Bidirectional redundant mesh network

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bidirectional redundant mesh network. The redundant mesh communication network uses multiple controllers or controller gateways to route messages and monitor the integrity of wired and wireless mesh system elements. Multiple control units and multiple paths provide various redundant communication solutions, thereby avoiding single points of failure in the network.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application with application date of June 3, 2016 and application number 201610545611.3. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to a bidirectional mesh network providing redundant communication paths. More particularly, the present application relates to such a network comprising multiple controllers or controller gateways and multiple communication paths. Background Art

[0003] Systems for protecting people and property within a secure area are known. Such systems are typically based on the use of one or more wireless detectors that respond to threats within the secure area.

[0004] Threats to people and property can originate from any number of different sources. For example, a fire can kill or injure occupants trapped in a home by the fire. Similarly, carbon monoxide from a fire can kill a person who is sleeping.

[0005] Alternatively, unauthorized intruders, such as thieves, may present a threat to property within the area. Intruders have also been known to injure or kill people living within the area.

[0006] In the case of an intruder, detectors or sensors can be placed in different areas based on their respective uses. For example, if people are present during some parts of a normal day but not at other times, detectors can be placed along the perimeter of the space to provide protection when the space is occupied, while additional sensors can be placed inside the space and used when the space is not occupied.

[0007] In most cases, the threat detectors are connected to a local control panel. If a threat is detected via one of the detectors, the control panel can sound a local audible alarm. The control panel can also send a signal to a displaced monitoring station.

[0008] Although conventional security systems using wireless detectors work well, they are sometimes subject to unexpected failures. For example, a fire and security system that employs a mesh network with a single controller has a single point of failure that can result in lost communications to one or more areas protected by the system. There is a need for better methods and apparatus for diagnosing such systems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system according to the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a second system according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of a third system according to the present invention;

[0012] Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of a fourth system according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a fifth system according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram of a sixth system according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 7 illustrates a block diagram of a seventh system according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 8 illustrates a block diagram of an eighth system according to the present invention;

[0017] Fig. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a ninth system according to the present invention; and

[0018] Fig.10 A block diagram of a tenth system according to the present invention is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] While the disclosed embodiments may take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, with the understanding that the disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of its principles and the best mode of implementing the same and that it is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0020] The system according to the present invention provides redundant communication paths in a fire and safety system using a mesh network. In addition, since the fire and safety system can use a hybrid combination of wired network and wireless mesh elements, in another configuration, the wired and wireless parts can be integrated to provide redundant communication paths throughout the system.

[0021] In one aspect, each wireless mesh network may include multiple controllers and multiple mesh elements. The mesh elements may include, but are not limited to, various types of detectors, including safety-related detectors such as glass break detectors, position detectors, motion detectors, or door detectors. Other detector types include ambient condition detectors such as fire detectors, gas detectors, heat detectors, water or humidity detectors.

[0022] Controllers can be used to interface elements of a mesh network to the wired elements of the system. Each controller determines the parent / child relationship for a mesh element and communicates with all mesh elements via a bidirectional time slot or frequency allocation method. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the time slot or frequency allocation process is unique to each controller of a given mesh network. Therefore, each controller redundantly receives communications from all network elements.

[0023] Each controller in a given mesh network will forward any communications received from a sending mesh element to all mesh elements. In this way, all mesh elements receive all communications redundantly. System communications are not affected by the failure of all but one controller.

[0024] Figure 1 A first embodiment 10 is illustrated. Herein, a message originating from a detector or other element (such as 16a, 16b...16n) in a wireless mesh network 12 is typically received by each controller (such as 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d). The corresponding controller (such as 14a...14d) then forwards the message to a wireless element (such as 16i) of the mesh network. If the message has not been received or sent on one or more wired paths (such as 18i), the message is sent on the one or more paths. This eliminates circular message paths.

[0025] If one of the wireless controllers (such as 14i) does not receive the message wirelessly within the system propagation time, the corresponding controller sends the received message over the wire (such as from path 18i) to the wireless mesh element with which it is in communication. System communications are not affected by the failure of all but the last controller.

[0026] In another embodiment 20, Figure 2 As illustrated in FIG. 2, each wireless mesh network (such as 22) will contain multiple controllers and a number of mesh elements. It will be understood that the elements and controllers of the types previously described above are assigned corresponding Figure 1 They need not be discussed further except as set forth below.

[0027] Controllers may be used to interface mesh network 22 to wired elements 18-1, -2, -3, and 18-4 of system 20. Each controller (such as 14a...14d) determines parent / child relationships for mesh elements (such as 16i) relative to itself as if it were the master of the mesh network's communications.

[0028] like Figure 2As indicated in , a hierarchy of mesh controllers 14a . . . 14d may be established so that only one controller communicates with all mesh elements. Communications may be achieved using a bidirectional time slotted or frequency allocation approach (without limitation).

[0029] When a message is received by a controller (such as 14a ... 14d) from one or more mesh elements (such as 16i) including redundant controllers, the controller (such as 14a) with the highest priority will forward the communication to all elements of the mesh network 22 including redundant controllers. Advantageously, with this process, all elements of the mesh network 22 receive all messages from all mesh elements.

[0030] Health messages are sent periodically within the mesh network 22. When one or more health messages are missed, not received, or not responded to by an element within the mesh, the element will switch to the next highest controller parent / child relationship and time slot or frequency allocation scheme.

[0031] The highest priority controller forwards the received message to the mesh element if it has not already done so successfully, and then sends the message on the wired path if the message has not already been received or sent on that path. Lower priority controllers send the message on the wired path if the message has not already been received or sent on that path. This eliminates circular message paths.

[0032] A controller receiving a message on a wired path (such as 18a...18n) sends the message on the other wired paths if the message has not been received or sent on that wired path. For additional redundancy, a lower priority controller (such as 14b, 14c, 14d) can wirelessly forward a message received on a wired path (such as 18i) to the highest priority controller.

[0033] The communication of the system 20 is not affected by the failure of all but the last operating controller. Figure 1 Embodiment 10 also exhibits reduced radio traffic requirements.

[0034] exist Figure 3 , 4In other embodiments 30, 40 illustrated in the figure, each wireless mesh network (such as 32, 42) includes two controllers (such as 34a, 34b and 44a, 44b) and many mesh elements (such as 36a...36n and 46a...46n). The controller is used to connect the mesh and mesh elements to the wired elements (such as 38-1...38-n and 48-1...48-n) of the corresponding system. The two controllers arrange the parent / child structure of the mesh so that one controller takes the first time slot in the time slot communication scheme, and the other controller takes the last time slot. The controller arranges the mesh so that each element has a redundant communication path for the two controllers.

[0035] Each controller in a given mesh can forward any communication received from a sending mesh element to all mesh elements. In this way, all mesh elements can receive all communications redundantly. A message originating in a mesh is forwarded to mesh elements by the controller that first receives it.

[0036] The controller that receives the message sends the message on the wired path if the message has not been received or sent on that wired path. System communications are not affected by the failure of any one controller.

[0037] As in Figure 5 In network 50 and in Figure 6 Variations of the embodiment illustrated in network 60 including branching and non-redundant wired portions 58, 68 are possible.

[0038] like Figure 7 and 8 As illustrated in , additional embodiments may include multiple mesh networks 72a,b and 82a,b in various combinations.

[0039] In short, if Figure 1-8 The architecture of the network can be integrated into a peer-to-peer network as in the network illustrated in FIG. Such a configuration is suitable for commercially available, or installed networks such as NOTIFIER brand Fire Protection Network (NFN), NOTIFIER brand Digital Audio Loop (DAL), FIRE-LITE brand Lite Connect Network, or Gamewell fire control type ring network, where each controller / element includes a transceiver that communicates directly with one or two peer elements via wire or fiber. The architecture can also be suitable for use in a network of multiple I / O devices as mesh elements, where multiple control panels act as mesh controllers for safety integrity level (SIL) rated installations.

[0040] Advantageously, the above-described embodiments are expected to meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) proposed Standard 72 2016 Class Designations A, N, and X. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be incorporated into systems required to meet SIL requirements as a measure of reliability and / or risk reduction. Examples include:

[0041] ANSI / ISA S84 (Functional safety of safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector)

[0042] · IEC EN 61508 (Functional safety of electrical / electronic / programmable electronic safety-related systems)

[0043] · IEC 61511 (Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector)

[0044] IEC 61513 (Nuclear Industry)

[0045] EN 50402 (Fixed gas detection systems).

[0046] The network architecture can also be integrated into bus networks, such as Fig. 9 and 10 In those embodiments, each wireless element 92, 102 communicates with multiple mesh controllers 94, 104, which are connected to the same system controller CS1 via multipath bus connections 98, 108. This applies to signal line circuit (SLC) networks or bus communication networks.

[0047] In summary, the embodiments herein advantageously avoid single point network failures.In addition, in larger mixed media networks, such networks can be used as a bidirectional transmission medium for messages.

[0048] Based on the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications can be realized without departing from the spirit and scope of this article. It is to be understood that it is not intended or should not be inferred that the limitation on the specific device illustrated in this article is not intended. Of course, it is intended that all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims are covered by the appended claims. In addition, the logical flow depicted in the figure does not require the specific order or sequential order shown to achieve the desired result. Other steps can be provided or steps can be deleted from the described flow, and other components can be added to the described embodiment or removed from the described embodiment.

Claims

1. A method comprising: providing a first plurality of wireless components; providing a second plurality of wired elements; Provide multiple controllers; providing a plurality of wireless communication pathways between one of the controllers and at least one of the first plurality of wireless components; as well as At least one wired communication path is provided between at least one member of the second plurality of wired elements and one of the controllers, wherein one of the first plurality of wireless elements communicates wirelessly and receives redundant communication messages and sends redundant communication messages to at least one of the controllers, and wherein the loss of any one controller does not result in a loss of communication with any redundantly connected element.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing communication with at least one controller over a wired path, and wherein: The loss of any one controller and the loss of any path will not result in the loss of communications with any redundantly connected elements. 3 . The method of claim 2 , comprising coupling the elements of a first plurality of wireless elements to the elements of a second plurality of wired elements via a plurality of paths.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising establishing a priority for each of the controllers, wherein the controller having the highest priority communicates with the members of the first plurality of wireless elements.

5. A monitoring system comprising: multiple mesh elements; Multiple inter-component communication links; as well as At least two different mesh controllers, wherein the controller is in wireless communication with at least one of the elements via at least one of the communication links, and at least one other element is in wired communication with at least one of the controllers via at least one different link, wherein the loss of any one controller does not result in the loss of communication with any redundantly connected elements.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein: The controllers communicate with each other via at least two different communication links, wherein at least one of the links comprises a wireless path and another link comprises a wired path, thereby avoiding single points of failure.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein: The wired path continues between other components that are in wired communication with both controllers.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein: At least one of the other elements is in wired communication only with one of the other wired detectors or a controller.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein: At least one member of the plurality of mesh elements communicates wirelessly with one other mesh element, and at least one other member of the plurality of mesh elements communicates wirelessly with one other element, wherein the wireless communications of at least one member of the plurality of mesh elements are separate from the wireless communications of at least one other member of the plurality of mesh elements.

10. The system of claim 5, comprising circuitry for assigning a priority value to each member in the controller, wherein: The highest priority controller communicates with members of the first plurality of mesh elements.

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