Security Sensor Walk-Test Selection Using Expected Event Behavior
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Security system tests, including walk tests and communication tests, are time-consuming and can expose facilities to security risks due to the need for placing systems in a test mode, and communication tests are costly due to bandwidth requirements, particularly over cellular networks.
Innovation Solution
Implement a controller that uses machine learning to analyze sensor event data and determine which sensors need a walk test based on expected behavior patterns, thereby streamlining the testing process, and dynamically adjust communication test schedules based on operational communication patterns to optimize testing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a walk test is performed on all security sensors to ensure their operation, then the reliability of the security system is improved, but the time required for testing increases and security vulnerabilities are introduced due to test mode requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs walk tests selectively on only those sensors that are determined to be malfunctioning or require verification, rather than testing all sensors. This partial action approach maintains system reliability by focusing testing resources on problematic sensors while significantly reducing overall testing time and minimizing security exposure during tests
2Reliability
If communication tests are performed frequently to ensure sensor communication with the security panel, then the reliability of communication is improved, but the cost increases due to bandwidth consumption over cellular networks
Solution Approach 1:
The communication test schedule is dynamically adjusted based on operational communication patterns. The system monitors communication quality and adapts test frequency accordingly, performing tests more frequently when communication issues are detected and less frequently when communication is stable, thereby maintaining reliability while optimizing bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from operational communication data to determine when communication tests are necessary. By analyzing communication patterns and quality metrics from normal operations, the system intelligently schedules tests only when anomalies are detected, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while maintaining communication reliability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A sensor walk-test may be streamlined by storing an expected behavior of sensor events. The sensor event data is then compared to the expected behavior of sensor events in order to determine which of the plurality of sensors need a sensor walk-test to verify proper operation of the sensor and which of the plurality of sensors do not need a sensor walk-test. A listing of which of the plurality of sensors are determined to need a sensor walk-test to verify proper operation of the sensor is displayed on a display of a user device. Communication testing may be streamlined in a similar manner.