Fire Panel Configuration Sync for Parallel Commissioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire panel system configurations require manual intervention by multiple commissioning engineers, leading to inefficiencies and increased manual errors, particularly in large-scale installations, as there is no method for parallel development and simultaneous deployment of configuration projects.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for integrating networked configuration utility instances using a controller that receives, identifies, and synchronizes data from multiple user implementations, enabling secure communication and real-time notification, and merging data across interrelated objects to facilitate parallel configuration development.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual configuration by multiple commissioning engineers is used, then configuration can be performed with simple tools, but manual errors increase and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidconfiguration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated conflict detection and resolution. The controller automatically identifies configuration conflicts between parallel development instances and resolves them without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining configuration simplicity while eliminating manual errors through automated validation and merging processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring configuration changes across multiple instances, automatically detecting conflicts, and providing real-time notifications to users. This feedback loop ensures configuration accuracy is maintained while allowing parallel development to proceed efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If sequential configuration deployment is used, then configuration conflicts are avoided, but commissioning timelines extend significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration stabilityVSAvoidcommissioning duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting and resolving configuration conflicts before deployment occurs. The automated conflict detection and resolution processes identify potential issues in advance, allowing parallel development instances to be merged without actual conflicts, thus maintaining configuration stability while enabling concurrent development

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the configuration development process into independent parallel instances that can be developed simultaneously. Each instance operates independently with its own configuration space, and the controller manages the segmentation by coordinating merges and resolving conflicts, thereby reducing overall commissioning time while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If parallel configuration development instances are implemented, then commissioning efficiency increases, but configuration conflicts arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommissioning efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration conflict management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves as an intermediary that mediates between parallel configuration instances. It automatically detects conflicts, manages the merging process, and coordinates resolution actions, thereby enabling high productivity through parallel development while keeping conflict management complexity hidden from users through automated intermediary processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If multiple commissioning engineers work simultaneously, then configuration throughput increases, but manual errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration throughputVSAvoiderror rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated validation and conflict detection mechanisms that eliminate manual errors. Multiple commissioning engineers can work simultaneously with high throughput, and the controller automatically validates configurations and resolves conflicts without human intervention, maintaining high reliability despite increased parallel activity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260004652A1System and method for development of fire panel system configuration through networked configuration utility instances

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 KIDDE FIRE PROTECTION LLC

AI summary

A system and method for development of fire panel system configuration through networked configuration utility instances. The system receives one or more configuration utility instances related to one or more devices. The system simultaneously receives the configuration utility instances related to one or more implementations made by one or more users through one or more computing devices. The system identifies a plurality of configuration utility instances among the configuration utility instances through one or more interrelated objects comprised in the plurality of configuration utility instances. The system compares the identified plurality of configuration utility instances to identify a variation of data among the interrelated objects. The system merges the data from the plurality of configuration utility instances to correspondingly synchronize the data among the plurality of configuration utility instances. The system communicates the synced data to the computing devices associated with the one or more users.