Method for virtualizing security panels, fire panels and access panels using 5g dedicated network slices

Abstract

Described herein are devices, methods, and systems for virtualizing security panels, fire panels, and / or access panels using 5G network slices. A locally deployed virtualized building control panel system device, comprising: a processor; a memory having instructions stored therein executable by the processor to provide a fifth generation (5G) network core to a building in which the device is located, establish a first network slice defining a first sub-network slice having a defined bandwidth and only communicating data and instructions related to building control functions; and a communication connection for communicating instructions and data between the control panel system device and a 5G base station within the building and building sensing devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates in its entirety to methods, systems, and devices for virtualizing security panels, fire protection panels, and / or access panels using 5G network slicing. Background Technology

[0002] Currently available fire control panels, security panels, and access panels (building control panels) are entirely hardware-based and sometimes include cloud connectors that connect the panels to networks, such as the internet, for less critical functions. This control panel system architecture is typically required due to the latency and reliability requirements of such systems, as well as the need for rapid response capabilities.

[0003] Additionally, if the system includes a network connection to the control panel environment, this connection is typically isolated from other networks within the building. This is done to maintain consistent available bandwidth for the control panel system and to prevent other network traffic from reducing the available bandwidth below the threshold for effective communication of the building's control panel functions.

[0004] Another reason for doing this is to ensure that alarms and other messages from the fire protection system are reliably delivered over the network and within guaranteed time limits, without competing with other non-fire safety traffic.

[0005] This hardware-centric panel architecture also prevents the sensor network from being extended for control and analysis. This limits the ability of such panels to provide the extended features discussed herein with respect to embodiments of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0006] Figure 1 A 5G building control system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0007] The in-building 5G network deployment discussed and used in the embodiments of this disclosure creates a building control system environment that allows the system to have a 5G network core deployed locally at the building. This specific implementation provides the ability to use a 5G network as the backbone of a highly reliable and low-latency local area network.

[0008] This is because local traffic does not need to be routed to a remote network core and allows virtualization of many control panel functions that are traditionally handled by one or more physical control panels. For example, if a 4G network is connected to a physical control panel, the core network management functions of the 4G system and the control panel actuation functions are located outside the building, and all communication with the network core that provides those functions passes through a cellular tower located outside the building.

[0009] Such systems present security challenges because third parties do not need to be located within the building to access the network or intercept data. They also introduce latency issues because signals entering and exiting control panels must traverse cellular towers, which may not be located near the building. This increased distance inevitably slows down communication, resulting in delays in the flow of data and commands within the building's control system, which can cause problems in certain situations.

[0010] By implementing the 5G network implementation scheme described in this disclosure, core network functions can be moved within a building and can be expanded to enable network control of more critical building control system functions. This also improves security and latency.

[0011] This can be achieved, for example, by installing base stations that form small cells inside a building. The 5G small cell-based system creates a low-latency, high-reliability dedicated network that can be used to perform building control functions within the building.

[0012] The 5G-based control panel system implementation architecture also implements network slicing, which provides quality of service to applications by reserving communication and computing resources. Network slicing allows the 5G network to be divided into multiple subnetworks, thus, for example, allocating its own resources to each software application that requires network access to run.

[0013] For example, a first network slice can be established, defining a first sub-network slice with a defined bandwidth and configured to transmit only data and instructions related to building control functions. Alternatively, in some implementations, access, security, and fire alarm functions can each have their own network slice. In this way, the building control network, or portions thereof, can have its own resources allocated to it, and thus each network slice can be a highly reliable network, among other beneficial effects.

[0014] For example, in some implementations, separate virtual subnetworks can be established for fire alarm systems, security systems, and building access systems within a building. This allows for the creation of independent, low-latency, high-reliability networks for each system.

[0015] As used herein, low latency can be less than 20 milliseconds, and in some implementations less than 10 milliseconds. High latency is any latency higher than the low latency threshold. For example, if the low latency threshold is 10 milliseconds, then high latency is any latency higher than 10 milliseconds, or if the low latency threshold is 20 milliseconds, then high latency is any latency higher than 20 milliseconds.

[0016] In some such implementations, the 5G network may have additional virtual subnetworks established to handle other building functions or building tenant functions. Examples of such functions may include: HVAC control / monitoring applications, internet access, access to work-based applications (e.g., word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, publishing applications), access to document management applications, access to inventory management applications, access to point-of-sale applications, or access to other suitable building or tenant applications. In this way, the control panel subnetwork can be decoupled from building and tenant functions, thereby providing better latency and reliability, as well as other beneficial effects.

[0017] In some jurisdictions, government entities may require certain minimum thresholds for latency, bandwidth, and / or reliability for the operation of such control panel systems. Traditional systems could only meet these requirements by using physical control panels that handle the control panel functionality.

[0018] However, by using a 5G-based network architecture to split (create slices), it is possible to meet government-mandated thresholds for latency, bandwidth, and reliability due to the dedicated nature of bandwidth allocation for building control networks and their independence from traffic on other building or tenant networks. For example, building owners can deploy their own private 5G networks in licensed frequency bands through new spectrum options such as Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) or leased licensed spectrum from operators.

[0019] Another beneficial effect of using 5G-based networking strategies as discussed in this disclosure is that the network is dedicated and can be managed, for example, by using edge computing devices within buildings. Dedicated 5G networks can use dedicated spectrum such as CBRS bands or leased licensed spectrum from operators, thereby limiting potential network traffic through building-based networks.

[0020] The embodiments disclosed herein can also virtualize fire protection panels, security panels, and access control panels as software applications within a network slice, utilizing the capabilities possible with 5G in such systems, rather than physical hardware panels. This allows for easier updates to panel functionality because no new hardware installation is required, and allows for mobile access to panel functionality. This mobility also benefits technicians maintaining network equipment in locations remote from the panels, as they can interact with panel functionality without being physically near the panels, among other advantages.

[0021] By deploying a 5G-based system architecture within a building, computing and communication platforms can be converged. The converged platform implementation of this disclosure opens up new architectures for access control (controlling who leaves / enters the building via access points), fire protection (fire and smoke detection and alarms, etc.), and security systems (unauthorized access, window break detection, etc.) within the building. The implementation of this disclosure discusses how existing panel functions can be performed via software rather than hardware, such as using software on 5G edge devices within the building. The new architecture enables panels to have greater edge computing and communication capabilities, and additional capabilities that increase recurring software revenue.

[0022] Another frequently used government requirement is the ability to provide redundant networks, as third parties may block network paths, rendering the network inoperable without redundant paths available. This typically requires separate physical network paths and hardware to accommodate the redundancy.

[0023] Due to the latency, bandwidth, and reliability capabilities discussed, network slicing can allow for the virtual construction of such redundancy. This can be as a redundant network provided to the physical path, or two virtual sub-networks can provide redundancy to each other. For example, two virtual sub-network slices can be configured to have different frequencies.

[0024] For example, the network could have three virtually created subnets: two network slices configured to handle controller communication, which would be high-bandwidth, high-reliability, low-latency communication within the system. These would be redundant networks, thus meeting government redundancy requirements.

[0025] The third network slice can be used for sensor communication between sensors connected to building control systems and system controllers (e.g., building control panels). For this purpose, the network slice can be a low-bandwidth, low-latency network. Furthermore, in some implementations, redundant subnets of this subnet can be virtually created. As can be understood from this example, embodiments of this disclosure also allow the system to simultaneously provide multiple different qualities of service using a single set of hardware.

[0026] As used in this example, controller communication may include, for example, control communication between the controller and one or more network sensors (e.g., smoke detectors, pull-out fire alarm boxes, horns, strobe lights for a fire protection system). Another network slice may provide communication between controllers, such as communication between a fire protection system controller and a security system controller, or between multiple controllers of the same type (e.g., two access system controllers). These may be physical components, such as control panels, or virtualized components, or a combination of these components.

[0027] Examples of controller communication and functions include: event processing, such as data analysis for determining the presence of fire / safety / access events, and causal sequencing (e.g., what to do when an event occurs). In some implementations, controllers need to communicate reliably with each other to coordinate their various functions. These control functions may be distributed across different areas of the building (e.g., fire sensors detect events in area A and process the functions of the systems associated with those events, while fire monitoring is performed in other areas where no events occur).

[0028] Another beneficial effect of the embodiments disclosed herein is that, due to the bandwidth availability of 5G networks, a heartbeat system can be used, in which each controller (a locally deployed virtualized building control panel system device) periodically (e.g., every second) sends a signal to each other building sensing component to request a response indicating that the sensor is functioning correctly and communicating. If a new component sends a message to the controller, the controller requests status information (e.g., requests for abnormal conditions, such as: whether there are any alarm conditions, whether there are any faults in device communication or whether the device is functioning correctly, whether any functions are disabled, whether any functions are active). This allows the controller to synchronize with the component. Controllers are also able to communicate in a synchronized manner with each other. This minimizes network downtime because problems with the controller and / or its components can be quickly identified.

[0029] The system may also include features such as measuring quality of service based on network traffic monitoring (e.g., bandwidth, latency, and reliability are factors that can be used to measure quality of service). For example, thresholds can be set to indicate that network throughput is not meeting the expected quality of service. This is to ensure that the system has the bandwidth capacity to provide the expected reliability, latency, and functionality during high-bandwidth events such as fire emergencies. For example, if a fire occurs in a building and many residents begin using their mobile phones to communicate with loved ones, the system needs to allocate sufficient bandwidth to allow reliable, low-latency communication between components.

[0030] Embodiments of this disclosure can also be used in public address or voice alarm components or alarm systems having such components. These systems may have controllers that communicate with each other and communication between the controllers and multiple endpoints (e.g., streaming audio signals to IP addressable speakers).

[0031] In some implementations, these communications can also be their own network slices. For example, in one such implementation, the system may have one or more redundant communication slices for high-bandwidth communication (with one redundant communication slice if another communication mode is used for redundancy, such as twisted pair or Ethernet) and a separate slice for communication with IP speakers.

[0032] In such implementations, jitter can be a measure of quality of service. Jitter is the noise component of an audio signal that reduces the clarity of an audio message; therefore, jitter can be monitored to ensure that the jitter level does not exceed a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, the controller can issue an alarm condition to notify the system user that jitter should be addressed on the network (e.g., a network slice used for audio functions).

[0033] In some implementations, the system may also measure signal strength as a function of quality of service. In some such implementations, the system may, for example, have a monitor that provides early warnings of a decline in signal strength (e.g., the signal strength has exceeded a preliminary early warning threshold). For example, the system may have a local fault indicator that indicates the signal strength has exceeded a quality of service threshold and needs to be addressed. This can be a useful feature as part of routine field surveys to help technicians identify network problems before signal strength becomes an issue affecting network performance.

[0034] Another beneficial effect of the embodiments provided by this disclosure is that network slicing in 5G enables the selection of ultra-reliable low-latency control (uRLLC) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) communication types, as well as other communication types, based on application requirements. uRLLC can be used, for example, for control panel system operation communications. eMBB can provide greater data bandwidth, coupled with moderate latency improvements, which can be useful, for example, in audio or video data transmission, which can be used in such systems to view occupants, situational conditions, or other information about a building area. In some embodiments, the system can select the communication type based on the type of use the network slice will have or what the requirements, such as quality of service, will be (manually via operator input or automatically via instructions executable by a computing device).

[0035] Another benefit of enabling 5G-based control panel systems in buildings is that it allows for the creation of one or more network slices that can provide wireless LAN communication via 5G within the building itself. This allows devices within the building to communicate without transmitting information to distant cellular towers and keeps data within the building, providing security benefits as well as other advantages.

[0036] Furthermore, in some implementations, the existing functionality of the control panel can be split, for example, between the gateway device and the 5G edge device. For instance, the gateway device can act as a communication hub for communication between low-power sensors and the dedicated 5G network, while the 5G edge device can act as a computing and storage platform. This further improves the latency and reliability of the 5G device.

[0037] Current fire protection panels, security panels, and access panels are entirely hardware-based and may include, for example, cloud connectors for less critical functions.

[0038] This hardware-centric panel architecture will not allow the sensor network to be expanded for control and analysis. For locally deployed 5G private networks, the network core can reside at the network edge, and network slicing capabilities will be allowed, enabling the core functionality of the panel to reside at the network edge within the building.

[0039] This document describes devices, methods, and systems for virtualizing security panels, fire protection panels, and / or access panels using 5G network slicing. A locally deployed virtualized building control panel system device includes: a processor; a memory having instructions stored therein, executable by the processor to provide a fifth-generation (5G) network core to the building where the device is located, establish a first network slice defining a first sub-network slice having a defined bandwidth and transmitting only data and instructions related to building control functions; and a communication connection for transmitting instructions and data between the control panel system device and 5G base stations and building sensing devices within the building.

[0040] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. The drawings illustrate by way of example how one or more embodiments of this disclosure can be practiced.

[0041] These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one or more embodiments of this disclosure to be practiced by a person skilled in the art. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and mechanical, electrical and / or process changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0042] It should be understood that elements shown in the various embodiments herein may be added, exchanged, combined, and / or eliminated to provide multiple additional embodiments of this disclosure. The scale and relative dimensions of the elements provided in the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as limiting.

[0043] The figures in this document follow the following numbering convention: one or more first numbers correspond to the figure number, while the remaining numbers identify the elements or parts in the figure.

[0044] As used in this article, "one" or "several" can refer to one or more such things, while "multiple" can refer to more than one such thing. For example, "numerous components" can refer to one or more components, while "multiple components" can refer to more than one component.

[0045] Figure 1 A 5G building control system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 A network system 100 is provided, which has multiple parts including a public network part 114 and a private network part 102.

[0046] The dedicated network portion 102 is located within the building and has a core operating system that performs functions to communicate with various components (e.g., system equipment, such as fire sensors in a fire alarm system) connected to the dedicated network and the externally deployed public network 114. The core operating system 104 also manages multiple virtualized control panels for transmitting information to and from system users. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the central virtual control panel 106 has a virtualized security panel 108, a virtualized fire protection panel 110, and a virtualized access panel 112.

[0047] As used herein, a virtualized control panel is a user interface that includes mechanisms that allow a user to input commands to a building control system (e.g., a fire protection system) to control its physical components and mechanisms that communicate information to the user. Examples include computing devices such as tablets, desktop computers, laptops, or mobile devices with keyboards and / or mice and / or displays or touchscreens.

[0048] The core operating system 104 also communicates with multiple physical components of various systems, such as security system components, access system components, fire protection system components, and video components. These components can be accessed via a gateway (communication connection) connected to computing devices running the core operating systems 116, 118, 120, and 122. For example, the communication connection can be used to transmit instructions and data between control panel system devices and 5G base stations and building sensing devices within a building.

[0049] In some implementation schemes, such as Figure 1 As shown, each gateway communicates with components of different network slices (building security system device 130, building access system device 140, building fire protection system device 150, building video system device 160) (e.g., communication between the security network slice and building security system device 130 via gateway 116). However, in some embodiments, the gateway may communicate with multiple network slices. For example, if these types of communication are desired to have different bandwidth, latency, or reliability characteristics, the fire protection gateway 120 may communicate with multiple sensor devices on one slice and / or multiple fire protection system controllers on another slice.

[0050] A device running a core operating system is a computing device having a processor for executing instructions and a memory thereon storing executable instructions and data. The memory can be any type of storage medium accessible by the processor to execute various examples of this disclosure. For example, the memory can be a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which computer-readable instructions (e.g., executable instructions / computer program instructions) are stored, which can be executed by a processor according to this disclosure.

[0051] Memory can be volatile or non-volatile. Memory can also be removable (e.g., portable) or non-removable (e.g., internal) memory. For example, memory can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and / or phase-change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and / or optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash memory, laser disc, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical storage devices, and / or magnetic media, such as magnetic tape cassettes, magnetic tape or disks, and other types of memory.

[0052] Furthermore, although the memory may be located within a computing device, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the memory may also be located within another computing resource (e.g., enabling computer-readable instructions to be downloaded via the Internet or another wired or wireless connection).

[0053] The computing device may also include a user interface. Users of the computing device (e.g., operators) can interact with the computing device via the user interface. For example, the user interface may provide (e.g., display and / or present) information to the user of the computing device, and / or receive (e.g., information input by the user of the computing device) from the user of the computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the user interface may be a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides information to and / or receives information from the user of the computing device. The display may be, for example, a touchscreen (e.g., the GUI may include touchscreen functionality). Alternatively, the display may include a television, a computer monitor, a mobile device screen, other types of display devices, or any combination thereof, connected to the mobile device and configured to receive video signals output from the mobile device.

[0054] As another example, the user interface may include a keyboard and / or mouse that a user can use to input information into a computing device. However, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to a particular type of user interface.

[0055] The scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure includes any other application using the structures and methods described above. Therefore, the scope of the various embodiments of this disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents.

[0056] In the above specific embodiments, for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure, various features are combined in the example embodiments shown in the drawings. This disclosure method should not be construed as reflecting an intention to require more features than expressly recited in each claim.

[0057] Instead, the subject matter of the invention lies in fewer than all the features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, each claim exists independently as a separate embodiment.

Claims

1. A locally deployed virtualized building control panel device, the locally deployed virtualized building control panel device comprising: processor; A memory having instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by the processor to: Provides a fifth-generation 5G network core to a building, which has a locally deployed virtualized building control panel device for security, access or fire protection system equipment; Establish a first network slice that defines a first sub-network slice, the first sub-network slice having a defined bandwidth and transmitting only data and instructions related to at least one of the building security, access or fire protection system control functions within a dedicated 5G network; Establish a second network slice that defines a second sub-network slice, wherein the second sub-network slice transmits data and instructions related to one or more other building or tenant functions; and A communication connection for transmitting at least one of security, access, or fire protection system commands and data between the locally deployed virtualized building control panel device and at least one of the security, access, or fire protection systems within the building.

2. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel device of claim 1, wherein the first sub-network slice provides a latency of less than or equal to 10 milliseconds.

3. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel device of claim 1, wherein the first sub-network slice provides a latency of less than or equal to 20 milliseconds.

4. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-network slice transmits only data and instructions related to building access functionality.

5. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-network slice transmits only data and instructions related to the building fire alarm function.

6. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel device according to claim 1, wherein the first sub-network slice transmits only data and instructions related to building security functions.

7. A locally deployed virtualized building control panel system, the locally deployed virtualized building control panel system comprising: One or more locally deployed security, access, or fire protection system building sensing devices; and The locally deployed virtualized building security, access, or fire protection system control panel system equipment includes: processor; A memory having instructions stored therein, the instructions being executable by the processor to: Provides a fifth-generation 5G network core to a building, which is equipped with locally deployed virtualized building security, access, or fire protection system control panel equipment; Establish a first network slice that defines a first sub-network slice, the first sub-network slice having a defined bandwidth, and transmitting only data and instructions related to at least one of the building security, access, or fire protection system control functions within the dedicated 5G network; Establish a second network slice that defines a second sub-network slice, wherein the second sub-network slice transmits only data and instructions relating to one of the following: building access functions, building fire alarm functions, or building security functions, and does not transmit them via the first sub-network slice; and A communication connection for transmitting at least one of security, access, or fire protection system commands and data between the locally deployed virtualized building control panel system equipment and at least one of the building sensing devices for security, access, or fire protection systems within the building.

8. The locally deployed virtualized building control panel system of claim 7, wherein the first sub-network slice transmits only data and instructions relating to one of the following: building access functions, building fire alarm functions, or building security functions.

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