (device 5 and/or repeater 6), for checking the redundancy of the connections, is acquired in each instance.

- The quality of the connection is associated with each individual information packet received and can change instantaneously. This data item is part of the information useful for tracing the network 1.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described earlier, proposing a network 1 for the interconnection of emergency lighting apparatuses 2 that is capable of allowing effective verification of the compliance of the actual installation with the theoretical model.

Conveniently, the network 1 makes it possible to assess the quality of the connection among all the components that constitute the network 1.

Positively, the network 1 according to the invention makes it possible to identify any inefficiencies of the connection among all the components that constitute the network 1.

The method of management of networks 1 according to the invention is particularly innovative and interesting from a practical point of view, since it is suitable to verify and compare the practical execution with the theoretical model.

The great practical usefulness of the method according to the invention is also observed from the fact that it is suitable for estimating and indicating the quality of the connection among all the components that constitute the network 1.

It should also be stressed that the method according to the invention is suitable for identifying any inefficiencies of the connection among all the components that constitute the network 1.

Finally, it should be noted that the network 1 for the interconnection of emergency lighting apparatuses 2 and the method for the management of said network allow simple and quick reconfiguration of the network 1 if necessary.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

For example, it is noted that the network 1 might simply be implemented to provide the interconnection of devices, such as devices for home automation, electrical household appliances, personal computers, computers, computer peripherals, light sources, electric motors, electrical systems, electric and electronic circuits and the like that have at least one respective element for communication with at least one control and management unit 4.

In this case, each apparatus shall comprise a signal transceiver 5, which constitutes the communication element; at least one signal repeater 6 shall be interposed between the at least one control and management unit 4, also provided with at least one respective transceiver 7, and at least one of the apparatuses distributed in the respective installation environments 8.

In this case, a method for the management of networks for the interconnection of apparatuses, of the type of apparatuses for home automation, electrical household appliances, personal computers, computers, computer peripherals, light sources, electric motors, electrical systems, electric and electronic circuits and the like shall be adopted which shall consist in:

- detecting an electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each apparatus provided with at least one respective transceiving device 5, of each repeater 6 and of each transceiver 7, for a definition of the area potentially covered by the signal transceived thereby in the possible installation environment 8; - planning the arrangement of the apparatuses on a drawing of the installation environments 8 of the network 1, according to any statutory prescriptions;

- representing the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each apparatus that is present in the plan, to verify the correct interconnection of all components with a control and management unit 4 provided with a respective transceiver 7 which has a known radiation pattern that can be represented on the drawing;

- arranging at least one signal repeater 6 at the areas of the installation environments 8 in which there is no mutual interference among the electromagnetic models, radiation patterns, of the apparatuses and of said apparatuses with the control and management unit 4, until theoretical complete electromagnetic interconnection of all the apparatuses with each other and with the unit 4 over the respective repeaters 6 is achieved, determining a theoretical model of the network 1 ;

e) installing the network 1 according to the theoretical model;

f) activating the network 1, attributing to each transceiving device 5 of an apparatus, to each repeater 6 and to the transceiver 7 of such at least one control and management unit 4 an identification code of its own, which is transmitted together with the information signal;

g) detecting the actual electromagnetic connections among all components, on the basis of the respective identification codes that are present in the transceived signals;

h) verifying the matching of the actual electromagnetic connections with the theoretical model;

i) implementing the network 1 with at least one additional repeater 6 in case of failed electromagnetic connection of at least one component with the other components of the network 1.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2010A000765 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A network for interconnecting emergency lighting apparatuses (2) of the type comprising at least one emergency light source (3) provided with an electric power source and with at least one respective element for communication with at least one control and management unit (4), said source (3) being designed for emergency power-on in case of failure of the electric power supply from the provider, characterized in that each emergency light source (3) comprises a signal transceiving device (5), which constitutes said communication element, at least one signal repeater (6) being interposed between said at least one control and management unit (4), which also is provided with at least one respective transceiver (7), and at least one of said emergency light sources (3) distributed in the respective installation environments (8).

2. The network according to claim 1, characterized in that said transceiving device (5), said transceiver (7) of said at least one unit (4) and said at least one repeater (6) comprise low-power digital antennas for transmission of the signal according to a communications protocol that is substantially based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and preferably of the type known as ZIGBEE.

3. The network according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating frequency of said transceiving devices (5), of said transceiver (7) of said at least one unit (4) and of said at least one repeater (6) is comprised substantially between 700 MHz and 3 GHz.

4. The network according to claim 1, characterized in that each transceiving device (5) installed inside a respective emergency light source (3) is adapted to detect and temporarily store data received from other devices (5), transceivers (7) and repeaters (6), to prepare a signal string which comprises the data of the respective source (3) and the temporarily stored data, said transceiving device (5) acting as a repeater for said temporarily stored data.

5. The network according to claim 1, characterized in that said transceiving device (5) is arranged inside the emergency light source (3) at the area affected by the lowest intensity of the electromagnetic fields emitted by the components of the source (3) and by the smallest variation over time thereof, in order to minimize any noise introduced by them in transceiving.

6. A method for the management of networks for the interconnection of emergency lighting apparatuses, comprising the steps of:

a) detecting an electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source (3) provided with at least one respective transceiving device

(5), of each repeater (6) and of each transceiver (7), for a definition of the area potentially covered by the signal transceived thereby in the potential installation environment (8);

b) planning the layout of the emergency light sources (3) on a drawing of the installation environments (8) of the network (1), according to statutory prescriptions regarding emergency lighting and the associated lighting technology calculation;

c) representing the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source (3) that is present in the plan, in order to check the correct interconnection of all the components with a control and management unit (4) provided with a respective transceiver (7) having a known radiation pattern which can be represented on the drawing;

d) arranging at least one signal repeater (6) at the areas of the installation environments (8) in which there is no interference of the electromagnetic models, radiation patterns, of the emergency light sources (3) with each other and with the control and management unit (4), until the theoretical complete electromagnetic connection of all sources (3) to each other and to the unit (4) through the respective repeaters (6) is achieved, determining a theoretical model of the network (1);

e) installing the network (1) according to the theoretical model; f) activating the network (1), attributing to each transceiving device (5) of one of said emergency light sources (3), to each repeater (6) and to the transceiver (7) of said at least one control and management unit (4) an identification code of its own, said code being transmitted together with the information signal;

h) checking the matching of the actual electromagnetic connections with the theoretical model;

i) implementing the network (1) with at least one additional repeater (6) in case of failed electromagnetic connection of at least one component with the other components of the network (1).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said step (a) of detecting the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each emergency light source (3) provided with at least one respective transceiving device (5), of each repeater (6) and of each transceiver (7) provides for the arrangement of said source (3) in an electromagnetically controlled environment, of the type selected preferably from an anechoic chamber and a semianechoic chamber, in the presence of adapted sensors designed to detect the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that said arrangement of said source (3) in an electromagnetically controlled environment provides for a first verification of the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of the light source (3) without the transceiving device (5), for detecting the electromagnetic radiation of its active components, identifying the area of the source (3) that is less subjected to interfering electromagnetic fields emitted by said components, said area being designed for the installation of said transceiving device (5).

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said step (c) provides for the attribution, to all the building and furnishing elements that are present in the installation environments (8) of the network (1), of respective attenuation coefficients of the signal that passes through them, of signal reflection coefficients and in general of signal shielding coefficients, for estimating the behavior of the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each component at the respective building and furnishing elements that are present.

10. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said control and management unit (4) comprises an apparatus for interfacing with the user, of the type of a screen, a display, a printer, an indicator, to visualize the interconnection of all the components and verify the actual electromagnetic connections provided in accordance with step (h).

11. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that in case of failure of a component, the ones that are normally coupled electromagnetically thereto in the network (1) provided according to this method perform an automatic coupling to at least one of the other components that are present within the area delimited by their electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, ensuring the correct operation of the network (1), the absence of signals bearing the identification code of the failing component causing the identification thereof by the control and management unit (4) and the fault indication.

12. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that in case of modification of the installation environments (8), for example by means of the insertion of new furnishing elements, the components that were mutually interconnected electromagnetically prior to the modification and are mutually shielded thereafter perform an automatic coupling with at least one of the other components that are present within the area delimited by their electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, ensuring the correct operation of the network (1), the absence of possible electromagnetic couplings causing an indication, by the control and management unit (4), of the need to insert at least one additional repeater (6) in a specific area of the installation environments (8).

13. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that if an emergency light source (3) is arranged in a region that is not easily reachable with electromagnetic transceiving, the wiring thereof with adapted cables for signal transmission is provided, said cables being arranged between the source (3) and the control and management unit (4), even indirectly, with the optional interposition of a respective repeater (6).

14. A network for interconnecting apparatuses, of the type of apparatuses for home automation, electrical household appliances, personal computers, computers, computer peripherals, light sources, electric motors, electrical systems, electric and electronic circuits and the like, provided with at least one respective element for communication with at least one control and management unit (4), characterized in that each apparatus comprises a signal transceiving device (5) which constitutes said communication element, at least one signal repeater (6) being interposed between said at least one control and management unit (4), also provided with at least one respective transceiver (7), and at least one of said apparatuses distributed in the respective installation environments (8).

15. A method for the management of networks for the interconnection of apparatuses, of the type of apparatuses for home automation, electrical household appliances, personal computers, computers, computer peripherals, light sources, electric motors, electrical systems, electric and electronic circuits and the like, which consists in:

a) detecting an electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each apparatus provided with at least one respective transceiving device (5), of each repeater (6) and of each transceiver (7), for a definition of the area potentially covered by the signal transceived thereby in the potential installation environment (8);

b) planning the arrangement of the apparatuses on a drawing of the installation environments (8) of the network (1), according to any statutory prescriptions;

c) representing the electromagnetic model, radiation pattern, of each apparatus that is present in the plan, to verify the correct interconnection of all components with a control and management unit (4) provided with a respective transceiver (7) which has a known radiation pattern that can be represented on the drawing;

d) arranging at least one signal repeater (6) at the areas of the installation environments (8) in which there is no mutual interference among the electromagnetic models, radiation patterns, of the apparatuses and of said apparatuses with the control and management unit (4), until theoretical complete electromagnetic interconnection of all the apparatuses with each other and with the unit (4) over the respective repeaters (6) is achieved, determining a theoretical model of the network (1);

e) installing the network (1) according to the theoretical model;

f) activating the network (1), attributing to each transceiving device (5) of an apparatus, to each repeater (6) and to the transceiver (7) of said at least one control and management unit (4) an identification code of its own, which is transmitted together with the information signal;