Systems and methods for software defined fire detection and risk assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire detection systems face issues such as a central point of failure, difficulty in maintenance and updates, lack of dynamic operational changes, and ineffective alarm prioritization due to static severity scores, leading to inefficient resource allocation and response times.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined alarm control unit (SDACU) is implemented to receive fire detection signals from sensors, generate operating commands for fire response devices, and provide graphical representations of fire zones, enabling continuous monitoring and dynamic management of fire suppression systems, including sprinkler control and risk assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fire panel is used as the central control unit, then the system can monitor and control fire detection devices, but the fire panel becomes a central point of failure and requires reconfiguration of the entire system when replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fire detection system into distributed microcontroller units (MCUs) that operate independently rather than relying on a single central fire panel. Each MCU can detect fires locally and trigger alarms independently, eliminating the central point of failure. When one MCU fails, others continue to function without requiring system reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If firmware is coupled to hardware in conventional fire panels, then the system can operate reliably, but upgrading the system requires replacing physical hardware which is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/firmware-coupled system with a software-defined architecture where the fire detection logic is implemented as software on standardized hardware platforms. This allows system upgrades through software updates rather than hardware replacement, significantly reducing upgrade costs while maintaining reliability through proven hardware designs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional fire detection systems use static severity scores for alarms, then the system can provide consistent alerting, but the volume of alerts impacts response time and leads to ineffective resource allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic severity scoring that adjusts alarm priority based on real-time contextual factors such as fire location, detected fire size, occupancy patterns, and historical data. This dynamic approach filters out low-priority false alarms and prioritizes critical incidents, improving response time and resource allocation while maintaining consistent alerting protocols.
4Adaptability or versatility
If on-site access is required for firmware updates in conventional systems, then the system can be updated, but large systems become difficult to maintain and update
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated over-the-air (OTA) update mechanisms where microcontrollers can receive and install firmware updates remotely without requiring physical access to the fire panel. The system automatically manages update deployment, validation, and rollback procedures, making maintenance straightforward even for large distributed systems.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a software defined alarm control unit (SDACU) to augment an existing fire panel, the SDACU configured to receive, from one or more sensors distributed within a building via the existing fire panel, a fire detection signal, generate, based on the fire detection signal, an operating command for one or more fire response devices associated with the building, and generate a graphical representation of the building, the graphical representation including a status of at least one of the one or more fire response devices.