Receiver Fault Detection via Integrated Signal Recording

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current building alarm systems face inefficiencies in detecting and diagnosing faulty event transmissions between on-site security systems and central monitoring facilities, as they lack automated recording and analysis capabilities, leading to manual review challenges and potential missed signal issues due to equipment placement and timing discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically records and processes event signal data at the receiver, determining conformance to predefined parameters, saving faulty data for review, and providing indications for operators, while eliminating the need for additional recording equipment and ensuring detection of receiver-related faults.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If add-on recording equipment is added to the telephone line to capture faulty transmission signals, then faulty signals can be recorded for analysis, but the equipment complexity increases and the signal quality may be degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the recording function with the existing receiver by integrating a recording device into the receiver unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate add-on recording equipment, reducing system complexity while maintaining the ability to capture and analyze faulty transmission signals for improved reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver is designed to perform multiple functions: it receives event transmissions, records signals (both normal and faulty), and enables analysis of transmission quality. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated recording equipment, reducing overall system complexity while enhancing fault detection capabilities

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

2Reliability

If add-on recording equipment is used to record faulty transmissions, then fault data can be captured, but the review process becomes time-consuming due to lack of precise time synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidreview time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously recording all event transmissions with precise time stamps before faults occur. The recording device captures signals in advance and maintains accurate time synchronization, so when a fault occurs, the data is already prepared and precisely timed, eliminating the need for manual synchronization during review and reducing analysis time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback through time-synchronized recording and indexing of captured signals. The receiver records all transmissions with precise time stamps and makes this data available for immediate review, creating a feedback loop that allows operators to quickly locate and analyze faults without manual synchronization efforts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If recording equipment is placed upstream of the receiver to capture signals, then transmission line faults can be detected, but receiver-related faults cannot be identified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission line fault detectionVSAvoidreceiver fault information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The recording device acts as an intermediary positioned within the receiver that captures signals at multiple points in the processing chain. It records both the incoming transmission signals and the processed signals after receiver handling, enabling identification of whether faults occur in the transmission line or during receiver processing by comparing the two signal states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If manual review of recorded signals is performed, then fault analysis can be conducted, but the process is inefficient due to poor recording quality and lack of calibrated equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault analysis capabilityVSAvoidreview efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service through automated recording with precise time stamps and automated indexing of captured signals. The recording device within the receiver automatically captures, times, and organizes fault data without requiring external calibrated equipment or manual setup, enabling efficient automated review processes and improving both operational ease and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2401731B1System and method for analyzing faulty event transmissions
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 TYCO SAFETY PRODS CANADA
  • EP2401731B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2401731B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for recording and evaluating faults in event transmissions between security system components. A panel in a monitored building may send event signals to a receiver located in a central monitoring facility. Event signals may represent a status of individual alarms or sensors in the building, or they may provide a status of the system as a whole. If the quality of the transmission is substandard or in a format that is unacceptable to the receiver, the signal data associated with the event is recorded for analysis. Recording is controlled by a line card associated with the receiver, and the signal data is stored in local or remote memory. Signal data can be manually or automatically analyzed to determine the source of the fault. In addition, recorded signal data can be used to build customized software to recognize signals from previously unrecognized or faulty panels.