Bidirectional Fire Device Loop Signaling for Low-Latency Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire systems face challenges in meeting latency requirements for data transmission between fire devices, which is crucial for activating devices within 10 seconds of detecting an emergency event, and existing systems lack sufficient redundancy and synchronization mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A fire system architecture utilizing a bi-directional loop arrangement of fire devices and gateway devices, with simultaneous data transmission in opposite directions over multiple channels, ensuring redundancy and synchronization to meet latency standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data is transmitted sequentially through fire devices in a loop arrangement, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission latency increases and may not meet the 10-second requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission path is segmented into multiple simultaneous transmission paths by dividing the loop into forward and backward directions. Each direction transmits data independently, allowing parallel processing of data flow and reducing overall transmission latency while maintaining the simple loop structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-direction sequential transmission to multi-directional simultaneous transmission by adding the time dimension and directional dimension. Data is transmitted in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions at the same time, effectively doubling the transmission capacity and reducing latency.
2Device complexity
If a single transmission path is used, then device complexity is minimized, but system reliability decreases due to lack of redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares redundant transmission paths in advance by establishing both forward and backward transmission directions around the loop. If one path fails or experiences interference, the other path is already in place to carry the data, providing proactive redundancy without adding complex switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses homogeneous transmission mechanisms in both directions, employing the same type of fire devices and communication protocol in the forward and backward paths. This maintains simplicity while achieving redundancy through symmetry rather than complexity.
3Reliability
If data is transmitted in both directions simultaneously, then reliability and latency are improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the gateway device monitors transmission status from both directions and adjusts timing accordingly. Each fire device acknowledges receipt of data, allowing the gateway to synchronize subsequent transmissions based on actual system performance rather than theoretical calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic transmission intervals and timing slots to manage bidirectional communication. By organizing data transmission into regular time cycles with designated slots for forward and backward directions, the system achieves synchronization through rhythm and pattern rather than complex real-time coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for transmission of data to fire devices of a fire system are described herein. In some examples, one or more embodiments include a gateway device comprising a memory and a processor to execute instructions stored in the memory to receive an activation signal from a fire control panel, and transmit the activation signal to a plurality of fire devices included in a cluster according to predetermined time slots over a plurality of channels, where the plurality of fire devices are arranged in a bi-directional loop such that the activation signal is sent in a first direction around the bi-directional loop and in a second direction around the bi-directional loop simultaneously, and the first direction is opposite the second direction.