Fire Controller Mass Notification via Server Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mass notification systems are limited by reduced controller storage capacity, reliance on costly infrastructure, and lack of audio quality feedback, making them inefficient and uncertain in effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The system utilizes existing fire controllers within a facility, allowing mass notification through a computing device that communicates with fire networks via local or wide area networks, enabling remote notifications and providing audio quality feedback, thus overcoming storage limitations and infrastructure costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate VoIP phone lines and wiring are installed across a facility for mass notification, then audio notification capability is achieved, but infrastructure cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fire alarm network is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both its traditional fire alarm function and mass notification function using the same infrastructure of fire controllers, speakers, and wiring. This eliminates the need for separate VoIP phone lines and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the mass notification system with the existing fire alarm system by utilizing the fire controllers and speaker infrastructure for both fire alarm alerts and mass notification messages, thereby consolidating infrastructure and reducing costs.
2Reliability
If digital voice controllers with limited storage are used, then mass notification can be performed, but controller storage capacity is insufficient for multiple pre-recorded messages
Solution Approach 1:
A server is introduced as an intermediary component to store multiple pre-recorded mass notification messages. The fire controllers communicate with this server to retrieve messages, thereby offloading the storage requirement from the controllers with limited memory to a server with adequate storage capacity.
3Ease of operation
If operators rely on proximity to digital voice controllers to override pre-recorded messages, then message override is possible, but operator mobility and remote operation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between operators and fire controllers, enabling remote message override operations. Operators can initiate message overrides from remote locations through the server, which then communicates with the appropriate fire controllers, eliminating the need for operators to be physically present at the controllers.
4Productivity
If previous mass notification approaches are used, then notifications can be delivered, but audio quality feedback is unavailable making effectiveness unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having fire controllers monitor and evaluate the audio quality of mass notification messages as they are played through speakers. The controllers assess whether messages are intelligible and provide this quality information back to the server, enabling operators to verify notification effectiveness and take corrective action if needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods, and systems for mass notification are described herein. One method includes receiving, by an operator station, a selection associated with a particular paging group of a fire network associated with a facility, receiving an audio message by the operator station, and communicating the audio message to the particular paging group according to the selection.