Sensor Alarm Communication with Swinger Count Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor communication systems experience increased network traffic and reduced battery life due to repeated transmission of alarm messages for the same event, leading to delayed message delivery and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controller in sensors that counts alarm messages and stops transmission after reaching a predefined swinger count, reducing redundant messages and optimizing communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sensor repeatedly transmits alarm messages for the same event, then the alarm detection reliability is improved, but the network traffic increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm detection reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by sending an alarm message immediately when an event is detected, ensuring reliable alarm detection. The swinger count mechanism then prevents redundant transmissions by monitoring how many times the same alarm has already been sent, stopping further transmissions once the threshold is reached. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring the alarm is detected reliably while preventing excessive energy consumption from repeated messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the sensor repeatedly transmits alarm messages for the same event, then the alarm detection reliability is improved, but the network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm detection reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm message is sent immediately when the event is detected, ensuring reliable detection. The control panel then monitors the swinger count to determine if additional alarm messages should be suppressed, preventing excessive network traffic while maintaining alarm reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the sensor transmits alarm messages for every sensed event, then the response time is improved, but the message delivery efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery speedVSAvoidmessage delivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Alarm messages are transmitted immediately upon detecting sensed events, ensuring fast response time. The swinger count mechanism then prevents network congestion by suppressing redundant alarm messages for the same event, maintaining message delivery efficiency. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring urgent alarms are delivered quickly while preventing network overload from excessive transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4589562A1Methods for improved sensor communication with a control panel
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4589562A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4589562A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4589562A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for and system for controlling a building monitoring system including a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sense element for detecting sensed events in a space, a communication port, and a controller operatively coupled to the sense element and the communication port. The controller is configured to receive from the sense element an indication of a sensed event occurring in the space, transmit an alarm message pertaining to the detected sensed event via the communication port, and after transmitting the alarm message pertaining to the detected sensed event, receive from the sense element an indication of a plurality of subsequent sensed events occurring in the space until a number of transmitted alarm messages reaches a swinger count. When the number of transmitted alarm messages reaches the swinger count, stop transmitting an alarm message for each of the plurality of subsequent sensed events.