Alarm System Verification Using Silent Appliance Deactivation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for verifying associations between initiating devices and notification appliances in alarm systems are disruptive, require full activation of notification features, and involve extensive physical verification, making them time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows for silent verification of associations by actuating initiating devices, deactivating notification appliances, and using an alarm panel to indicate any remaining active appliances, reducing the need for full activation and physical verification across the entire building.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional verification method is used (full activation of notification appliances), then verification completeness is improved, but disruption to building occupants and verification time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification completenessVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by activating only a subset of notification appliances for verification rather than all appliances. The system selectively activates notification appliances based on the initiating device being tested, allowing verification to be performed on a per-zone or per-device basis rather than requiring system-wide activation, thus reducing verification time while maintaining completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The alarm panel automatically tracks and identifies which notification appliances are active during verification, eliminating the need for technicians to manually check each appliance. The system self-monitors activation status and provides automated verification results, reducing both time and human effort required for complete verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional verification method is used (full activation), then association accuracy is improved, but harmful disruption to occupants increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassociation accuracyVSAvoiddisruption to occupants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by limiting notification appliance activation to specific zones or areas associated with the initiating device being tested, rather than activating all notification appliances building-wide. This localized approach maintains verification accuracy for the specific association being tested while minimizing disruption to occupants in other areas of the building.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The verification process is segmented into discrete tests for individual initiating devices or zones rather than a single building-wide activation. Each verification test is isolated to specific notification appliances associated with the particular initiating device being tested, allowing multiple verifications to be performed with minimal cumulative disruption to occupants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional verification method is used (manual checking of all appliances), then stray appliance detection is improved, but verification cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray appliance detectionVSAvoidverification process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm panel provides automated feedback regarding the activation status of notification appliances during verification. The system monitors which appliances are activated and which remain inactive, automatically identifying potential stray appliances without requiring manual checking of every device, thus reducing verification complexity while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical verification (technicians physically visiting and checking each notification appliance) with electronic monitoring and automated tracking through the alarm panel. The system electronically identifies activation status and locates stray appliances, substituting manual labor with automated electronic detection, thereby reducing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9076316B2System and method for verifying associations between intiating devices and notifications applicances in alarm systems

Publication Date: 2015.07.07 TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH

AI summary

A method for verifying associations between initiating devices and notification appliances in an alarm system. The method may include including actuating an initiating device of the alarm system, thereby activating one or more notification appliances that are associated with the initiating device. The method may further include deactivating each notification appliance that is expected to be associated with the actuated initiating device and, at an alarm panel, providing an indication of whether there are any notification appliances that are still active.