Wi-Fi Mesh Fire Detection System with Redundant Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless fire detection systems are perceived as less reliable than wired systems, despite offering installation advantages, due to potential damage or cutting of wires, and existing solutions often require proprietary radios and networks that are cumbersome to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A Wi-Fi mesh network using 802.11 enabled hardware and software is employed, with dual connectivity and time-synchronized multi-hop communication to create a redundant and reliable communication pathway between sensors, pull stations, and actuation devices, ensuring messages can be sent through secondary nodes in case of primary route failure, while conserving power to extend battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If wireless technology is used in fire control systems, then installation cost and complexity are reduced, but system reliability is perceived to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wireless network into multiple independent mesh nodes, each capable of autonomous operation and communication. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality even when individual nodes fail, thereby improving reliability while keeping installation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundant communication paths and backup routing protocols in advance, so that when a failure occurs, the system can immediately switch to alternative routes without interruption. This beforehand cushioning ensures high reliability while maintaining wireless installation simplicity.
2Reliability
If proprietary radios and protocols are used to connect fire control devices, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal Wi-Fi communication protocols that are widely supported and easy to implement, rather than proprietary protocols. This allows standard wireless devices to be used, reducing complexity while maintaining reliable communication through the mesh network architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network implements continuous feedback mechanisms where nodes monitor communication quality and automatically adjust routing decisions. This feedback system ensures reliable communication using standard protocols by dynamically optimizing data paths based on real-time network conditions.
3Device complexity
If single-point communication paths are used in wireless fire systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but vulnerability to failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication network is segmented into multiple mesh nodes with distributed intelligence, where each node can independently route messages. This segmentation creates multiple potential paths for communication, improving failure resistance while maintaining relatively simple individual node structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-point (one-dimensional) communication paths to a multi-dimensional mesh network where messages can travel through multiple spatial routes. This dimensional expansion provides redundancy and failure resistance while keeping each individual connection simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A Wi-Fi mesh fire detection system and methods therefor are provided. The system can include a plurality of access points, where each access point in the plurality of access points is wirelessly connected to at least two other access points in the plurality of access points. For example, a first access point can be assigned as a primary parent device to a third access point, and a second access point can be assigned as a secondary parent device to the third access point. The third access point can transmit a message to the secondary parent device when the third access point fails to confirm that the primary parent device successfully received the message transmitted by the third access point.