Fire receiver

Abstract

To obtain a fire receiver that can speed up a timing of determining whether there is an abnormality in status information collection processing from a plurality of terminal appliances.SOLUTION: A fire receiver comprises: a request signal transmission unit that transmits a request signal in a regulation sequence to a plurality of terminal appliances connected to the own machine, the request signal requesting a transmission of status information; a status information acquisition unit that acquires the status information; an abnormality control unit that controls the request signal transmission unit to perform re-transmission processing for transmitting a request signal in a changing sequence different from the regulation sequence to a terminal appliance in which the abnormality is detected when the abnormality is detected during a response to the request signal; and an alarm output unit that outputs an alarm when the occurrence of the abnormality is determined in the re-transmission processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire receiver connected to a plurality of fire detectors. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a fire receiver connected to multiple fire detectors via a line normally collects status information such as the status of the fire detectors and its own test results. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a polling transmission method in which an individual address is assigned to each of multiple fire detectors installed on each line, the fire detectors are grouped based on the addresses, and status information of the fire detectors is collected on a group basis. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-109136 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In addition to group polling disclosed in Patent Document 1, point polling is also used to collect status information from fire alarm systems. Group polling is a communication method in which multiple terminal devices (fire detectors, etc.) are divided into groups, and a fire receiver calls each group, and the called terminal devices in the group transmit status information at a timing assigned based on their own addresses. Point polling is a communication method in which a fire receiver calls terminal devices in sequence, and the called terminal devices transmit their own status information. In either method, the fire receiver calls terminal devices in sequence and collects status information from all terminal devices.

[0005] The status information collected from fire detectors includes status information related to fires, such as smoke density or temperature detected by the fire detector, and status information such as sensitivity information of the sensors equipped in the fire detector. When the smoke density or temperature detected by the fire detector indicates a fire, the fire receiver immediately goes into alarm mode. However, for sensitivity abnormalities that usually develop gradually, some fire receivers will confirm an abnormality and go into alarm mode if they receive similar status information multiple times. Here, "abnormality" refers to something other than a fire. The reason an abnormality is confirmed by receiving multiple signals is to prevent false alarms due to communication noise, as signals indicating an abnormality may be received due to temporary communication noise.

[0006] However, when collecting status information using point polling or group polling, the status information is collected from all terminal devices in order, and then collected again from the first terminal device, so if an abnormality is confirmed based on multiple receptions, it will take a long time to confirm the abnormality.With regard to fire alarm systems, the Fire Service Act and industry associations stipulate the time between the occurrence of an abnormality and the issuance of an abnormality alarm, but if it takes a long time to confirm the abnormality, it may not be possible to meet this stipulation.

[0007] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a fire receiver that can speed up the timing of determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the process of collecting status information from multiple terminal devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The fire receiver of the present invention comprises a request signal transmitting unit that transmits request signals requesting the transmission of status information to multiple terminal devices connected to the receiver in a specified order; a status information acquiring unit that acquires the status information; an abnormality control unit that controls the request signal transmitting unit to perform a retransmission process in which, when an abnormality is detected in the response to the request signal, the request signal is transmitted to the terminal device in which the abnormality was detected in an altered order different from the specified order; and an alarm output unit that outputs an alarm when the occurrence of the abnormality is confirmed during the retransmission process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The fire control signal receiver of the present invention can speed up the timing of determining whether or not a terminal device is abnormal in the status information collection process for a plurality of terminal devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a fire alarm system 100 including a fire receiver 1 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a time chart showing an example of a communication operation in a state information collection process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of a defined order and a changed order in the state information collection process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a normal response signal is acquired during communication in a changed order in the state information collection process according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a state information collection process of the fire control panel 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a state information collection process of the fire control panel 1 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fire alarm receiver according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment and illustrated aspects, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention includes all possible combinations of the configurations shown in the following embodiment. Furthermore, in each drawing, components with the same reference numerals are the same or equivalent, and this is common throughout the entire specification.

[0012] Embodiment 1 (Fire alarm system configuration) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a fire alarm system 100 including a fire receiver 1 according to a first embodiment. The fire alarm system 100 includes a fire receiver 1, and fire sensors 3 and transmitters 4 connected to the fire receiver 1 via sensor lines 2. Note that the number of sensor lines 2 illustrated is merely an example and is not limited to that illustrated. Furthermore, the fire receiver 1 may be connected via a signal transfer line to smoke prevention and exhaust devices such as fire doors or smoke exhaust devices, or to audio devices such as bells or speakers, or to emergency broadcast equipment. In this embodiment, an example is described in which the fire receiver 1 is a P-type fire receiver that uses a voltage change, a signal common to each fire sensor 3, as an alarm signal; however, the fire receiver 1 may also be an R-type fire receiver.

[0013] The fire detector 3 is, for example, a heat detector, a smoke detector, or a flame detector. The fire detector 3 detects physical quantities such as the concentration or temperature of smoke generated by a fire, and when the physical quantity exceeds a fire threshold, it changes the open / close state of a contact connected to the detector circuit 2, thereby changing the voltage of the detector circuit 2. The fire receiver 1 monitors the voltage of the detector circuit 2, and acquires (receives) the change in voltage caused by the fire detector 3 changing the open / close state of the contact as a fire alarm signal.

[0014] The fire detector 3 periodically performs an automatic test on itself and stores the results of the automatic test in a memory unit (not shown). The automatic test is performed to check the status of the fire detection configuration and transmission circuitry of the fire detector 3. For example, if the fire detector 3 is a smoke detector, the operating status and presence or absence of dirt of the light-emitting element, light-receiving element, and labyrinth related to smoke detection can be detected by comparing the output of the smoke density during normal times when no fire is occurring with a reference value. The fire detector 3 transmits the results of the automatic test to the fire receiver 1 as status information. The status information may include information on analog values ​​such as the smoke density or temperature during normal times.

[0015] Each of the plurality of fire detectors 3 is assigned a unique address, and the plurality of fire detectors 3 are grouped based on the addresses. In the example of Fig. 1, the plurality of fire detectors 3 and transmitters 4 connected to one detector line 2 are grouped into groups G1 to G7. Note that one group may be provided for one detector line 2.

[0016] The transmitter 4 is a device that transmits a fire signal to the fire receiver 1 when a person who discovers a fire presses a push button. When the push button is pressed, the voltage of the detector line 2 connected to the fire receiver 1 changes. The fire receiver 1 monitors the voltage of the detector line 2, and acquires (receives) the change in voltage that occurs when the push button is pressed as a fire signal.

[0017] (Configuration of fire receiver) The fire receiver 1 includes a control unit 10, a memory unit 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, an audio output unit 14, and a transmission circuit 15. The control unit 10 of this embodiment has, as functional units, a request signal transmission unit 101, a status information acquisition unit 102, an abnormality control unit 103, and an alarm output unit 104. The memory unit 11 stores abnormality setting data 111.

[0018] When an alarm signal from a fire detector 3 that has detected a fire is input via the transmission circuit 15, the control unit 10 issues a fire detection alert using either or both of the display unit 13 and the audio output unit 14. When the fire detection alert is issued, the manager of the fire receiver 1, etc., goes to the location of the fire in response to the fire alarm and visually confirms whether or not a fire has occurred. Once the manager, etc., confirms that a fire has occurred, presses the push button on the transmitter 4, and upon receiving the fire signal from the transmitter 4, the fire receiver 1 concludes that a fire has occurred. In addition, a fire may be concluded when alarm signals are sent from multiple fire detectors 3 to one detector line 2.

[0019] The request signal transmitting unit 101 transmits a request signal requesting the transmission of status information to the fire detector 3 in a specified order. The request signal transmitting unit 101 also transmits the request signal to the fire detector 3 in a changed order that is different from the specified order, based on an instruction from the abnormality control unit 103, which will be described later. The request signal transmitting unit 101 transmits the request signal using the transmission circuit 15.

[0020] The status information acquisition unit 102 repeatedly executes the status information collection process to acquire status information from all of the fire detectors 3. The status information acquisition unit 102 instructs the request signal transmission unit 101 to transmit a request signal, acquires the status information signal transmitted in response to the request signal, and stores it in the storage unit 11. Furthermore, if the status information acquisition unit 102 detects an abnormality in the response to the request signal, it outputs a signal indicating the abnormality to the abnormality control unit 103.

[0021] In this embodiment, "abnormality" does not include fire, but refers to, for example, an abnormality or communication abnormality related to the components of the fire detector 3. Specifically, this includes abnormal sensitivity of the sensor of the fire detector 3, an abnormality in the light-emitting unit not lighting properly, an abnormality in the light-receiving unit not receiving light properly, etc. Communication abnormalities include no response, which is a state in which a status information signal cannot be received from the fire detector 3 in response to a request signal, and an erroneous response, which is a state in which the received signal is corrupted.

[0022] The abnormality control unit 103 instructs the request signal transmitting unit 101 to perform retransmission processing when an abnormality is detected, based on a signal indicating an abnormality from the status information acquiring unit 102. Specifically, the request signal transmitting unit 101 normally transmits request signals to a plurality of fire detectors 3 in a specified order, but when an abnormality is detected, the request signal transmitting unit 101 is made to transmit request signals to the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected and other fire detectors 3 in a changed order, which will be described later.

[0023] The alarm output unit 104 outputs an alarm when the occurrence of an abnormality is confirmed in the retransmission process in the information collection process. In this embodiment, the display unit 13 and the audio output unit 14 are notification units that output an alarm. The alarm output unit 104 instructs the display unit 13 and the audio output unit 14 to notify that an abnormality has occurred. Note that the fire receiving device 1 may also be provided with an output interface as a notification unit that outputs information to an external terminal (e.g., a smartphone, a personal computer, or a dedicated terminal) by email or a dedicated application. In this case, the alarm output unit 104 instructs the output interface to output information for the notification.

[0024] The control unit 10 includes a timer circuit and is configured by a dedicated control circuit, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes programs stored in memory, or a combination of these. When the control unit 10 is a CPU, each function executed by the control unit 10 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0025] The memory unit 11 stores data used for the control of each unit by the control unit 10. The memory unit 11 stores a table (not shown) that associates each of the sensor lines 2 with information indicating the installation location of that sensor line 2. The memory unit 11 is an internal memory, an external memory medium such as a memory card, or a combination thereof. For example, it is a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM.

[0026] The abnormality setting data 111 stored in the storage unit 11 is data used in a retransmission process that is executed when an abnormality is detected in the status information collection process. The abnormality setting data 111 includes information on the change order, which will be described later.

[0027] The operation unit 12 includes hardware buttons or switches provided on the housing of the fire receiving device 1. The operation unit 12 may include a touch panel provided over the display of the display unit 13. The operation unit 12 accepts operations from the user and sends a signal corresponding to the operation to the control unit 10.

[0028] The display unit 13 displays the detector line 2 or fire detector 3 from which the alarm signal was generated, displays that a transmission signal has been received, and displays a message to that effect if a communication abnormality is detected. The display unit 13 includes light-emitting elements such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) provided on the housing of the fire receiving device 1, and a nameplate associated with the light-emitting elements. The display unit 13 may include a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0029] The audio output unit 14 notifies the occurrence of a fire by audio when an alarm signal is received from the fire detector 3 and when a fire is confirmed. Furthermore, when an abnormality in the fire detector 3 is confirmed, the audio output unit 14 outputs an audio message to that effect. The audio output unit 14 includes either or both of a buzzer and a speaker.

[0030] The transmission circuit 15 is a circuit to which the sensor line 2, which is connected to the fire detector 3 and the transmitter 4, is connected. The transmission circuit 15 receives the alarm signal from the sensor line 2 and the fire signal from the transmitter 4, and sends the received signals to the control unit 10. In this embodiment, a transmission circuit 15 is provided for each sensor line 2.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a time chart showing an example of communication operation in the status information collection process according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 shows a time series flow of a request signal transmitted by the fire control panel 1 and a status information signal transmitted by each fire detector 3 in response to the request signal, taking the case of group polling as an example. Here, Fig. 2 assumes that there are groups G1 to G7, each of which has five fire detectors 3. Also, Fig. 2 indicates the addresses of each fire detector 3 within its group as #1 to #5. The fire control panel 1 identifies each fire detector 3 by a combination of the group number and the address.

[0032] In group polling, the fire receiver 1 specifies a destination group and transmits a request signal. The fire detectors 3 belonging to the destination group transmit status information signals at the timing assigned to their own addresses. For example, when the fire receiver 1 transmits a request signal to group G1, the fire detectors 3 in group G1 transmit status information signals in the order of addresses #1 to #5.

[0033] Normally, the fire control signal receiver 1 polls the groups G1 to G7 in this order, which is called the prescribed order. Figure 2 shows the flow of polling in the prescribed order.

[0034] In this embodiment, when an abnormality is detected in the response from a fire detector 3, the fire receiver 1 determines that an abnormality has occurred if the same fire detector 3 detects an abnormality three times in a row. In the example shown in FIG. 2 , an abnormality is detected in the #4 fire detector 3 in group G3. To determine the abnormality using the status information collection process in the specified order, two rounds of status information collection are required for all groups after the initial abnormality is detected, which requires time to determine the abnormality. In particular, when the status information signal contains analog values, the transmission process by each fire detector 3 takes time, which increases the time required for the entire status information collection process. Meanwhile, the Fire Service Act and industry associations stipulate the time required between the occurrence of an abnormality and the issuance of an abnormality alarm. For example, in a fire alarm system for a ship, an abnormality alarm must be issued within 100 seconds of the occurrence of an abnormality. Therefore, in this embodiment, when an abnormality is detected, the specified order is switched to the altered order described below to speed up the determination of the abnormality.

[0035] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a defined order and a changed order in the status information collection process according to embodiment 1. In Fig. 3, the defined order in group polling in the status information collection process is the order of groups G1 to G7. Also, in Fig. 3, group G3, to which the fire detector 3 with an abnormal response belongs, is shown shaded.

[0036] When group polling is performed in the specified order, if an abnormality is detected in the response from the fire detector 3, the order is switched to a modified order and the status information collection process is performed. Figure 3 shows three types of modified order, 1 to 3. Note that in any of the modified orders, an example is shown in which an abnormality is detected in the response from any of the fire detectors 3 in group G3 during the status information collection process in the specified order.

[0037] In change order 1, when an abnormality is first detected in the response from a fire detector 3 in a certain group, the request signal is retransmitted continuously to that group. In the example of Fig. 3, when an abnormality is first detected in the response from a fire detector 3 in group G3, the request signal is retransmitted to that group G3 instead of to other groups. When an abnormality is detected three times in a row in the response from the fire detector 3 in group G3, the fire receiving device 1 determines that an abnormality has occurred.

[0038] In the modified order 2, when an abnormality is first detected in the response from a fire detector 3 of a certain group, a request signal is transmitted to the next group in the specified order, and then a request signal is retransmitted to the group in which the abnormality was detected. In the example of FIG. 3 , when an abnormality is first detected in the response from a fire detector 3 of group G3, a request signal is transmitted to the fire detectors 3 of the next group G4 in the specified order, and then a first request signal is transmitted as a retransmission process for group G3. A request signal is then transmitted to the next group G5 in the specified order, and a second request signal is transmitted as a retransmission process for group G3. The number of groups to which request signals are transmitted between the transmission of the request signal in which the abnormality was detected and the transmission of the first request signal in the retransmission process, and between the first and second request signals, are the same. In FIG. 3 , the number of groups to which request signals are transmitted between the first request signal and the first request signal, and between the first and second request signals, is one, but it may be two or more. Then, when an abnormality is detected three times in succession in the response from the fire detectors 3 of group G3, the fire control device 1 determines that an abnormality has occurred.

[0039] In Change Order 3, when an abnormality is first detected in the response from a fire detector 3 of a certain group, a request signal is sent to the next group in the specified order, and then the request signal is retransmitted to the group where the abnormality was detected. Unlike Change Order 2, the number of groups to which request signals are sent between the time when the request signal where the abnormality was detected is sent and the time when the first request signal is sent in the retransmission process, and between the first request signal and the second request signal, are different. In FIG. 3, request signals are sent to one group between the request signal and the first request signal in the retransmission process, and to two groups between the first request signal and the second request signal, but these numbers are not limited to the example in FIG. 3 and may be sequentially decreased, or may be repeatedly increased or decreased.

[0040] Next, an example of operation when a normal response signal is received from a fire detector 3 after an abnormality is detected in the same fire detector 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where a normal response signal is received during communication in the altered order in the status information collection process according to the first embodiment. The fire receiver 1 operates in the altered order 1 illustrated in FIG. 3. When an abnormality is detected in the response from a fire detector 3 in group G3, a total of three request signals are transmitted consecutively to the fire detector 3 in altered order 1. However, when a normal response signal is received in response to the second request signal, the altered order is changed to altered order 1a. That is, in altered order 1a, when a normal response signal is received in response to a request signal for retransmission processing, the retransmission processing is stopped, and a request signal is transmitted to group G4 according to the specified order. Although altered order 1 has been described as an example in FIG. 4, the retransmission processing can be stopped in the same manner in altered order 2 and altered order 3 in FIG. 3.

[0041] In this way, if a group whose response was abnormal during the execution of the status information collection process in the modified order returns to normal, communication can be shifted from the modified order to communication in the specified order, thereby enabling the status information collection process for the subsequent group to be started quickly.

[0042] Note that instead of immediately stopping the retransmission process when a normal response signal is received during the retransmission process, the retransmission process may be performed entirely or partially. For example, consider a retransmission process in which, in change order 1, five more request signals are sent to a group in which an abnormality was detected in the response. Even if a normal response signal is received in response to the second request signal during the retransmission process, a third request signal is sent. If a normal response signal is received, the retransmission process ends and communication proceeds to the specified order. If an abnormality is detected in the response, the retransmission process continues. In this way, by continuing the retransmission process even when a normal response signal is received during the retransmission process, the influence of a response signal that is accidentally determined to be normal due to noise, etc., can be suppressed, and the presence or absence of an abnormality can be more accurately determined.

[0043] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the status information collection process of the fire receiving device 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a process for performing operations based on the prescribed order and the changed order 1 shown in Fig. 4. The fire receiving device 1 starts the status information collection process at a predetermined timing. First, the fire receiving device 1 reads out the prescribed order from the storage unit 11 (step S1). Next, the fire receiving device 1 initializes the variable n, which indicates the group to which the request signal is to be sent, by setting the variable n to its initial value of 1 (step S2). Then, the fire receiving device 1 sends a request signal to the nth group (step S3).

[0044] In step S4, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the response to the request signal, and if there is no abnormality (step S4: NO), it is determined whether or not the value of variable n is equal to or greater than the maximum value n_max (step S11). The maximum value n_max is the number of groups. If the value of variable n is equal to or greater than the maximum value n_max (step S11: YES), the process ends. If the value of variable n is less than the maximum value n_max (step S11: NO), 1 is added to the value of variable n (step S12), and the process returns to step S3. In other words, if there is no abnormality in the response, the process of sending a request signal to the next group in the order is repeated, and when request signals have been sent to all groups, the status information collection process ends.

[0045] If there is an abnormality in the response to the request signal (step S4: YES), the fire control signal receiver 1 executes a retransmission process to retransmit the request signal to the nth group (step S5). In the following step S6, it is determined whether there is an abnormality in the response to the request signal, and if there is no abnormality (step S6: NO), it proceeds to step S11, and if there is an abnormality (step S6: YES), it proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the fire control signal receiver 1 executes a retransmission process to retransmit the request signal to the nth group. In the following step S8, it is determined whether there is an abnormality in the response to the request signal, and if there is no abnormality (step S8: NO), it proceeds to step S11, and if there is an abnormality (step S8: YES), it proceeds to step S9.

[0046] In step S9, since an abnormality has been detected in the response to the request signal a specified number of times (three times in the example of FIG. 5), it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the n-th group. Subsequently, processing for when an abnormality has occurred is executed (step S10). Processing for when an abnormality has occurred includes outputting an alarm using one or more of the display unit 13, the audio output unit 14, and the output interface. After processing for when an abnormality has occurred, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0047] As described above, the fire receiving device 1 of this embodiment includes a request signal transmitting unit 101 that transmits request signals requesting the transmission of status information in a specified order to the fire detectors 3, which are multiple terminal devices connected to the device itself. The device also includes an abnormality control unit 103 that controls the request signal transmitting unit 101 to perform a retransmission process of transmitting request signals in an order different from the specified order to the fire detectors 3 in which the abnormality was detected when an abnormality is detected in the response to the request signal, and an alarm output unit 104 that outputs an alarm when the occurrence of an abnormality is confirmed in the retransmission process.

[0048] If an abnormality is detected in the response during status information collection processing in the specified order, retransmission processing is performed in a modified order, thereby speeding up the timing for determining whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected in the response.

[0049] An example of an order different from the specified order is when, in the retransmission process, the request signal transmission unit 101 transmits a request signal multiple times in succession to a fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected, a specific example of which is the modified order 1 in Fig. 3. By transmitting a request signal multiple times in succession to a fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected, it is possible to quickly determine if an abnormality exists, and therefore it is also possible to quickly output an alarm when an abnormality occurs.

[0050] Another example of an order different from the specified order is when, in the retransmission process, the request signal transmission unit 101 transmits a request signal to one or more fire detectors 3 other than the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected, and then transmits a request signal to the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected; a specific example is changed order 2 in FIG. 3. In this way, by transmitting a request signal to a fire detector 3 other than the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected, and then transmitting a request signal again to the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected, it is possible to quickly determine the abnormality and output an alarm accordingly while suppressing delays in the status information collection process of the other fire detectors 3. Note that the number of other fire detectors 3 to which request signals are transmitted is not limited, but should be the number that allows the retransmission process of the request signal for the fire detector 3 in which the abnormality was detected to be executed within the specified time set for alarm output.

[0051] Another example of an order different from the specified order is when, during the retransmission process, the request signal transmission unit 101 transmits a first request signal and a second request signal to the fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected. The number of other fire detectors 3 to which request signals are transmitted between the start of the retransmission process and the transmission of the first request signal is different from the number of other fire detectors 3 to which request signals are transmitted between the transmission of the first request signal and the transmission of the second request signal. A specific example of this is the change order 3 in FIG. 3 . By transmitting request signals to the other fire detectors 3 before retransmission to the fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected, delays in the status information collection process of the other fire detectors 3 can be suppressed, while the abnormality can be identified and an associated alarm can be output early. Furthermore, by varying the number of other fire detectors 3 to which request signals are transmitted between retransmission of the request signal to the fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected, an abnormality caused by regular noise can be avoided. The number of other fire detectors 3 that send request signals in the retransmission process is not limited, but the number of fire detectors 3 that can perform the retransmission process of the request signal for the fire detector 3 in which an abnormality has been detected is set to the number that can be executed within the specified time period set for the alarm output.

[0052] Embodiment 2 In this embodiment, a mode in which the retransmission process is changed depending on the type of abnormality detected in the response in the status information collection process will be described. In this embodiment, differences from embodiment 1 will be mainly described. Note that the system configuration of the fire alarm system 100 of this embodiment is assumed to be the same as that shown in FIG.

[0053] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the state information collection process of the fire control panel 1 according to embodiment 2. In Fig. 6, the same processes as those in Fig. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different processes are denoted by the suffix A.

[0054] This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that if there is no abnormality in the response signal (step S4: NO), the state information collection process is performed for all groups in a specified order.

[0055] If there is an abnormality in the response (step S4: YES), the fire control signal receiver 1 determines the type of abnormality (step S20A). The types of abnormality include, for example, no response, which is a state in which a status information signal cannot be received from the fire detector 3 in response to a request signal, a false response, which is a state in which the received signal is corrupted, and an output value abnormality, which is the case when output value abnormality information is included in the response from the fire detector 3. Here, it is assumed that there are three types of abnormalities, types X, Y, and Z. The fire control signal receiver 1 executes retransmission processing X if the abnormality is type X (step S21A), executes retransmission processing Y if the abnormality is type Y (step S22A), and executes retransmission processing Z if the abnormality is type Z (step S23A).

[0056] Each of the retransmission processes X to Z may be any one of the modification orders 1 to 3 shown in the first embodiment. Also, all of the retransmission processes X to Z may be any one of the modification orders 1 to 3, but the order and the number of times the request signal is transmitted in the retransmission process may be different from each other. Specifically, for example, the retransmission processes X to Z transmit a request signal continuously to the group in which an abnormality was detected, as in modification order 1, and the number of times the request signal is transmitted continuously is different in the retransmission processes X to Z. Also, the retransmission processes X to Z transmit a request signal to other groups before retransmitting the request signal to the group in which an abnormality was detected, as in modification order 2 or modification order 2, and the number of other groups is different in the retransmission processes X to Z. If an abnormality is confirmed in the retransmission processes X to Z, an alarm is output as in the first embodiment.

[0057] When the retransmission processes X to Z are completed, it is determined in step S24A whether there are any groups for which the status information collection process has not been performed, and if there are any groups for which the process has not been performed (step S24A: YES), the variable n is set to the first number of the groups for which the process has not been performed (step S25A), and the process returns to step S3. If there are no groups for which the process has not been performed (step S24A: NO), the process ends.

[0058] In this manner, in this embodiment, abnormalities in the response to the request signal in the status information collection process include multiple types of abnormalities, and the retransmission process is executed in a different change order depending on the type of abnormality. Since multiple types of abnormalities may each have a specific cause, adopting a change order that can avoid the cause can avoid communication abnormalities.

[0059] Although the fire alarm system 100 of the first and second embodiments has been described as a specific example in which group polling is performed, point polling may also be performed. In the case of point polling, the same operation can be achieved by replacing the group in the description of the first and second embodiments with the fire detector 3. Furthermore, although the first and second embodiments have been described as an example in which the terminal device connected to the fire receiver 1 is the fire detector 3, the terminal device may also be other devices, such as a gas leak detector. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 Fire receiver, 2 Detector line, 3 Fire detector, 4 Transmitter, 10 Control unit, 11 Memory unit, 12 Operation unit, 13 Display unit, 14 Audio output unit, 15 Transmission circuit, 100 Fire alarm system, 101 Request signal transmission unit, 102 Status information acquisition unit, 103 Abnormality control unit, 104 Alarm output unit, 111 Abnormality setting data.

Claims

1. a request signal transmitting unit that transmits request signals requesting transmission of status information to a plurality of terminal devices connected to the device in a specified order; a state information acquisition unit that acquires the state information; an abnormality control unit that controls the request signal transmitting unit to perform a retransmission process of transmitting the request signal to the terminal device in which the abnormality is detected in a modified order different from the specified order when an abnormality is detected in the response to the request signal; an alarm output unit that outputs an alarm when the occurrence of the abnormality is confirmed in the retransmission process; Fire receiver.

2. In the retransmission process, the request signal transmission unit transmits the request signal multiple times in succession to the terminal device in which the abnormality is detected. The fire receiver according to claim 1.

3. In the retransmission process, the request signal transmission unit transmits the request signal to one or more other terminals that are terminal devices different from the terminal device in which the abnormality was detected, and then transmits the request signal to the terminal device in which the abnormality was detected. The fire receiver according to claim 1.

4. In the retransmission process, when the request signal transmission unit transmits the first request signal and the second request signal to the terminal device in which the abnormality is detected, the number of other terminals to which the request signal is transmitted from the start of the retransmission process until the transmission of the first request signal is different from the number of other terminals to which the request signal is transmitted from the transmission of the first request signal until the transmission of the second request signal.

4. The fire receiver according to claim 3.

5. The abnormality includes a plurality of types of abnormality, The change order differs depending on the type of the abnormality. The fire receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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