Home Security Hazard Detection Gateway Role Assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in easily assigning master and slave detectors in home security surveillance systems, especially when universal detectors are used to reduce complexity and manufacturing costs, as most users are unfamiliar with distinguishing between the two.

Innovation Solution

A hazard detection subsystem that includes a computer-based server, detection terminals, and a gateway unit, where the gateway automatically assigns master and slave roles based on communication establishment, eliminating the need for users to understand the distinction between the two.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If universal detectors are used to reduce complexity and manufacturing cost, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates because users are unfamiliar with distinguishing between master and slave detectors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetector design complexityVSAvoidease of assigning master and slave roles
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway unit automatically performs the assignment of master and slave roles to detection terminals based on communication establishment timing. The system self-configures without requiring user intervention to understand the distinction between master and slave detectors, thereby maintaining universal detector design while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway unit performs the master-slave assignment action in advance during system initialization, before the user needs to operate the system. By automatically designating the first communicating terminal as master and subsequent terminals as slaves, the system prepares the configuration beforehand, eliminating the need for users to manually distinguish between master and slave roles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual assignment of master and slave detectors is required, then system reliability is improved through proper configuration, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user unfamiliarity with the distinction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configuration reliabilityVSAvoidease of setup
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway unit automatically performs the master-slave assignment based on communication establishment timing, making the system self-configuring. This maintains reliable system configuration through the established master-slave architecture while eliminating the need for users to manually assign roles, thereby improving ease of setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If differently designed master and slave detectors are provided, then ease of operation is improved as users can easily distinguish roles, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of distinguishing master and slaveVSAvoiddetector design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

All detection terminals are designed with universal functionality, capable of operating as either master or slave roles. The gateway unit automatically assigns roles based on communication establishment timing, eliminating the need for physically different master and slave detector designs. This maintains ease of operation through automatic role assignment while reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines and assigns master-slave roles based on which terminal establishes communication first with the gateway unit. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually configure or distinguish between different detector types, while maintaining reliable system operation through the established master-slave architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2401728B1Hazard detection subsystem for use in a home security surveillance system
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2401728B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2401728B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2401728B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A hazard detection subsystem for use in an integrated home security surveillance system. The subsystem has a gateway unit and detection terminals each configured to detect a hazardous condition and issue a hazard signal upon detection of such condition. The gateway unit acts as an interface to the surveillance system to notify the hazardous condition in the form of an aid-requesting signal. The detection terminal is of a universal design which selectively functions as a master and a slave. The master generates a linking hazard signal to all the detection terminals for generating the alarm at each of the terminals, while the slave transmits an aid-requesting signal to the gateway unit in addition to the hazard signal. An assigning means is included in the gateway unit to assign the master to one of the detection terminals that is energized to establish communication first with the gateway unit, and assign the slave to the other detection terminal that is energized to establish communicate later with the gateway unit.