Wide-area fire alarm system

Abstract

To provide a wide-area fire alarm system that allows residents to take appropriate action when alarm units installed in multiple dwelling units mutually cooperate to output a fire alarm.SOLUTION: In a wide-area fire alarm system, alarm units 10 installed respectively in dwelling units 12 in a monitored area monitor fires in cooperation with each other. When the fire is detected, the alarm unit 10 outputs an alarm activation interlocking source alarm with sound and display, which includes a predetermined alarm content that urges a user to activate the alarm unit and confirm the fire, and also transmits an alarm activation interlocking signal to the alarm unit 10 in other dwelling units, which outputs an alarm activation interlocking destination alarm with sound and display, which includes a predetermined alarm content indicating that the alarm units in other dwelling unit are activated and the fire is being confirmed. Then, when detecting a prescribed fire confirmation operation during the output of the alarm activation interlocking source alarm, the alarm unit 10 sends a fire confirmation interlocking signal to the alarm units of the other dwelling units to output a fire confirmation alarm including a prescribed alarm content to indicate that the fire has been confirmed, with sound and display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wide-area fire alarm system that monitors and issues an alarm in the event of a fire occurring in a restaurant or residential building in a densely built-up urban area. [Background technology]

[0002] According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency White Paper, a fire that burns an area of ​​33,000 m2 (10,000 tsubo) or more is considered a "major fire," but there has not been a major fire spreading through urban areas during normal times since the Sakata Fire in 1976.

[0003] However, in urban areas densely populated with wooden buildings, roads are narrow and there are dilapidated buildings, making it difficult for fire trucks and firefighters to enter in the event of a fire. Furthermore, when weather conditions such as wind direction at the time of the fire are added, there is a risk of the fire spreading over a wide area.

[0004] On the other hand, in recent years, residential fire alarms that detect and warn of fires in homes have become widespread. Of these, residential fire alarms are referred to as alarms.

[0005] These types of alarms have a sensor unit and an alarm unit integrated into the alarm, and sound a fire alarm when it detects a fire due to smoke or heat, etc. Because the alarm can monitor for fires and sound an alarm on its own, they are easy to install and inexpensive, and have become widely used as their installation in ordinary homes has become mandatory.

[0006] Wireless interlocking alarm systems, which allow multiple alarm devices to communicate with each other so that when a fire alarm is sounded by any one alarm device, the other alarm devices also sound a fire alarm in tandem, have also been put into practical use and are becoming widespread.

[0007] However, in such conventional wireless-linked fire alarm systems, when one alarm receives a wireless signal from another alarm, multiple wireless signals using the same communication frequency may arrive at the same time, causing a signal collision. The frequency of signal collisions increases as the number of alarms installed in an alert area increases, which limits the number of alarms that can be installed in one alert area.

[0008] To solve this problem, a known fire alarm system forms groups consisting of multiple alarm devices, uses different communication frequencies for each group, and when forming the groups, sets a maximum number of alarm devices to prevent the frequency of signal collisions from becoming too high, and places repeaters between the multiple groups formed in this way to link them together (Patent Document 2).

[0009] In a fire alarm system in which groups are linked together using different communication frequencies for each group, the total number of linked alarm devices can be increased by linking multiple groups within a surveillance area.Since the communication frequencies of alarm devices in different groups are different, even if a signal from an alarm device in one group and a signal from an alarm device in another group arrive at an alarm device in that group at the same time, no signal collision occurs, and signals can be sent and received reliably.

[0010] By installing a group-linked alarm system in facilities with a floor area of ​​less than 3,000 square meters that are not required to install fire alarm equipment, such as group homes that provide household support for the elderly or intellectually disabled, it is possible to avoid the problem of signal conflicts while increasing the number of linked alarms throughout the group home to the necessary and sufficient number, making it possible to provide fire monitoring functions that are essentially equivalent to those provided by installing fire alarm equipment, at a low cost.

[0011] For this reason, it is conceivable to apply the conventional group-linked fire alarm system to wide-area fire alarm systems that monitor fires in urban areas with a high concentration of wooden buildings. In this way, the dwellings in the urban areas to be monitored would be divided into groups of 15 dwelling units, each corresponding to the maximum number of alarms that can be configured in a group, with a limit placed on the frequency of signal collisions to prevent a high frequency of signal collisions, and alarm groups with different communication frequencies would be formed. Furthermore, repeaters that convert the frequency of the fire interlocking signals would be installed between the groups to enable interlocking between the groups.

[0012] If such a conventional group-linked alarm system is applied to a wide-area fire alarm system aimed at urban areas, when an alarm in one dwelling unit detects a fire and sounds an alarm, a fire alarm can be output from alarms in other dwelling units in the same group and from alarms installed in dwelling units in all other groups.

[0013] However, if a wide-area fire alarm system simultaneously issues a fire alarm from the alarms of all units in a group, that is, all units in the monitored area, in the event of a fire in one unit, this could result in fire alarms being issued in units in groups where the fire is less urgent and located a considerable distance from the unit where the fire occurred, which could cause unnecessary confusion and could increase the inconvenience in the event of a false alarm or false alarm.

[0014] In addition, the division of residential units into groups in monitored areas is based on the residents' agreement to monitor each other for fires, and must be carried out with due consideration given to neighborhood relationships among local residents, such as neighborhood associations.As it is not possible to unambiguously divide residential units into groups based on map information, etc., there is also the problem that dividing residential units into groups takes a lot of time and effort.

[0015] To solve this problem, the applicant has proposed a wide-area fire alarm system in which wirelessly linked alarms are installed in each of multiple dwelling units in the monitored area, and in the event of a fire, the alarm in the dwelling unit where the fire occurred will be the center of the alarm operation, and as time passes, fire alarm operations by alarms in other dwelling units will spread in a ripple-like manner throughout the monitored area (Patent Document 1).

[0016] For this reason, the alarm is set to a transmission power for transmitting the fire linkage signal so that multiple alarms installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit where the alarm is located are within the communication area, and the relay delay times from when the fire linkage signal is received until it is relayed and transmitted are set to be different for the multiple alarms installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit that detected the fire, thereby reducing communication errors caused by signal collisions when the fire linkage signal is relayed and transmitted in a ripple pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0017] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-99675 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-33236 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-034373 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0018] Incidentally, when an alarm device installed in a dwelling in a monitored area detects a fire, it outputs a linked fire alarm, such as "Woo hoo, the fire alarm has been activated, please check," indicating that a fire has occurred in that dwelling, and on the other hand, an alarm device installed in a nearby dwelling that receives the fire linked signal outputs a linked fire alarm, such as "Woo hoo, the fire alarm in another dwelling has been activated, please check," indicating that a fire has occurred in another dwelling.

[0019] However, in such fire monitoring through the coordination of alarms installed in multiple dwelling units, a fire alarm is issued from the dwelling unit in which the alarm was activated and from alarms in neighboring dwelling units, so it is expected that there may be cases where it is difficult for residents to take appropriate action when a fire alarm is issued.

[0020] For example, in a residence where an alarm has been activated, it is possible to check whether there is a fire or not and take appropriate action, but in a neighboring residence where a linked fire alarm has been issued, it is difficult to check the scene, and even if there is a fire, it cannot be confirmed until the fire has spread, which makes it difficult to report to the fire department, put out the fire initially, and take evacuation action.

[0021] Furthermore, if the alarm is activated due to a non-fire factor, residents will be left in a state of anxiety, not knowing what is happening until the alarm is stopped in the apartment where the alarm was activated.Furthermore, if residents are not at home, the alarm will not be stopped, so even if it is confirmed that there is no fire, residents will be forced to ignore the situation.

[0022] The present invention aims to provide a wide-area fire alarm system that allows residents to take appropriate action when alarm devices installed in multiple dwelling units work together to output a fire alarm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0023] (Wide-area fire alarm system) The present invention is a wide-area fire alarm system in which alarm devices installed in each of a plurality of dwelling units in a monitoring area cooperate with each other to monitor fires, The alarm is When a fire is detected, an alarm activation linkage source alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content urging the alarm to be activated and the fire to be checked, and an alarm activation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, and an alarm activation linkage destination alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content urging the alarms of other dwelling units to be activated and the fire to be checked, If a predetermined fire confirmation operation is detected during the output of the linkage source alarm of the alarm activation, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarm of the other dwelling unit, and a fire confirmation alarm including predetermined alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed is output, If a specified restoration operation or fire restoration is detected while an alarm source alarm for an alarm device is being output, the alarm source alarm for an alarm device is stopped, and a restoration restoration signal is sent to alarm devices in other dwelling units to stop the alarm destination alarm for an alarm device, and a restoration alarm containing specified alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored is output.

[0024] (Fire confirmation based on elapsed time if no fire confirmation operation is performed) If a predetermined time has passed without detecting a fire confirmation operation while the alarm is outputting a linkage source alarm for alarm activation, the alarm sends a fire confirmation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units, causing them to output a fire confirmation alarm including predetermined alarm content requesting that the occupant check for and report a fire while the occupant is away.

[0025] (Fire confirmation and recovery operations using alarms) The alarm is equipped with an alarm stop switch, If a fire confirmation operation is detected by a specified special operation of the alarm stop switch while the source alarm of the alarm operation linkage source is being output, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, If a specified alarm stop operation using the alarm stop switch is detected while an alarm linkage source alarm is being output, the alarm linkage source alarm will be stopped and a recovery linkage signal will be sent to alarms in other apartments.

[0026] (Fire confirmation and recovery operations using a portable remote control) Furthermore, a portable remote control equipped with a fire confirmation switch and a recovery switch is provided, The alarm is If a fire confirmation signal is received from the remote control's fire confirmation switch while the alarm source alarm is being output, a fire confirmation interlocking signal is sent to the alarms in other dwelling units. If a recovery signal is received by operating the recovery switch on the remote control while an alarm linking the alarm activation source is being output, the alarm linking source alarm will be stopped and a recovery linking signal will be sent to alarms in other apartments.

[0027] (Emergency call operation using a remote control) The alarm is When a fire confirmation signal is received by operating the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller in a normal monitoring state in which the alarm activation linkage source alarm, alarm activation linkage destination alarm, or fire confirmation alarm is not being output, an emergency notification linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, When an emergency notification linkage signal is received from an alarm device in another dwelling unit, an emergency notification alarm including predetermined alarm content indicating that an emergency has occurred and that rescue is required is output.

[0028] (Warning waves spread from the fire-hit apartment) The multiple alarm devices relay and transmit alarm activation linkage signals, fire confirmation linkage signals, or recovery linkage signals so that the alarm action of the alarm device in the dwelling unit that detected the fire spreads like a ripple over time to alarm devices in other dwelling units.

[0029] (Fire alarm unit display by host device) The multiple alarm devices are connected to a host device via a communication network, When the alarm device outputs an interlock source alarm that activates the alarm device, it transmits an interlock source alarm notification signal to the host device, and when it outputs an interlock destination alarm that activates the alarm device, it transmits an interlock destination alarm notification signal to the host device; The higher-level device displays the dwelling unit where a fire has occurred when it receives an interlocking source alarm notification signal from the alarm device, and displays the interlocked alarm dwelling unit when it receives an interlocking destination alarm notification signal from the alarm device.

[0030] (Erasing the display of the fire alarm unit by the host device) When the alarm device outputs a recovery alarm, it sends a recovery notification signal to the higher-level device, When the higher-level device receives a restoration notification signal from the alarm device, it erases the display of the fire-prone dwelling unit or linked alarm dwelling unit that sent the restoration notification signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] (Basic effect) The present invention is a wide-area fire alarm system in which alarm devices installed in each of a number of dwelling units in a monitored area cooperate with each other to monitor for fires, and when an alarm device detects a fire, it outputs an alarm activation interlock source alarm which includes predetermined alarm content to encourage the alarm device to be activated and to check for the fire, and sends an alarm activation interlock signal to the alarm devices of the other dwelling units to output an alarm activation interlock destination alarm which includes predetermined alarm content to indicate that the alarms of the other dwelling units have been activated and that the fire is being checked for, and when a predetermined fire confirmation operation is detected while the alarm activation interlock source alarm is being output, it sends a fire confirmation interlock signal to the alarm devices of the other dwelling units to output a fire confirmation alarm which includes predetermined alarm content to indicate that the fire has been confirmed, and when a predetermined restoration operation or fire restoration is detected while the alarm activation interlock source alarm is being output, it stops the alarm activation interlock source alarm and sends a restoration interlock signal to the alarm devices of the other dwelling units to stop the alarm activation interlock destination alarm and output a restoration alarm which includes predetermined alarm content to indicate the predetermined fire restoration, so that alarm devices in neighbouring dwelling units which have received the alarm activation interlock signal from the alarm device of the dwelling unit where the fire occurred will not hear, for example, "Woo woo!" When an alarm is activated, a linked alarm including a voice message such as "The fire alarm at Mr. A's house has been activated. We are checking for a fire" is output, which lets the residents of nearby apartments know that an alarm has been activated in their apartment and that a fire is being checked for, and they can wait for the next alarm, preventing unnecessary confusion.

[0032] Next, if a fire is confirmed, the alarms in nearby dwellings will output a confirmed fire alarm, including audio such as "Woohoo, woohoo, a fire has been confirmed, please notify the fire department, and we request firefighting assistance." This will let nearby residents know that the fire they have confirmed in a nearby dwelling has been confirmed, and they will be able to quickly notify the fire department and head to the fire department with fire extinguishers or other equipment to assist in firefighting, and will also enable dwellings downwind to take swift evacuation action.

[0033] On the other hand, if the alarm malfunctions due to factors other than fire, the alarms in nearby apartments will emit a recovery alarm that includes a voice message such as, "Beep beep, the fire alarm has gone off, but please rest assured that there is no fire." This will let nearby residents know that their alarms have malfunctioned, allowing them to return to their normal lives with peace of mind.

[0034] (Effect of time elapsed on determining whether a fire has occurred when no fire determination operation has been performed) Furthermore, if the alarm is outputting a source alarm that activates the alarm and a predetermined time has passed without detecting a fire confirmation operation, it will send a fire confirmation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units, and output a destination alarm that includes predetermined alarm content requesting that the resident check for a fire and report it while they are away.If the alarm is activated while the resident is away, the resident will not check for a fire, so in this case the fire confirmation linkage signal will be forcibly sent after the predetermined time has passed, and a destination alarm that includes audio such as "Woo hoo, the fire alarm has been activated but it is taking time to check. If a neighbor confirms a fire, please contact the fire department. Please make initial fire extinguishing efforts." This allows neighboring residents to know that the dwelling unit that activated the alarm is unoccupied and rush to the scene, and if they confirm the fire from outside, they can report it to the fire department, and if possible, make initial fire extinguishing efforts using a fire extinguisher or the like.

[0035] (Effects of fire confirmation and restoration operations using alarms) The alarm is also equipped with an alarm stop switch, and if a fire confirmation operation is detected by a predetermined special operation of the alarm stop switch while the source alarm that triggers the alarm to be activated is being output, a fire confirmation interlocking signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units; and if a predetermined alarm stop operation is detected by the alarm stop switch while the source alarm that triggers the alarm to be activated is being output, the source alarm that triggers the alarm to be activated is stopped and a recovery interlocking signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units.This means that if a resident of a dwelling unit whose alarm has been activated confirms a fire, they can, for example, press and hold the alarm stop switch, which will detect the fire confirmation operation and cause a fire confirmation alarm to be output from a nearby dwelling unit; on the other hand, if they confirm that there is no fire, they can perform the alarm stop operation using the normal alarm stop switch, which will stop the source alarm that triggers the alarm to be activated and cause a recovery alarm to be output from the alarms of nearby dwelling units, allowing them to take appropriate action.

[0036] (Effects of fire confirmation and recovery operations using a portable remote control) Furthermore, a portable remote controller equipped with a fire confirmation switch and a recovery switch is provided, and if the alarm receives a fire confirmation signal due to operation of the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller while the linkage source alarm for alarm activation is being output, it sends a fire confirmation interlocking signal to the alarm devices in other dwelling units, and if a recovery signal due to operation of the recovery switch on the remote controller is received from the remote controller while the linkage source alarm for alarm activation is being output, it stops the linkage source alarm for alarm activation and sends a recovery interlocking signal to the alarm devices in other dwelling units.This means that residents of a dwelling unit whose alarm has been activated can carry the remote controller with them to check for the presence or absence of a fire, and if they confirm a fire, they can simply and easily operate the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller to cause a confirmed fire alarm to be output from a neighbouring dwelling unit, without having to return to the alarm device's installation location; on the other hand, if they confirm that there is no fire, they can simply and easily operate the recovery switch on the remote controller to stop the linkage source alarm for alarm activation and cause a recovery alarm to be output from the alarm device in a neighbouring dwelling unit, without having to return to the alarm device's installation location.

[0037] Furthermore, if a neighboring resident receives a linked alarm signal from their alarm, even if they are in the process of checking for a fire and can confirm the fire from outside, they can operate the fire confirmation switch on the remote control they carry, which will cause the alarms in other neighboring dwellings to issue a fire confirmation alarm including a voice message such as "Woohoo, woohoo, a fire has been confirmed, please notify the fire department, and we request firefighting assistance," which can be expected to lead to swift and appropriate action by neighboring residents.

[0038] In addition, if the apartment where the alarm was activated is unoccupied or if only elderly people are living there, when a linked alarm is issued, the situation can be observed from outside, and it can be determined whether there is a fire or not, and appropriate action can be taken, such as confirming the fire or restoring the building.

[0039] In particular, if the alarm is activated for a reason other than a fire while the occupant is away, once it is confirmed that there is no fire, the alarm output of the activated alarm in the unoccupied unit can be stopped from outside by operating the recovery switch on the remote control device carried with the occupant, eliminating the inconvenience of the alarm malfunctioning and being left emitting the alarm.

[0040] (Effectiveness of emergency call operation using a portable remote control) Furthermore, when the alarm is in a normal monitoring state where no alarm activation linkage source alarm, alarm activation linkage destination alarm, or fire confirmation alarm is being output, if it receives a fire confirmation signal caused by operating the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller, it will send an emergency call linkage signal to the alarms in other dwelling units, and if it receives an emergency call linkage signal from an alarm in another dwelling unit, it will output a specified emergency call alert containing specified alert content stating that an emergency has occurred and that rescue is being requested.Therefore, if a resident such as an elderly person falls ill during normal monitoring, where no fire-related alarms are being output, operating the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller they are carrying will cause the alarm to send an emergency call linkage signal to the alarms in neighbouring dwelling units, and will repeatedly output an emergency call alert containing audio such as "Beep beep beep - an abnormality has occurred at Mr. A's house, please send rescue", enabling neighbours to take swift and appropriate action.

[0041] (The effect of the alarm spreading like a ripple from the apartment where the fire occurred) Furthermore, the multiple alarms are designed to relay and transmit alarm activation linkage signals, fire confirmation linkage signals or recovery linkage signals so that the alarm operation of the alarm in the dwelling unit that detected the fire will be at the center and operations by the alarms in other dwelling units will spread in a ripple-like pattern over time.This means that the alarm operation of the alarms in the dwelling unit where the fire occurred will be centered, with the alarms in the adjacent dwelling units surrounding it, and then the alarms in the adjacent dwelling units surrounding that, and so on, so that ripples spread out over time from the dwelling unit where the fire occurred, and alarm operations by the alarms in the dwelling units with the greatest risk of fire will be expanded over time, making it possible for nearby residents to respond appropriately to the dwelling unit where the fire occurred, which is the center of the alarm operation, by reporting the fire, and taking initial fire extinguishing and evacuation action.

[0042] (Effect of fire alarm unit display by host device) In addition, the multiple alarm devices are connected to a higher-level device via a communications network, and when an alarm device outputs a source alarm that activates the alarm device it sends a source alarm notification signal to the higher-level device, and when it outputs a destination alarm that activates the alarm device it sends a destination alarm notification signal to the higher-level device, and the higher-level device displays the dwelling where a fire has occurred when it receives a source alarm notification signal from the alarm device, and displays the linked alarm dwelling when it receives a destination alarm notification signal from the alarm device.For example, by displaying a dwelling unit map showing the dwellings in the monitored area on a server functioning as the higher-level device, the dwelling where a fire has occurred that has sent a source alarm notification signal can be displayed in red, for example, and the alarm-linked dwelling unit that has sent a destination alarm notification signal can be displayed in orange, making it possible to visually grasp the alarm operation by the alarm devices in the dwellings, as if ripples are spreading from the dwelling where the fire has occurred.

[0043] (Effect of erasing the fire alarm display on the dwelling unit by the host device) In addition, when the alarm outputs a restoration alarm, it sends a restoration notification signal to the higher-level device, and when the higher-level device receives a restoration notification signal from the alarm, it erases the display of the fire-incident dwelling unit or alarm-linked dwelling unit that sent the restoration notification signal.Therefore, for example, if the server functioning as the higher-level device displays the fire-incident dwelling unit and alarm-linked dwelling unit on a dwelling unit map, the erasure of the fire-incident dwelling unit and alarm-linked dwelling unit in response to receiving the restoration notification signal makes it possible to simply and easily understand how the alarm's alarm operation is being restored. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a wide-area fire alarm system. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing a dwelling unit map showing the dwelling units to be monitored by the wide-area fire alarm system and the locations of alarm devices. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing the layout of alarm devices and a dwelling unit group consisting of nine dwelling units arranged in a 3x3 grid, which is the basic unit of the wide-area warning system. [Figure 4] This is a time chart showing relay transmissions by eight surrounding alarm devices when the central alarm device shown in Figure 2 detects a fire and transmits a fire interlocking signal twice. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an embodiment of a wireless linked alarm device used in a wide-area warning system. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a remote controller used to operate an alarm device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a relay delay map used to set a relay delay time in a monitoring area. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the setting of relay delay times based on the relay delay map of FIG. 7 for dwelling units in a monitoring area. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how a fire alarm operation spreads in a ripple-like manner from the dwelling unit where the fire occurred. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the alarm device. [Figure 11]11 is a flowchart showing details of the fire alarm control in step S4 of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing interlocking signal transmission control in an alarm device. [Figure 13] 11 is a flowchart showing details of the interlocking signal reception control in step S6 of FIG. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a wide-area fire alarm system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0046] [Basic concept of the embodiment] First, the basic concept of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment generally relates to a wide-area fire alarm system in which alarm devices installed in each of a plurality of dwelling units in a monitored area cooperate with each other to monitor for fires.

[0047] Here, a "monitored area" refers to an area where there are many dwellings that are monitored for fires by installing alarms, and the size of the area is arbitrary, but the concept includes a wide area, such as a large area divided into specified administrative districts such as cities, towns, and villages.

[0048] In addition, an "alarm device" is a device that is installed in each of multiple dwelling units in the monitored area, detects fires, issues an alarm, and sends an alarm activation linkage signal, a fire confirmation linkage signal, or a recovery linkage signal to alarm devices in other dwelling units to issue corresponding alarms, and also receives alarm activation linkage signals, fire confirmation linkage signals, or recovery linkage signals sent from other alarm devices and issues corresponding alarms.

[0049] Here, an "alarm device activation interlocking signal" is an interlocking signal that is sent to other alarm devices when an alarm device detects a fire and outputs an interlocking source alarm operation for alarm device activation. Also, a "fire confirmation interlocking signal" is an interlocking signal that is sent to other alarm devices when a specified fire confirmation operation is performed while an interlocking source alarm for alarm device activation is being output. Furthermore, a "recovery interlocking signal" is an interlocking signal that is sent to other alarm devices when a specified recovery operation or fire recovery is detected while an interlocking source alarm for alarm device activation is being output.

[0050] The alarm devices also work together to monitor fires, and perform the following coordinated actions: detecting a fire, confirming the fire, and restoring the fire.

[0051] First, as a linked operation for fire detection, when an alarm detects a fire, it outputs an alarm activation linkage source alarm by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content urging the alarm to be activated and the fire to be checked, and it also sends an alarm activation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units, which causes alarm activation linkage destination alarms to be output by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content stating that the alarms in those other dwelling units have been activated and that the fire is being checked.As a result, residents in nearby dwelling units will know that an alarm in their neighboring dwelling unit has been activated and is being checked, and will have to wait for the next alarm, preventing unnecessary confusion.

[0052] In addition, as a fire confirmation linkage operation, if the alarm detects a specified fire confirmation operation while outputting the alarm activation linkage source alarm, it will send a fire confirmation linkage signal to the alarms in other dwellings, which will output a fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed. As a result, nearby residents will know that a fire being confirmed in a nearby dwelling has been confirmed, and will be able to take action such as reporting it to the fire department and heading to help with firefighting with a fire extinguisher, etc.

[0053] In addition, as a linked operation for fire restoration, if the alarm detects a specified restoration operation or fire restoration while outputting the linked source alarm for the alarm activation, it will stop the linked source alarm for the alarm activation and send a restoration linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units to stop the linked destination alarm for the alarm activation and output a restoration alarm by voice and display containing specified alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored. This allows nearby residents to be aware of the alarm malfunction and to return to their normal lives with peace of mind.

[0054] Furthermore, as a linked operation for fire confirmation, if a predetermined time passes without detecting a fire confirmation operation while the alarm is outputting a linked source alarm for alarm activation, it will send a fire confirmation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units and output a linked destination fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content requesting that the resident check for and report a fire while unattended. This allows neighboring residents to know that the resident in the dwelling where the alarm was activated is unattended, and they can confirm the fire from outside and report it to the fire department or take initial action to extinguish the fire.

[0055] In this embodiment, a remote control is installed in each dwelling unit in addition to an alarm device. Here, the "remote control" is a portable device equipped with a fire confirmation switch and a recovery switch, and when the fire confirmation switch is operated, a fire confirmation signal is sent to the alarm device in the dwelling unit, and when the recovery switch is operated, a recovery signal is sent to the alarm device in the dwelling unit.

[0056] Therefore, if a resident of a dwelling unit whose alarm has been activated carries a remote controller and confirms a fire, they can operate the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller without returning to the location where the alarm is installed, thereby causing a confirmed fire alarm to be output from the alarm in a neighboring dwelling unit; on the other hand, if they confirm that there is no fire, they can operate the recovery switch on the remote controller without returning to the location where the alarm is installed, thereby stopping the linked alarm that activated the alarm and causing a recovery alarm to be output from the alarm in a neighboring dwelling unit.

[0057] Furthermore, as a linked operation via the remote controller, the alarm device outputs an emergency alert. In this case, if the alarm device receives a fire confirmation signal from the remote controller during normal monitoring, it will send an emergency alert interlocking signal to alarm devices in other dwelling units, and if it receives an emergency alert interlocking signal from an alarm device in another dwelling unit, it will output an emergency alert by voice and display, including predetermined alert content indicating that an emergency has occurred and that rescue is required. Therefore, during normal monitoring, if a resident such as an elderly person falls ill, for example, they can operate the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller they carry with them, which will cause the alarm devices in neighboring dwelling units to report the occurrence of an emergency and request rescue.

[0058] Furthermore, each alarm installed in multiple dwelling units relays an alarm activation linkage signal, a fire confirmation linkage signal or a recovery linkage signal so that the operation of the alarm in the dwelling unit that detected the fire spreads in a ripple-like pattern over time to the alarms in other dwelling units; in this regard, the publicly known methods described in the aforementioned patent documents are applied.

[0059] Furthermore, the multiple alarm devices are connected to a host device via a communications network. Here, a "host device" is a host device that is connected to the alarm devices via a communications network and centrally manages and controls the multiple alarm devices, and is made up of a computer device with communications capabilities, such as a server, and is a concept that also includes central devices, center devices, central monitoring devices, etc.

[0060] Furthermore, a "communications network" is a communications network that connects a higher-level device and multiple alarm devices via communications lines, and includes wireless communications lines, wired communications lines, or communications lines that combine both, such as the Internet, public wireless LAN communications networks, and mobile phone networks, and in the case of alarm devices, also includes wireless communications networks that comply with STD-30, the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band.

[0061] As a coordinated operation between the host device and multiple alarm devices, when an alarm device outputs a linked source alarm that activates the alarm device, it sends a linked destination alarm notification signal to the host device, and when it outputs a linked destination alarm that activates the alarm device, it sends a linked destination alarm notification signal to the host device.In response to this, the host device displays the dwelling unit where a fire has occurred when it receives a linked source alarm notification signal from the alarm device, and displays the linked alarm dwelling unit when it receives a linked destination alarm notification signal from the alarm device.

[0062] For this reason, by displaying the dwelling unit where the fire occurred and the linked alarm dwelling units on a dwelling unit map, for example, on the upper device, it becomes possible to visually grasp the state of the alarm operation in which the number of linked alarm dwelling units increases like ripples spreading from the dwelling unit where the fire occurred.

[0063] In addition, when the alarm device outputs a restoration alarm, it sends a restoration notification signal to the higher-level device, and in response, when the higher-level device receives a restoration notification signal from the alarm device, it erases the display of the fire-incident dwelling unit or linked alarm dwelling unit that sent the restoration notification signal.This makes it possible to visually see how the number of fire-incident dwelling units or linked alarm dwelling units displayed on the dwelling unit map by the higher-level device decreases as the fire is restored.

[0064] Specific embodiments are described below. In the specific embodiments shown below, the case is described where the alarm device is a "wireless-linked alarm device," the remote controller is a "portable wireless controller," the "host device" is a "server," the "communications network" is a communications network that combines "STD-30, the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band," "public wireless LAN communications network," and "the Internet," and the "dwelling unit group" is a "dwelling unit group of nine units in a 3x3 matrix."

[0065] [Specific details of the embodiment] The wide-area fire alarm system will be explained in more detail below.

[0066] a. Wide-area fire alarm system a1. System overview a2.Server functional configuration b. Relay delay time set in the alarm device by the server b1. Basic unit of dwelling unit group b2. Avoiding signal collisions by relay transmission b3. Relay delay time c. Alarm d. Fire control function d1. Alarm activation control d2. Fire confirmation control of alarm d3. Fire alarm recovery control d4. Emergency notification control of alarms d5. Alarm relay control e. Remote control f. Setting the relay delay time for alarm devices in the monitored area by the server f1.Relay delay map f2. Setting the actual relay delay time for alarms in the monitored area g. Wide-area fire alarm operation h. Control operation of wide-area fire alarm system h1. Alarm control h2. Fire alarm control h3. Alarm interlock signal transmission control h4. Interlocking signal reception control i. Server-based monitoring and control j. Modifications of the present invention k.Additional notes

[0067] [a. Wide-area fire alarm system] The wide-area fire alarm system will be explained in more detail below. In this explanation, reference will be made to Figure 1, which shows an outline of the wide-area fire alarm system equipped with wirelessly linked alarm devices and a server as a host device, and Figure 2, which shows the locations of the dwelling units and alarm devices to be monitored by the wide-area fire alarm system.

[0068] (a1. System Overview) Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a wide-area fire alarm system equipped with wirelessly linked alarm devices and a server as a higher-level device, and Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a map of the dwelling units monitored by the wide-area fire alarm system and the locations of the alarm devices.

[0069] As shown in Figure 1, in the wide-area fire alarm system of this embodiment, wirelessly linked alarm devices 10 that function as alarm devices and portable remote control devices 14 that can be carried around are installed in multiple dwelling units 12 in the monitored area.

[0070] Figure 2 is an example of a dwelling unit map 15 showing a monitored area, with an alarm device 10 installed in each of multiple dwelling units 12 located in the monitored area, such as an urban area densely populated with houses and shops. Note that in Figure 2, the alarm devices 10 are indicated by circles within the dwelling units, and the alarm device 10 and dwelling unit 12 are only indicated for one dwelling unit, with the other numbers omitted.

[0071] The alarm device 10 transmits and receives signals using a communications protocol that does not require carrier sensing, such as STD-30 (standard radio equipment for low-power security system radio stations), which is known as the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band. Note that "carrier sensing" refers to a mechanism that checks for the reception of signal radio waves in the same frequency band before transmitting a signal radio wave (carrier wave) in order to eliminate signal radio wave collisions (interference), and does not transmit a signal radio wave if a signal radio wave in the same frequency band is received, and transmits a signal radio wave if a signal radio wave in the same frequency band is not received.

[0072] The alarm device 10 is connected to a server 20, which functions as a higher-level device, via a communication network made up of a communication adapter 16 installed in the dwelling unit 12, a public wireless LAN communication network 28 such as WiFi, and the Internet 26, and transmits and receives packet signals to and from the server 20.

[0073] The communications adapter 16 converts signals transmitted from the alarm device 10 via specified low-power radio in the 426 MHz band into packet signals for wireless transmission over the public wireless LAN communications network 28 using a protocol conversion method, and also converts packet signals received via the public wireless LAN communications network 28 into specified low-power radio signals in the 426 MHz band for wireless transmission.

[0074] In addition, the communication adapter 16 may be provided with a mobile phone communication function conforming to a mobile phone communication protocol instead of a public wireless LAN communication function, or may be provided with both a public wireless LAN communication function and a mobile phone communication function, and switch to the public wireless LAN communication function if it is in a service area of ​​a public wireless LAN communication network, or switch to the mobile phone communication function if it is in a service area of ​​a mobile phone network, or switch to one of the two if it is in both service areas, taking into account, for example, usage fees and communication speed.

[0075] When a fire is detected, the alarm device 10 outputs an alarm activation linkage source alarm by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content indicating that an alarm has been activated within the dwelling unit and that the fire has been confirmed, and also sends an alarm activation linkage signal to the alarm device 10 in another dwelling unit 12, which causes an alarm activation linkage destination alarm to be output by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content indicating that an alarm has been activated in the other dwelling unit and that a fire is being confirmed.

[0076] Furthermore, if the alarm device 10 receives an alarm activation interlocking signal from another dwelling unit and detects that a fire has been confirmed due to a fire confirmation operation or the reception of a fire confirmation signal while an alarm activation interlocking source alarm is being output, it will send a fire confirmation interlocking signal to the alarm device in the other dwelling unit and output a fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed.

[0077] Furthermore, if a predetermined time elapses without detecting a confirmed fire while the alarm 10 is outputting a linkage source alarm for alarm activation due to fire detection, it will send a fire confirmation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units, and output a linkage destination alarm for fire confirmation by voice and display, which includes predetermined alarm content requesting that a fire be confirmed and reported while the occupant is away.

[0078] Furthermore, if the alarm device 10 receives an alarm activation interlocking signal from another dwelling unit and detects a specified restoration operation based on confirmation that there is no fire, or restoration due to receipt of a fire restoration signal, while outputting an alarm activation interlocking source alarm, it will stop the alarm activation interlocking source alarm and send a restoration interlocking signal to the alarm device in the other dwelling unit, stop the alarm activation interlocking destination alarm, and output a restoration alarm by voice and display that includes specified alarm content indicating the specified fire restoration.

[0079] (a2. Server functional configuration) The functional configuration of the server will be explained in more detail below. The server 20 shown in Figure 1 is composed of a computer circuit equipped with a CPU, memory, and various input / output ports, and the functions of the fire monitoring control unit 22 and database 24 are realized by the execution of a program by the CPU.

[0080] When a fire is detected by an alarm device 10 installed in a dwelling unit 12 in a monitored area connected via a communications network, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 performs control to remotely set the transmission power P and relay delay time Td in the alarm device 10 of each dwelling unit 12 for relaying and transmitting various interlocking signals such as an alarm device activation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal, and a restoration interlocking signal, so that alarm actions by alarm devices in other dwelling units spread in a ripple pattern over time, centered on the alarm action of the dwelling unit that detected the fire. In the following explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between "alarm device activation interlocking signal," "fire confirmation interlocking signal," "restoration interlocking signal," etc., they may simply be referred to as "interlocking signals."

[0081] Here, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 controls the setting of the transmission power P by setting the transmission power P so that the communication area of ​​the fire-linked signal transmitted when the alarm 10 installed in the dwelling unit 12 detects a fire includes alarms installed in multiple other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit 12.

[0082] The transmission power setting of the alarm device 10 in accordance with instructions from the server 20 is, for example, by dividing the transmission power P of the alarm device 10 into three stages of transmission power Pmax, Pmid, Pmin - high, medium, and low - and switching the setting so that the required communication area is obtained. Note that the transmission power setting for the alarm device 10 may be set in multiple stages of three or more, or the setting may be changed continuously.

[0083] In addition, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 controls the setting of the relay delay time Td by setting the relay delay time Td for the alarm 10 in each dwelling unit 12 so that the times taken by alarms installed in multiple other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit 12 in which the alarm 10 is installed differ from each other after receiving the interlocking signal until they relay and transmit it.

[0084] The database 24 of the server 20 stores various setting information necessary for fire monitoring, including map information such as the dwelling unit map 24 shown in Figure 2, which shows the dwelling units in the monitored area, the dwelling unit address assigned to each dwelling unit, the transmission power and relay delay time set for each dwelling unit, and network addresses such as IP addresses assigned to each dwelling unit.

[0085] The settings of the transmission power P and relay delay time Td for the alarm device 10 in each dwelling unit 12 do not have to be remotely set from the server 20, but may be manually set on-site.

[0086] [b. Relay delay time set in the alarm device by the server] The relay delay time set in the alarm devices by the server will be explained in more detail below. For this explanation, reference will be made to Figure 3, which shows the layout of alarm devices and a dwelling unit group consisting of nine dwelling units in a 3x3 matrix, which is the basic unit of the wide-area fire alarm system.

[0087] (b1. Basic unit of dwelling unit group) The basic unit of a dwelling unit group will now be explained in more detail. As shown in Figure 3, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 shown in Figure 1 divides the multiple dwelling units in the area to be monitored into dwelling unit groups of 9 dwelling units in a 3x3 matrix, and sets a dwelling unit address unique to the dwelling unit and mutually different relay delay times Td1 to Td9 in a predetermined order for each of the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) installed in the dwelling units 12 (12-1) to 12 (12-9) in the dwelling unit group.

[0088] In addition, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 sets relay delay times Td1 to Td9 so that the times taken by the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) installed in the dwelling units 12 (12-1) to 12 (12-9) to start relay transmission after receiving an interlocking signal from another alarm device differ from each other.

[0089] Here, one alarm device 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8) is installed in each of the dwelling units 12 (12-1) to 12-8, but in the central dwelling unit 12 (12-9), for example, three alarm devices 10 (10-9) are installed, one for each room, so that linked alarms are issued within the dwelling unit.

[0090] In this way, when multiple alarm devices 10 (10-9) are installed in the same dwelling unit 12 (12-9), the alarm device 10 (10-9) that detects a fire will send an alarm activation interlocking signal that includes the dwelling unit address unique to that unit, and since the dwelling unit address of the other alarm devices 10 (10-9) in the dwelling unit matches their own dwelling unit address, in this case they will output an interlocking destination alarm indicating a fire within the dwelling unit, but will not relay the transmission to the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8) in the other dwelling units.

[0091] Furthermore, when the three alarm devices 10 (10-9) installed in dwelling unit 12 (12-9) receive an alarm device activation interlocking signal that requires relaying from another dwelling unit, they each relay an alarm device activation interlocking signal, but by setting different relay delay times to each other, they prevent the timing of relay transmission from overlapping. Note that the following explanation mainly focuses on the case where one alarm device 10 is installed in each dwelling unit.

[0092] (b2. Avoiding signal collisions by relay transmission) The avoidance of signal collisions through relay transmission will now be explained in more detail.In this embodiment, when an alarm device in a certain dwelling unit detects a fire, alarm control is carried out to relay and transmit an interlocking signal so that the alarm device in the dwelling unit that detected the fire will be the center of the alarm operation and alarm devices in other dwelling units will start to operate in a ripple pattern as time passes, but in order to achieve this, it is important to avoid signal collisions when multiple alarm devices receive and relay interlocking signals from other dwelling units.

[0093] In order to avoid signal collisions due to such relay transmission of interlocking signals, the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 shown in Figure 1 sets relay delay times Td1 to Td9 for the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) of the dwelling unit group shown in Figure 3 so that the time from receiving a fire interlocking signal from another alarm device to starting relay transmission differs from one another.

[0094] Furthermore, when an alarm device 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) in a dwelling unit group detects a fire in its own dwelling unit, it transmits an interlocking signal multiple times at a predetermined time interval, including the dwelling unit address unique to that dwelling unit, a sequence number RN indicating the number of transmissions, and a relay count RN that increases by one from an initial value of 0 depending on the number of transmissions.

[0095] Furthermore, when an alarm device 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) in a dwelling group receives an interlocking signal with a dwelling unit address different from its own, it determines that the interlocking signal is from another alarm device and performs relay transmission control. This relay transmission control relays an interlocking signal that includes a relay count (RN-1) that is the received relay count RN minus 1 if the relay count RN is 1 or greater, and does not relay an interlocking signal if the relay count RN is RN=0.

[0096] In the following description, an interlocking signal received from another dwelling unit means that an interlocking signal with a dwelling unit address different from one's own dwelling unit address has been received.

[0097] Furthermore, when an alarm device 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) in a dwell unit group receives a linkage signal from another dwell unit, if the received sequence number SN is the same as a sequence number that has already been received, it will not relay the linkage signal.

[0098] In this way, the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-9) perform relay control based on the relay delay time setting, the number of relays RN, and the sequence number SN, to perform control that minimizes signal collisions in the relayed interlocking signals, even when using a communications protocol that complies with STD-30, which does not require carrier sensing.

[0099] (b3. Relay transmission delay time) The relay delay time will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 4, which shows the relay delay times set in the alarm devices for the dwelling unit group in Figure 3.

[0100] Here, Figure 4 is a time chart showing the relay transmission by the surrounding eight alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8) when the central alarm device 10 (10-9) shown in Figure 3 detects a fire and transmits an alarm device activation interlocking signal twice, with the alarm device 10 (10-9) showing transmission T and the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8) showing reception R and transmission T.

[0101] As shown in Figure 4, the alarm device 10 (10-9) located in the centre of Figure 3 transmits a first alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-1) at time t1. The sequence number SN of the first alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-1) is SN=1, and the number of relays RN is RN=0.

[0102] The first alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-1) transmitted by the alarm device 10 (10-9) is received by the eight surrounding alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8), but as the number of relays RN = 0, no relay transmission takes place.

[0103] Next, at time t2 the alarm device 10 (10-9) transmits a second alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-2) with sequence number SN = 2 and number of relays RN = 1, which is received by the eight surrounding alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8). Because the number of relays RN for the second alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-2) is 1, the alarm devices 10 (10-1) to 10 (10-8) begin relay control, and relay-transmit alarm device activation interlocking signals with the number of relays RN as RN = 1-1 = 0 at different times when different relay delay times Td1 to Td8 have passed since the second reception end time t3.

[0104] Furthermore, at time t4, the alarm device 10 (10-9) transmits a third alarm device activation interlocking signal 18 (18-3) with sequence number SN=3 and number of relays RN=2. By shifting the timing of relay transmission in this way in accordance with the relay delay times Td1 to Td9, it is possible to avoid signal collisions. This type of relay control also applies to the fire confirmation interlocking signal, fire confirmation interlocking signal and recovery interlocking signal.

[0105] [c.Alarm] The alarm will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 5, which shows an embodiment of a wireless interlocking type alarm used in a wide-area fire alarm system.

[0106] (c1. Alarm configuration) The configuration of the alarm device will be explained in more detail below. As shown in Figure 5, the alarm device 10 comprises a processor 40 known as a one-chip CPU, and for the processor 40 there are provided a smoke detection section 32 which functions as a fire sensor section, an alarm stop switch 34 which functions as an operation section, an LED 36 which includes a drive circuit which functions as a display section, a speaker 38 which includes a drive circuit which functions as an audio alarm section, and a communications section 42 which is connected to an antenna 44.

[0107] The processor 40 is provided with a CPU 46, and a bus 62 extending from the CPU 46 is connected to a control logic 48, a ROM 50, a RAM 52, an AD conversion port 54, an input port 56, an output port 58, an audio output port 60, and a communication port 64. The control logic 48 realizes various hardware functions such as bus control associated with the control processing of the CPU 46.

[0108] The smoke detector 32 is connected to the AD conversion port 54, the alarm stop switch 34 is connected to the input port 56, the LED 36 is connected to the output port 58, the speaker 38 is connected to the audio output port 60, and the communication unit 42 is connected to the communication port 64.

[0109] The smoke detector 32 has a known scattered light type smoke detector structure, and drives an infrared LED light emitter intermittently at a predetermined cycle, amplifies the scattered light received by a light receiver such as a photodiode, and outputs a smoke concentration detection signal. Note that a temperature detector may be provided instead of the smoke detector 32, and the temperature detector may use a thermistor as a temperature detection element, in which case it outputs a temperature detection signal that is a voltage signal corresponding to changes in resistance value due to temperature.

[0110] The communication unit 42 sends and receives linkage signals for fires, etc. to and from other alarm devices in accordance with a specified communication protocol. In Japan, this communication protocol complies with STD-30 (Radio Equipment Standard for Low-Power Security System Radio Stations), known as the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band, and allows communication that does not require carrier sensing.

[0111] The communication unit 42 is also provided with a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, and the transmitting unit can be instructed by the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 shown in Figure 1 to switch between three levels of transmission power Pmax, Pmid, and Pmin, for example, large, medium, and small, with the maximum transmission power of 10mW for STD-30 as an upper limit, and the transmission power can be adjusted so that other units adjacent to the unit in question are within the communication range.

[0112] The CPU 46 is provided with the functions of a fire control unit 66 and a relay control unit 68 as functions realized by executing a program.

[0113] [d. Fire Control Function] The fire control function of the alarm device will now be described in more detail. Fire alarm control by the fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 is divided into alarm device activation control, fire confirmation control, recovery control, and emergency notification control, as follows:

[0114] (d1. Alarm activation control) Alarm activation control will now be explained in more detail. The fire control section 66 of the alarm 10 reads the smoke density detection signal output from the smoke detector section 32 from the AD conversion port 54, and detects a fire if the smoke density is above a specified threshold value that corresponds to the fire detection sensitivity that is set at that time, and controls the output of an alarm linkage source alarm that activates the alarm in the person's own apartment and an alarm that includes specified alarm content that prompts the person to check for a fire, by voice and display.

[0115] In this case, as the alarm that links to the activation of the alarm, the fire control unit 66 repeatedly outputs an audio alarm from the speaker 38, such as "Woohoo! The fire alarm has been activated. Please check. If you confirm a fire, please perform the fire confirmation operation. If there is no fire, please perform the recovery operation," and also lights up the LED 36, for example.

[0116] When the fire control unit 66 outputs an alarm activation linkage source alarm, it generates an alarm activation linkage signal in a format that conforms to a predetermined communication protocol with its own dwelling unit address, sequence number SN=1, number of relays RN=0, and command set to fire, and instructs the communication unit 42 to control the transmission of the alarm activation linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units, and controls the alarms in other dwelling units that receive the alarm activation linkage signal to output an alarm activation linkage destination alarm.

[0117] Furthermore, if fire detection continues based on the smoke density detection signal from the smoke detector 32, the fire control unit 66 controls the alarm activation interlocking signal to be repeatedly transmitted while increasing the sequence number SN and the number of relays RN by one each time a predetermined time T has elapsed since the first transmission of the alarm activation interlocking signal, until a predetermined number of times is reached.

[0118] The time interval between transmissions of the second and subsequent alarm activation interlocking signals determines the speed at which the alarm action spreads like ripples from the dwelling unit where the fire has occurred, so it may be a fixed time interval, or the time interval may be lengthened as the number of transmissions increases. Note that the number of times the alarm activation interlocking signal is transmitted when fire detection continues determines the rate at which the alarm action spreads like ripples, and is arbitrary, but may be a predetermined number of transmissions corresponding to the distance from the dwelling unit where the fire is occurring where there is a high risk of fire, for example several times.

[0119] Furthermore, when the fire control unit 66 receives an alarm activation linkage signal from another alarm in the same dwelling unit to the same dwelling unit address, and if an alarm is not currently in progress, it will repeatedly output an audio alarm from the speaker 22, such as "Woo-woo, another fire alarm has been activated. Please check it. If you confirm a fire, please perform the fire confirmation operation. If there is no fire, please perform the recovery operation," and will also control the LED 36 to, for example, blink.

[0120] Furthermore, when the fire control unit 66 receives an alarm activation linkage signal sent by an alarm in another dwelling unit with a different dwelling unit address, if an alarm is not currently in progress, it will repeatedly output an audio alarm from the speaker 38 as a linkage alarm for alarm activation, such as "Woo-woo, a fire alarm in another dwelling unit has been activated. We are checking for a fire," and will also control the LED 36 to, for example, flash.

[0121] In this case, by pre-registering the names of the dwelling units in correspondence with the dwelling unit addresses of the other dwelling units, it is possible to repeatedly output an audio alarm indicating that an alarm in another dwelling unit has been activated, such as "The fire alarm at Mr. / Ms. A's house has been activated. Please check."

[0122] (d2. Fire alarm confirmation control) The fire confirmation control of the alarm device will be explained in more detail below. If the fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 detects, during output of an interlocking source alarm for alarm activation based on fire detection in the own unit, for example, a special operation of the alarm stop switch 34, such as a fire confirmation operation by a long press, reception of a fire confirmation signal due to a fire confirmation operation on the remote controller 14, or reception of a fire confirmation interlocking signal due to a fire confirmation operation on a remote controller of another unit, it will perform control to send a fire confirmation interlocking signal to the alarm device of the other unit, and output a fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating a confirmed fire.

[0123] Furthermore, if the fire control unit 66 receives a fire confirmation linkage signal sent from an alarm device in another dwelling unit while outputting a linked destination alarm for alarm activation due to receipt of an alarm activation linkage signal sent from an alarm device in another dwelling unit, it controls the output of a fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed.

[0124] In this case, as a confirmed fire alarm, the fire control unit 66 repeatedly outputs an audio alarm from the speaker 38, such as "Woohoo! A fire has been confirmed. Please notify the fire department. Fire extinguishing assistance is requested," and also causes the LED 36 to flash, for example.

[0125] In addition, if the resident is absent while an alarm linking source alarm for an alarm activated based on a fire in another dwelling unit is being output and a predetermined time has passed without detecting a confirmation operation or receipt of a fire confirmation signal or fire confirmation linking signal, the fire control unit 66 controls the transmission of a fire confirmation linking signal to the alarm in the other dwelling unit.

[0126] In addition, if the fire control unit 66 receives a fire confirmation linkage signal sent from an alarm in another dwelling unit while outputting a linked alarm in response to an alarm activation based on a fire in another dwelling unit, it controls the output of a fire confirmation alarm including specified alarm content requesting fire confirmation and reporting.

[0127] In this case, as a fire confirmation alarm, the fire control unit 66 repeatedly outputs an audio alarm from the speaker 38, such as "Woo hoo, the fire alarm has been activated, but it is taking time to confirm. If a fire is confirmed by neighbors, please notify the fire department. Please extinguish the fire as soon as possible," and also makes the LED 36 flash, for example.

[0128] (d3. Alarm recovery control) The restoration control of the alarm device will now be described in more detail. The fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 operates when the alarm stop switch is pressed while an interlocking source alarm for alarm activation based on a fire in the own dwelling unit is being output. 34 When a restoration signal is received by a restoration operation (alarm stop operation) or by operating the restoration switch on the remote controller 14, the system stops the alarm that is the source of the alarm activation linkage and controls the transmission of a restoration restoration signal to the alarms in other dwelling units, stops the destination alarm that is the destination of the alarm activation linkage by the alarms in other dwelling units, and outputs a restoration restoration alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored.

[0129] In addition, if the fire control unit 66 receives a restoration linkage signal while outputting a destination alarm linked to an alarm activation based on a fire in another dwelling unit, it controls the unit to stop the destination alarm linked to the alarm activation and output a restoration alarm containing specified alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored.

[0130] In this case, as a restoration alarm, the fire control unit 66 repeatedly outputs an audio alarm from the speaker 38, such as "Beep beep, the fire alarm has been activated, but please rest assured that there is no fire," and also turns off the LED 36, for example.

[0131] (d4. Emergency notification control of alarms) The emergency call control of the alarm device will now be explained in more detail. When the fire control section 66 of the alarm device 10 receives a fire confirmation signal from operating the fire confirmation switch on the remote controller 14 during normal monitoring mode, when none of the alarm device activation interlock source alarm, alarm device activation interlock destination alarm, or fire confirmation alarm is being output, it controls the transmission of an emergency call interlock signal to alarm devices in other dwelling units, and outputs an emergency call alarm by voice and display.

[0132] When the emergency call linkage signal is received, the fire control unit 66 causes the speaker 38 to repeatedly output an audio alarm such as "Beep beep, something has happened at Mr. A's house, please send help," and also causes the LED 36 to flash, for example.

[0133] (d5. Alarm relay control) Relay control of the alarm device will be explained in more detail below. Relay control of the interlocking signal by the relay control unit 68 of the alarm device 10 is as follows: If the relay count RN included in the interlocking signal received from another dwelling unit is RN=0, the relay control unit 68 performs control such that the received interlocking signal is not relayed.

[0134] In addition, if the relay count RN included in the interlocking signal received from another dwelling unit is RN=1 or more, the relay control unit 68 generates an interlocking signal by subtracting one from the received relay count RN to set the relay count to (RN-1), and controls the signal to be relayed and transmitted after a predetermined relay delay time Td has elapsed, as instructed by the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 shown in Figure 1.

[0135] In addition, the relay control unit 68 stores the sequence number SN contained in the previously received interlocking signal, and if the sequence number SN of a newly received interlocking signal is the same as the previous one, it means that the signal has already been relayed, and therefore performs control not to relay the received interlocking signal.

[0136] Furthermore, when an interlocking signal with the same dwelling unit address is received from another alarm device in the same dwelling unit, the relay control unit 68 performs control so that the received interlocking signal is not relayed.

[0137] [e. Remote Control Device] The remote controller will now be described in more detail. In this description, reference will be made to Figure 6, which shows an embodiment of the remote controller used to operate the alarm. Figure 6(A) shows the external appearance of the remote controller, and Figure 6(B) shows its functional configuration.

[0138] As shown in FIG. 6(A), the remote controller 14 is about the size of a portable mobile phone, and is provided with a fire confirmation switch 74 and a recovery switch 76.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 6(B), the remote controller 14 is composed of a control unit 70, a communication unit 72 connected to an antenna 73, a fire confirmation switch 74, a recovery switch 76, a speaker 78, and an LED 80, and is battery-powered.

[0140] The control unit 70 is composed of a processor known as a one-chip CPU and hardware circuits. The communication unit 72 transmits and receives signals to and from the alarm device in accordance with STD-30 (standard radio equipment for low-power security system radio stations), known as the standard for specified low-power radio stations in the 426 MHz band.

[0141] When the control unit 70 detects operation of the fire confirmation switch 74, it instructs the communication unit 72 to control the transmission of a fire confirmation signal, and when the fire confirmation signal is received by an alarm that has detected a fire in the home and is outputting an alarm that triggers an alarm activation linkage, it controls the transmission of a fire confirmation linkage signal to other homes.

[0142] Furthermore, when the control unit 70 detects operation of the recovery switch 76, it instructs the communication unit 72 to send a recovery signal, and when the recovery signal is received by an alarm that has detected a fire in the unit and is outputting an alarm linkage source alarm that activates the alarm, it stops the alarm linkage source alarm that activates the alarm and controls the transmission of a recovery linkage signal to other units.

[0143] Here, the remote controller 14 can be used so that if a fire breaks out in an unoccupied dwelling unit, a resident of a nearby dwelling unit can carry the remote controller 14 and perform a fire confirmation operation, allowing for appropriate response.

[0144] In other words, if the alarm 10 receives an alarm activation linkage signal from the alarm of the dwelling where the fire has occurred and is outputting an alarm activation linkage destination alarm, and the dwelling where the fire has occurred is unoccupied and the fire has not been confirmed even after a specified time has passed, and a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent from the alarm, then a fire confirmation linkage destination alarm will be output which includes specified alarm content requesting that the fire be confirmed and reported while the occupant is unoccupied, for example, "Woo hoo, the fire alarm has been activated but it is taking time to confirm, if the fire is confirmed by neighbors please notify the fire department, please carry out initial fire extinguishing".

[0145] For this reason, if a resident of a nearby dwelling unit can confirm a fire in another dwelling unit from the outside and perform a fire confirmation operation on remote controller 14, a fire confirmation linkage signal will be sent from the alarm in that dwelling unit to the alarms in the other nearby dwelling units, and a fire confirmation linkage alarm including specified alarm content requesting that the fire be confirmed and reported can be output, for example, "Woohoo, fire has been confirmed, please notify the fire department, fire extinguishing assistance requested," and if a fire breaks out in an unoccupied unit due to a fire confirmation operation using remote controller 14 by a resident of a nearby dwelling unit, appropriate action can be taken.

[0146] Furthermore, an alarm pause switch may be further provided on the remote controller 14, and when the control unit 70 detects operation of the alarm pause switch it instructs the communication unit 72 to send an alarm pause signal, and when the alarm pause signal is received by an alarm device that has detected a fire and is outputting an alarm that is the source of linkage to activate the alarm device, the alarm that is the source of linkage to activate the alarm device will be temporarily stopped for a predetermined time, and the alarm output will be resumed after the predetermined time has elapsed.

[0147] [f. Setting the relay delay time for alarm devices in the monitored area by the server] The setting of relay delay times for alarm devices in monitored areas by the server will be explained in more detail below. In this explanation, reference will be made to Figure 7, which shows the relay delay map used to set relay delay times for monitored areas.

[0148] (f1. Relay delay map) The relay delay map will be explained in more detail below. The relay delay map is stored in the database 24 of the server 20 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 7, the relay delay map 82 is a virtual two-dimensional matrix representation of the dwellings in the monitored area, with delay numbers 1 to 9 shown within each rectangular dwelling unit indicating the relay delay time Td set in the alarm device installed in the dwelling. Here, delay numbers 1 to 9 represent, for example, each of the relay transmission delay times Td1 to Td9 shown in Figure 4.

[0149] The horizontal and vertical sizes of the relay delay map 82 are arbitrary, and it is desirable that the size of the rectangles that make up the matrix be roughly matched to the size of the dwelling units on the map of the area to be monitored.

[0150] As shown in the upper left corner with circles marking the delay numbers, relay delay map 82 uses a group of nine dwelling units, each 3x3 in size as shown in Figure 3, as its basic unit, and for the eight dwelling units surrounding the central dwelling unit, delay numbers 1 to 8 are assigned clockwise starting from the upper left corner, with delay number 9 assigned in the center.

[0151] Next, a relay delay map 82 can be created by arranging 3×3 dwelling unit groups, to which delay numbers 1 to 9 are assigned, in the horizontal and vertical directions as basic units.

[0152] A feature of this relay delay map 82 is that no matter which central dwelling unit is selected, the delay numbers of the eight dwelling units surrounding the central dwelling unit will always be arranged in a different number sequence, and there will be no multiple identical numbers.

[0153] For example, if delay number 5 is the center, the delay numbers of the surrounding eight units will be in the order (9-4-8-7-1-3-2-6). Also, if delay number 7 is the center, the delay numbers of the surrounding eight units will be in the order (4-8-9-6-2-1-3-5).

[0154] If the properties of this relay delay map 82 are used, as shown in the central 7x7 area in Figure 7 where the delay numbers are circled, when a fire is detected in the dwelling unit with delay number 9, which is located in the center, and the alarm sends out a first alarm activation interlocking signal (relay count RN=0), the alarms in the eight surrounding dwelling units will receive the alarm activation interlocking signal and output an alarm to the linked alarm activation destination. The alarms issued by the alarms in the eight surrounding dwelling units in response to the transmission of this first alarm activation interlocking signal are called the first loop alarm or alarm operation.

[0155] Next, when the alarm in the dwelling unit with the same delay number 9 sends a second alarm activation interlocking signal (relay count RN=1), the alarms in the surrounding 8 dwelling units receive the alarm activation interlocking signal and relay them in the order of their delay numbers (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) (relay count RN=1-1=0), and the alarms in the surrounding 16 dwelling units output linked alarm activation alarms. This fire alarm issued by the alarms in the 16 surrounding dwelling units is called the second loop alarm or alarm operation.

[0156] Similarly, when the alarm activation interlocking signal is sent for the third time, a third loop alarm is sounded by the alarms in the 24 dwelling units surrounding the outside of the second loop alarm.

[0157] In other words, in response to repeated transmissions of an alarm activation linkage signal from the alarm in the dwelling unit that detected the fire, an alarm operation is carried out that spreads outward in a ripple-like pattern, with the linked alarm activation alarm being the first loop alarm, then the second loop alarm, then the third loop alarm, etc., centered on the dwelling unit where the fire occurred.The spread of the ripple-like alarm operation can be set as desired by determining the number of transmissions from the alarm that detected the fire.

[0158] Furthermore, if a fire spreads from the first unit to another unit, multiple alarms will be activated, ripple-like and spreading outward from the alarm in the newly burned unit.

[0159] (f2. Setting the actual relay delay time for alarms in the monitored area) The actual relay delay time settings for alarms in the monitored area will now be described in more detail with reference to the dwelling unit map 15 in Figure 8, which shows the relay delay time settings for dwelling units in the monitored area based on the relay delay map in Figure 7.

[0160] The fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 shown in FIG. 1 sets the relay delay time in the alarm devices in the area to be monitored in the following procedure.

[0161] (1) Select any dwelling unit that is surrounded by multiple other dwelling units and set the delay number to 9. (2) Set delay numbers (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) clockwise starting from the upper left corner for the eight dwelling units surrounding delay number 9. If no matching dwelling unit exists, skip the number and leave it as an empty number. (3) Hereafter, delay numbers 1 to 9 are set in the same manner as in (1) and (2) above, and this is repeated until delay numbers have been set for all dwelling units.

[0162] The setting of delay numbers based on the relay delay map 82 for such alarm devices in the monitored area can be done manually while the dwelling unit map 15 shown in Figure 2, which shows the dwelling units in the monitored area, is displayed on the display of the server 20, or it can be done by program control, which groups nine dwelling units in a 3x3 matrix on the dwelling unit map 15 and automatically assigns different delay numbers 1 to 9 to them.

[0163] [g. Wide-area fire alarm operation] The wide-area fire alarm operation will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 9, which shows how the fire alarm operation spreads in a ripple pattern from the dwelling unit where the fire occurred.

[0164] As shown in Figure 9, if a fire breaks out in a dwelling unit 90 (hereinafter referred to as the "fire-caused dwelling unit") located in the monitored area, the alarm indicated by delay number 9 installed in the fire-caused dwelling unit 90 will detect the fire and transmit a first alarm activation interlocking signal including sequence number SN=1 and relay number RN=0.

[0165] The alarm activation linkage signal transmitted from the fire-affected dwelling unit 90 is received by the eight dwelling units 92 shown in hatching that are located adjacent to the fire-affected dwelling unit 90, and linkage alarms for the first loop alarm activation are output simultaneously.

[0166] Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the alarm in the apartment 90 where the fire occurred transmits a second alarm activation linkage signal including sequence number SN=2 and relay number RN=1, which is received by the eight apartments 92 shown in hatching that are located adjacent to the apartment 90 where the fire occurred.

[0167] As the received relay count RN is RN=1, the alarm device in dwelling unit 92 relays and transmits an alarm activation interlocking signal that reduces the relay count RN by 1, making RN=1-1=0. In this case, the alarm devices in the eight dwelling units 92 relay and transmit alarm activation interlocking signals at different times once the relay delay times Td1 to td8 corresponding to delay numbers 1 to 8 have elapsed.

[0168] The second alarm activation linkage signal relayed by the eight dwelling units 92 is received by the 12 dwelling units 94 located adjacent to them, indicated by the sandy areas, and a linkage alarm for the second loop alarm activation is output all at once.

[0169] Furthermore, when the alarm in the fire-affected dwelling unit 90 transmits a third alarm activation interlocking signal including sequence number SN=3 and relay number RN=2, the alarm activation interlocking signal is relayed to the alarms in the outer dwelling units surrounding dwelling unit 94, and an alarm is issued at the linked destination of the alarm activation in the third loop.

[0170] [h. Control operation of wide-area fire alarm system] The control operation of the wide-area fire alarm system will now be described in more detail.

[0171] (h1. Alarm control) Alarm device control will now be explained in more detail. In this explanation, reference will be made to the flow chart in Figure 10, which shows the control operation of the alarm device shown in Figure 1. Note that alarm device control is a control operation carried out by the fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 in Figure 5.

[0172] As shown in Figure 10, when the fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 determines in step S1 that it has received a setting signal for delay time and transmission power transmitted from the server 20, it proceeds to step S2, reads out and sets the relay delay time Td that has been stored in advance in correspondence with the delay number, and sets the transmission power of the communication unit to the transmission power instructed by the server 20.

[0173] Next, the fire control unit 66 proceeds to step S3 to monitor whether a fire alert has been issued, and if it detects a fire alert from the smoke density detection signal of the smoke detector unit 32 in step S3, it proceeds to step S4 to perform fire alarm control. Also, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S5 that an interlocking signal has been received from an alarm device in another dwelling unit, it proceeds to step S6 to perform interlocking signal reception control.

[0174] (h2. Fire alarm control) Next, the fire alarm control in step S4 of Fig. 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 11 which shows the details of the fire alarm control in step S4 of Fig. 10.

[0175] If the fire control unit 66 of the alarm device 10 detects a fire alert based on a fire detection in the own unit in step S3 of Figure 10, it proceeds to the fire alarm control of Figure 11, outputs a linkage source alarm for alarm activation indicating a fire detection in the own unit in step S11, and then proceeds to step S12, sends an alarm activation linkage signal, and causes a linkage destination alarm for alarm activation to be output from an alarm device in another unit.

[0176] Next, the fire control unit 66 proceeds to step S13, and if it determines that a fire has been confirmed based on the reception of a fire confirmation signal by a fire confirmation operation performed by pressing and holding the alarm stop switch 34 or by operating the fire confirmation switch on the remote control 14, it proceeds to step S14, sends a fire confirmation linkage signal to the alarm devices in the other dwelling units, and outputs a fire confirmation alarm.

[0177] Furthermore, if the fire control unit 66 does not determine in step S13 that a fire has been confirmed, it proceeds to step S15 to determine whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and if it determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, it proceeds to step S16, where it sends a fire confirmation linkage signal to the alarm devices in the other dwelling units and outputs a fire confirmation linkage alarm containing predetermined alarm content requesting that a fire be confirmed and reported while the resident is away.

[0178] Furthermore, if the fire control unit 66 does not determine in step S13 that a fire has been confirmed and does not determine in step S15 that a predetermined time has elapsed, it determines in step S17 whether a recovery operation has been performed, and if it determines that a recovery operation has been performed, it proceeds to step S18, sends a recovery linkage signal to alarm devices in other dwelling units, stops the linked alarm of the alarm device activation, and outputs a recovery alarm including predetermined alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored.

[0179] (h3. Alarm interlock signal transmission control) The interlocking signal transmission control of the alarm device will now be explained in more detail. In this explanation, reference will be made to the flowchart in Figure 12, which shows the interlocking signal transmission control in the alarm device. The interlocking signals here include an alarm device activation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal, and a recovery interlocking signal.

[0180] As shown in Figure 12, when the fire control unit 66 sends an interlocking signal for the first time, as shown in step S21, it sets the sequence number SN to SN=1 indicating the first transmission, and also sets the number of transmissions RN to the initial value of RN=0, and in step S22 it generates and sends the first interlocking signal with SN=1, RN=0, its own apartment address, and the command set to fire.

[0181] Next, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S23 that a predetermined time has elapsed, it proceeds to step S24, and if the sequence number SN is less than a predetermined final value (maximum number of transmissions), it proceeds to step S25, increments the sequence number SN and the number of relays RN by one each, and in step S22 sends a second linkage signal with SN=2, RN=1, its own apartment address, and the command "fire," and if it determines in step S24 that the sequence number SN has reached its final value, it returns to the control of Figure 10.

[0182] (h4. Interlocking signal reception control) Next, the linked signal reception control in step S6 of Fig. 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 13, which shows the details of the linked reception control in step S6 of Fig. 10.

[0183] When the fire control section 66 of the alarm device 10 determines in step S5 of Figure 10 that an interlocking signal has been received from another alarm device, it proceeds to the interlocking signal reception control of Figure 13, and in step S31 obtains the dwelling unit address and command in addition to the sequence number SN and relay count RN from the fire interlocking signal received.

[0184] Next, the fire control unit 66 proceeds to step S32 and, if it determines that the command is to activate an alarm, proceeds to step S33 and outputs an alarm linked to the alarm activation by voice and display, which includes a specified alarm content indicating that the alarm in the dwelling unit has been activated and that a fire is being confirmed.

[0185] In addition, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S31 that the command is not to activate the alarm, it proceeds to step S34, and if it determines that the command is to confirm a fire, it proceeds to step S35 and outputs a fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, including specified alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed.

[0186] In addition, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S34 that the command is not a fire confirmation, it proceeds to step S36, and if it determines that the command is a fire confirmation, it proceeds to step S37 and outputs a linked fire confirmation alarm by voice and display, which includes a specified alarm content requesting that a fire be confirmed and reported while the person is away.

[0187] Furthermore, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S36 that the command is not a fire confirmation command, it proceeds to step S38, and if it determines that the command is a recovery command, it proceeds to step S39, where it stops the linked alarm of the alarm device activation and outputs a recovery alarm by voice and display, including predetermined alarm content indicating that the fire has been recovered.

[0188] Furthermore, if the fire control unit 66 determines in step S38 that the command is not to restore the system, it proceeds to step S40, and if it determines that the command is to stop the alarm, it proceeds to step S41 and stops the alarm that is currently being output. This alarm stop may stop the output of the audio alarm, but leave the alarm display on for a predetermined time, so that the operation of the alarm device can be confirmed later.

[0189] Next, the relay control unit 68 operates and proceeds to step S42, and if it determines that the received dwelling address is the dwelling address of another dwelling, it proceeds to step S43 to determine whether the sequence number SN has already been received, and if it determines that it has not been received, it proceeds to step S44 to determine whether the number of relays RN=0, and if it determines that RN=0 is not true, in step S45 it decrements the number of relays RN by one to (RN-1), and in step S46 it relays and transmits the linkage signal after a preset relay delay time Td.

[0190] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S42 that the receiving dwelling address matches the own address, if it is determined in step S43 that the sequence number SN has already been received, or if it is determined in step S44 that the number of relays RN=0, steps S45 and S46 are skipped and the interlocking signal is not relayed.

[0191] [i. Server monitoring control] The monitoring and control of the server will now be described in more detail. When the alarm device 10 detects a fire and outputs a linkage source alarm that activates the alarm device, it sends an interlock source alarm notification signal to the server 20 shown in Figure 1, and when it outputs a linkage destination alarm that activates the alarm device, it sends an interlock destination alarm notification signal.

[0192] These notification signals from the alarm device 10 are transmitted via the communications adapter 16, the access point 30, the public wireless LAN communications network 28 and the Internet 26.

[0193] When the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 receives an interlocking source alarm notification signal from the alarm device 10 while monitoring system operation, it changes the display color of the dwelling unit where the alarm device has been activated on the dwelling unit map 15 shown on the display, for example as shown in Figure 2, to red, to indicate the dwelling unit where the fire has occurred.

[0194] In addition, when the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 receives a linked alarm notification signal from the alarm device 10, it changes the display color of the adjacent dwelling units surrounding the fire-incident dwelling unit that sent the alarm activation notification signal on the dwelling unit map 15 to, for example, orange, to display the alarm-linked dwelling units.

[0195] In addition, if the fire monitoring control unit 22 of the server 20 receives a restoration notification signal after displaying the fire-affected dwelling unit or an adjacent alarm-linked dwelling unit on the dwelling unit map 15, it returns the display of the dwelling unit that sent the restoration notification signal on the dwelling unit map 15 to its original display color and erases the display of the alarm operation.

[0196] By displaying a dwelling unit map of the area to be monitored by the server 20 in this way, it becomes possible to visually grasp the alarm operation of the alarm devices in the dwelling units as ripples spreading from the dwelling unit where the fire has occurred.

[0197] [j. Modifications of the present invention] Modifications of the wide-area fire monitoring system according to the present invention will now be described. In addition to the above-described embodiment, the wide-area fire monitoring system according to the present invention includes the following modifications.

[0198] (Communication network Wa (Work) As a communication network for connecting the alarm device in each dwelling unit to the server, in addition to the communication network shown in the above embodiment, it is also possible to connect the alarm device in each dwelling unit to the server using a communication network such as that used in a gas meter reading system in which a server automatically reads the gas meter installed in the dwelling unit, or in an electricity meter reading system in which a server automatically reads the electricity smart meter installed in the dwelling unit.

[0199] Furthermore, the network connecting the alarm devices in each dwelling unit and the server for communication may be a wired communications network instead of a wireless network. This wired communications network can be achieved by placing a gateway device in each dwelling unit and connecting it to the Internet via a signal line, and by providing the gateway device with a wireless communications unit for communicating with the alarm devices.

[0200] (parent-child method) In the above embodiment, when multiple alarm devices are installed in a dwelling unit, there is no distinction between parent and child devices and the alarm devices communicate with each other, but it is also possible to provide a parent unit and multiple child devices, give the parent unit repeater functions and enable communication for linked alarms between parent units in different dwelling units.

[0201] (Alarm) The above embodiment has taken as an example an alarm device that detects fire and issues an alarm, but the present invention can also be applied to alarm systems that employ fire alarms, gas leak alarms, CO alarms, and various types of security alarms other than alarm devices, as well as systems that include a combination of these alarm devices.

[0202] Furthermore, the above embodiment takes as an example a case where the sensor unit and alarm output processing unit are provided integrally in the alarm device, but in other embodiments, the alarm device may have the sensor unit and alarm output processing unit separate from each other.

[0203] (others) Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes appropriate modifications that do not impair the objects and advantages thereof, and is not limited by the numerical values ​​shown in the above-described embodiment.

[0204] [k.Note] (k1. Characteristics of alarm operation that spreads in a wave-like pattern) In this embodiment, the multiple alarm devices are a wide-area fire alarm system that relays and transmits an alarm activation linkage signal, a fire confirmation linkage signal, or a recovery linkage signal so that the alarm action of the alarm device in the dwelling unit that detected the fire is the center and the actions of the alarm devices in other dwelling units spread in a ripple-like manner over time, and the features that enable this relay transmission can be listed as follows:

[0205] (k2. Communication area and relay delay time) In the wide-area fire alarm system according to (k1), The alarm transmits an alarm activation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal, or a recovery interlocking signal so that multiple alarms installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit are within the communication range, The relay delay time from receiving an alarm activation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal or a recovery interlocking signal to relaying and transmitting it is set to be different for the alarm device in the dwelling unit itself and for multiple alarm devices installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit itself.

[0206] For this reason, various interlocking signals are received by alarm devices in neighboring apartments and relayed; however, since the signals are relayed after different relay delay times, even in communication protocols that do not require carrier sense, communication errors caused by collisions between relayed interlocking signals are sufficiently suppressed, and as a result, alarm operations by the apartment alarm devices are carried out over a wide area, with ripples spreading from the apartment where the fire occurred.

[0207] (k3. Setting the relay delay time for each dwelling unit group) In the wide-area fire alarm system described in (k2), A plurality of dwelling units in a monitored area are divided into dwelling unit groups of a predetermined number of dwelling units, and different relay delay times are set in the alarms of each dwelling unit in a dwelling unit group in a predetermined order.

[0208] As a result, the grouping of dwelling units for setting relay delay times can be done uniquely based on map information of the area to be monitored, making it possible to simply and easily set relay delay times by grouping dwelling units.

[0209] (k4. Relay control of interlocking signals) In the wide-area fire alarm system described in (k2), The alarm is The alarm activation interlocking signal, fire confirmation interlocking signal, or recovery interlocking signal is transmitted multiple times at predetermined time intervals, including the dwelling unit address unique to the dwelling unit, a sequence number indicating the number of transmissions, and the number of relays which increases by one from the initial value 0 depending on the number of transmissions, When an alarm activation interlocking signal, fire confirmation interlocking signal or recovery interlocking signal is received from another alarm device for a dwelling address different from the alarm device's own address, if the number of relays of the alarm activation interlocking signal, fire confirmation interlocking signal or recovery interlocking signal is 1 or more, the number of relays will be reduced by 1 and the alarm activation interlocking signal, fire confirmation interlocking signal or recovery interlocking signal will not be relayed if the number of relays is 0.

[0210] For example, if an alarm in the center of a dwelling unit group made up of 9 dwelling units in a 3x3 grid detects a fire and goes off, the source alarm will initially send an alarm activation linkage signal with sequence number = 1 and number of relays = 0, and the destination alarms in the 8 surrounding dwelling units that receive this will not send a relay because the number of relays = 0, and as a result, the linkage signal with sequence number = 1 will cause the alarms in up to 8 dwelling units surrounding the source dwelling unit where the fire has occurred to output a destination alarm activation alert.

[0211] Next, after a prescribed time, the interlocking source alarm device transmits a second alarm activation interlocking signal with sequence number = 2 and relay count = 1, and the interlocked destination alarm devices in the surrounding eight dwelling units that receive this relay signal also have relay count = 1, and so they relay an alarm activation interlocking signal with relay count = 1 - 1 = 0, and as a result, the alarm activation interlocking signal with sequence number = 2 causes an alarm activation interlocking destination warning to be output from the alarm devices in up to 16 dwelling units surrounding the maximum eight dwelling units surrounding the interlocking source dwelling unit. This makes it possible to relay the interlocking signal, which will cause an alarm to go off in the alarm devices of the dwelling units, in a manner that ripples outwards from the interlocking source dwelling unit, whilst minimizing signal collisions due to relay transmissions as much as possible.

[0212] (k5. No relay transmission when receiving the same sequence number) In the wide-area fire alarm system described in (k2), When an alarm device receives an alarm device activation interlocking signal, a fire confirmation interlocking signal or a recovery interlocking signal from another alarm device, if the received sequence number is the same as a sequence number that has already been received, the alarm device will not relay the alarm device activation interlocking signal, the fire confirmation interlocking signal or the recovery interlocking signal.

[0213] For this reason, even if an alarm device receives an interlocking signal with a relay count of 1 or more, if the received sequence number is the same as a sequence number that has already been received, relay transmission will not be performed, and therefore even if the same interlocking signal is received multiple times, relay transmission will only be performed the first time it is received, making it possible to minimize signal collisions caused by multiple relay transmissions of interlocking signals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0214] 10,10(10-1)~10(10-9):Alarm 12, 12(12-1)~12(12-9), 92, 94: Dwelling units 14, 14(14-1)~14(14-9): Remote control device 15: Apartment map 16: Communication adapter 20: Server 22: Fire monitoring control unit 24: Database 26: Internet 28: Public wireless LAN network 30: Access point 32: Smoke Detection Department 34: Alarm stop switch 36,80:LED 38,78:Speaker 40: Processor 42 ,72 :Communications Department 46:CPU 48: Control logic 50:ROM 52:RAM 54: AD conversion port 56: Input port 58: Output port 60: Audio output port 64: Communication port 66: Fire Control Department 68: Relay control unit 70: Control unit 74: Fire confirmation switch 76: Recovery switch 82: Relay Delay Map 90: Fire breakout unit

Claims

1. A wide-area fire alarm system in which alarm devices installed in each of a plurality of dwelling units in a monitoring area cooperate with each other to monitor fires, The alarm is When a fire is detected, an alarm activation linkage source alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content urging the alarm to be activated and the fire to be checked, and an alarm activation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, and an alarm activation linkage destination alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content stating that the alarms of other dwelling units have been activated and that the fire is being checked, If a predetermined fire confirmation operation is detected during the output of the linked source alarm of the alarm device activation, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarm device of another dwelling unit, and a fire confirmation alarm including predetermined alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed is output; A wide-area fire alarm system is characterized in that if a predetermined time passes without detecting the fire confirmation operation while the source alarm for the alarm activation is being output, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwellings, and a destination alarm for fire confirmation is output containing predetermined alarm content requesting that the fire be confirmed and reported while the dwelling is unoccupied.

2. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 1, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized in that, when the alarm detects a specified restoration operation or fire restoration while outputting the linked source alarm of the alarm activation, it stops the linked source alarm of the alarm activation and sends a restoration linkage signal to the alarms of other dwelling units to stop the linked destination alarm of the alarm activation and output a restoration alarm containing specified alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored.

3. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 1, The alarm is provided with an alarm stop switch, If the fire confirmation operation is detected by a predetermined special operation of the alarm stop switch while the linked source alarm of the alarm operation is being output, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized by the fact that when a specified alarm stop operation is detected using the alarm stop switch while an alarm linked to the activation of the alarm is being output, the system stops the alarm linked to the activation of the alarm and sends a recovery linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units.

4. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 1, Furthermore, a remote control equipped with a fire confirmation switch and a recovery switch is provided. The alarm device transmits the alarm activation interlocking signal, the fire confirmation interlocking signal, or the recovery interlocking signal so that multiple alarm devices installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit are within a communication area; The alarm device in the dwelling unit and the plurality of alarm devices installed in other dwelling units adjacent to the dwelling unit are set to have different relay delay times from when the alarm device activation interlocking signal, the fire confirmation interlocking signal, or the recovery interlocking signal is received until the relay transmission begins, When a fire confirmation signal is received by operating the fire confirmation switch of the remote controller while the linked source alarm for the alarm activation is being output, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized by the fact that, when a restoration signal is received by operating the restoration switch on the remote control while an alarm linked to the activation of the alarm is being output, the system stops the alarm linked to the activation of the alarm and sends a restoration linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units.

5. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 1, Furthermore, a portable remote control equipped with a fire confirmation switch and a recovery switch is provided, The alarm is When a fire confirmation signal is received by operating the fire confirmation switch of the remote controller while the linked source alarm for the alarm activation is being output, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized by the fact that, when a restoration signal is received by operating the restoration switch on the remote control while an alarm linked to the activation of the alarm is being output, the system stops the alarm linked to the activation of the alarm and sends a restoration linkage signal to alarms in other dwelling units.

6. 6. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 5, The alarm is When a fire confirmation signal is received by operating the fire confirmation switch of the remote controller in a normal monitoring state in which the linkage source alarm for the alarm activation, the linkage destination alarm for the alarm activation, or the fire confirmation alarm is not being output, an emergency notification linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, A wide-area fire alarm system is characterized by the fact that when the emergency notification linkage signal is received from an alarm device in another dwelling unit, an emergency notification alarm containing specified alarm content indicating that an emergency has occurred and requesting rescue is output.

7. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 1, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized in that the multiple alarms relay and transmit the alarm activation linkage signal, the fire confirmation linkage signal, or the recovery linkage signal so that the operation of the alarm in the dwelling unit that detected the fire spreads in a ripple-like manner over time, with the operation of the alarm in the dwelling unit that detected the fire as the center.

8. A wide-area fire alarm system in which alarms installed in each of a plurality of dwelling units in a monitored area cooperate with each other to monitor fires, The alarm device installed in each of the plurality of dwelling units is connected to a host device via a communication network, The alarm is When a fire is detected, an alarm activation linkage source alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content urging the alarm to be activated and the fire to be checked, and an alarm activation linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units, and an alarm activation linkage destination alarm is output, which includes predetermined alarm content stating that the alarms of other dwelling units have been activated and that the fire is being checked, When an interlock source alarm for the alarm device activation is output, an interlock source alarm notification signal is transmitted to the higher-level device, and when an interlock destination alarm for the alarm device activation is output, an interlock destination alarm notification signal is transmitted to the higher-level device, If a predetermined fire confirmation operation is detected during the output of the linked source alarm of the alarm device activation, a fire confirmation linkage signal is sent to the alarm device of another dwelling unit, and a fire confirmation alarm including predetermined alarm content indicating that a fire has been confirmed is output; If a predetermined restoration operation or fire restoration is detected while the alarm activation linkage source alarm is being output, the alarm activation linkage source alarm is stopped, and a restoration linkage signal is sent to the alarms of other dwelling units to stop the alarm activation linkage destination alarms, and a restoration alarm containing predetermined alarm content indicating that the fire has been restored is output; A wide-area fire alarm system characterized in that the upper device displays the dwelling unit where a fire has occurred when it receives the linked source alarm notification signal from the alarm device, and displays the linked alarm dwelling unit when it receives the linked destination alarm notification signal from the alarm device.

9. 9. The wide-area fire alarm system according to claim 8, When the alarm device outputs the restoration alarm, it transmits a restoration notification signal to the higher-level device, A wide-area fire alarm system characterized in that, when the upper device receives the recovery notification signal from the alarm device, it erases the display of the fire-prone dwelling unit or the linked alarm dwelling unit that sent the recovery notification signal.

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