Title of Invention	METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A NEWLY INSTALLED DEVICE IN A DANGER DETECTION SYSTEM
Abstract	In order to determine the position of a device (M8) newly introduced into a danger detection system whose devices (M1-M8) comprise an insulator (S) and are connected to a central (Z) by a warning line (ML), the newly introduced device (M8) is interrogated multiple times from one side of the warning line (ML). The insulator of a device with an already known topology is first opened, subdividing the warning line (ML) into two branches, and the branch in which the newly introduced device (M8) is located is then determined. This interval halving process is repeated until the exact position of the newly introduced device is found. Said device is preferably a danger detector or an actuator.

Title of Invention

METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A NEWLY INSTALLED DEVICE IN A DANGER DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

In order to determine the position of a device (M8) newly introduced into a danger detection system whose devices (M1-M8) comprise an insulator (S) and are connected to a central (Z) by a warning line (ML), the newly introduced device (M8) is interrogated multiple times from one side of the warning line (ML). The insulator of a device with an already known topology is first opened, subdividing the warning line (ML) into two branches, and the branch in which the newly introduced device (M8) is located is then determined. This interval halving process is repeated until the exact position of the newly introduced device is found. Said device is preferably a danger detector or an actuator.

Full Text	Description The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a newly installed device in a hazard detection system, the devices of which have an isolator and are linked to a control centre by way of a signaling line. Devices in this context in particular include hazard detectors, such as fire or gas detectors, but they can also be actuators, such as optical or acoustic alarm emitters, relays, alarm displays, transmission devices for forwarding alarms, etc. When the term detector is used in the description which follows it should not be understood as restrictive. When a new detector is installed in an already operational network, its position must be determined within the topology. This can be done by determining the overall topology by restarting the entire network, for example by means of a specific command to all detectors or no-load switching of the signaling line. The alarms are then started up in sequence, each being allocated a unique communication address. Such methods are known as chain synchronization or daisy chain and have been used for a long time. See also EP-A-0 042 501 for example. EP-A-0 485 878 describes a method for determining the configuration of detectors in a hazard detection system, wherein the control centre has to implement a number of steps before the communication addresses are assigned to the detectors, which takes a relatively long time. Determining the position of a newly installed detector by restarting the entire network is time-consuming, particular in the case of larger networks, and is definitely not efficient. EP-A-0 880 117 describes a method for the automatic location of detectors, wherein the detectors are equipped with means for communicating with adjacent detectors. To locate a detector, all the detectors open up their disconnectors and the detector to be located transmits a corresponding message, which is only received by its neighbors. The disconnectors are then closed and it is determined which detectors are those neighbors, allowing unique determination of the position of the detector to be located. This method is relatively fast but requires that the detectors are equipped with the said communication means. The invention is intended to specify a method of the type mentioned above, which allows fast and simple location of newly installed devices and requires no further equipping of the devices. The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that the newly installed device is scanned a number of times from one side of the signaling line, with the isolator of a device already known in the topology being opened previously and the signaling line thereby being divided into two branches and it is determined in which of the branches the newly installed device is located and this method is continued until the precise position of the newly installed device is located. A first preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that first the isolator of a device disposed as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line is opened and it is then determined based on the availability of the newly installed device from the selected end of the signaling line whether it is in the branch before or after the device with the opened isolator. A second preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that the isolator just opened is then closed and the isolator of a device disposed as close as possible to the centre of the branch of the signaling line containing the newly installed device is opened and it is determined based on the availability of the newly installed device from the selected end of the signaling line whether the newly installed device is before or after the device with the opened isolator. A third preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that the described method of interval halving is implemented until the precise position of the newly installed device is established, which in the case of a hazard detection system containing a total of n detectors is after (log 1/n)/(log !4) steps, rounded to the nearest natural number. Thus for 30 detectors after 5 steps and for 100 detectors after 7 steps, each only lasting in the order of one second. It therefore only takes a short period of several seconds without any additional outlay to locate the precise position of the newly installed device. The invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hazard detection system in a state representing a first step of the inventive method; and Fig. 2 shows the hazard detection system in Fig. 1 in a state representing the second step of the inventive method. Figures 1 and 2 show a hazard detection system, comprising a control centre Z, a ring signaling line ML going out from this and detectors M1 to M8 linked to the signaling line ML. Let the detector MI have the communication address 1, the detector M2 the communication address 2, etc. Each of the detectors Mi to M8 essentially contains at least one sensor for a hazard parameter, such as smoke, temperature or a combustion gas, an electronic evaluation system (both not shown) and an isolator 81 to S8. As already mentioned in the introduction, detectors M refer not only to a hazard detector but quite generally to an addressable device installed in a signaling line. As well as a hazard detector it can also be an actuator, such as an optical or acoustic alarm emitter, a relay, an alarm display, a transmission device for forwarding alarms, etc. Let it be assumed that the detector M8 with the communication address 8 is a newly installed detector. The detector M8 is scanned a number of times from one end, according to the diagram the upper end of the signaling line ML, to determine its position. The isolator of a detector already known in the topology is thereby previously opened in each instance. In a first step a detector is selected for this purpose, which is as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line ML. According to Fig. 1 this is the detector M4 with the isolator S4. It is then investigated whether the searched for newly installed detector is available from the selected end of the signaling line ML. This provides the information whether the searched for detector Ms is located before or after the detector M4 with the opened isolator S4. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown the newly installed detector Ma is not available from the upper end of the signaling line ML due to the opened isolator S4, so it must be located in the branch after the detector M4. The isolator S4 of the detector M4 is then closed and the interval halving method is continued in the branch after the detector M4. According to Fig. 2 the isolator of a central detector of this branch is then opened, according to the diagram the isolator S6 of the detector Me, and this provides the information that the searched for detector Ma is between the detectors M4 and M6, in other words it is one of the detectors M5 or Ms. By closing the isolator Se of the detector Me and then opening the isolator 85 of the detector Ms, the newly installed detector M8 is finally located precisely after only three steps in all. It can generally be said that for a hazard detection system containing a total of n detectors, it takes (log 1/n)/(log 1/£) steps, rounded to the nearest natural number, to locate a newly installed detector, in other words for 30 detectors 5 steps and for 100 detectors 7 steps, each only lasting in the order of a second. It therefore only takes a short period of several seconds without any additional outlay to locate the precise position of the newly installed detector. The inventive method is not restricted to a ring signaling line ML of the type shown in Fig. 1 and 2 but can also be used with what are known as spur lines or branch lines. If for example a spur line containing a newly installed detector were branched from the signaling line ML between two detectors, the described method could be used to determine the site of the branch and the same method could then be used to determine the position of the newly installed detector on the spur line. We Claim:- 1. A method for determining the position of a newly installed device (M8) of a hazard detection system, the devices (M1 - M8) of which have an isolator (S1 - S8) and are linked to a control centre (Z) by way of a signaling line (ML), wherein the newly installed device (M8) is scanned a number of times from one side of the signaling line (ML), with the isolator of a device already known in the topology being opened previously and the signaling line (ML) thereby being divided into two branches and it is determined in which of the branches the newly installed device (M8) is located and this method is continued until the precise position of the newly installed device is located. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein first the isolator (S4) of a device (M4) disposed as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line (ML) is opened and it is then determined based on the availability of the newly installed device (M8) from the selected end of the signaling line (ML), whether it is located in the branch before or after the device (M4) with the opened isolator (S4). 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the isolator (S4) just opened is then closed and the isolator (S6) of a device (M6) disposed as close as possible to the centre of the branch of the signaling line containing the newly installed device (M8) is opened (ML) and it is determined based on the availability of the newly installed device (M8) from the selected end of the signaling line (ML) whether the newly installed device (M8) is located before or after the device (M6) with the opened isolator (S6). 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the described method of interval halving is implemented until the precise position of the newly installed device (M8) is established, which in the case of a hazard detection system containing a total of n detectors is after (log 1/n)/(log Vz) steps, rounded to the nearest natural number. 5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is formed by a hazard detector in the nature of a fire or gas detector or by an actuator.

Full Text

Description
The present invention relates to a method for determining the position of a newly installed device in a hazard detection system, the devices of which have an isolator and are linked to a control centre by way of a signaling line.
Devices in this context in particular include hazard detectors, such as fire or gas detectors, but they can also be actuators, such as optical or acoustic alarm emitters, relays, alarm displays, transmission devices for forwarding alarms, etc. When the term detector is used in the description which follows it should not be understood as restrictive.
When a new detector is installed in an already operational network, its position must be determined within the topology. This can be done by determining the overall topology by restarting the entire network, for example by means of a specific command to all detectors or no-load switching of the signaling line. The alarms are then started up in sequence, each being allocated a unique communication address. Such methods are known as chain synchronization or daisy chain and have been used for a long time. See also EP-A-0 042 501 for example.
EP-A-0 485 878 describes a method for determining the configuration of detectors in a hazard detection system, wherein the control centre has to implement a number of steps before the communication addresses are assigned to the detectors, which takes a relatively long time. Determining the position of a newly installed detector by restarting the entire network is time-consuming, particular in the case of larger networks, and is definitely not efficient.
EP-A-0 880 117 describes a method for the automatic location of detectors, wherein the detectors are equipped with means for communicating with adjacent detectors. To locate a detector, all the detectors open up their disconnectors and the detector to be located transmits a corresponding message, which is only received by its neighbors. The disconnectors are then closed and it is determined which detectors are those neighbors, allowing unique determination of the position of the detector to be located. This method is relatively fast but requires that the detectors are equipped with the said communication means.
The invention is intended to specify a method of the type mentioned above, which allows fast and simple location of newly installed devices and requires no further equipping of the devices.
The stated object is achieved according to the invention in that the newly installed device is scanned a number of times from one side of the signaling line, with the isolator of a device already known in the topology being opened previously and the signaling line thereby being divided into two branches and it is determined in which of the branches the newly installed device is located and this method is continued until the precise position of the newly installed device is located.
A first preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that first the isolator of a device disposed as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line is opened and it is then determined based on the availability of the newly installed device from the selected end of the signaling line whether it is in the branch before or after the device with the opened isolator.
A second preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that the isolator just opened is then closed and the isolator of a device disposed as close as possible to the centre of the branch of the signaling line containing the newly installed device is opened and it is determined based on
the availability of the newly installed device from the selected end of the signaling line whether the newly installed device is before or after the device with the opened isolator.
A third preferred embodiment of the inventive method is characterized in that the described method of interval halving is implemented until the precise position of the newly installed device is established, which in the case of a hazard detection system containing a total of n detectors is after (log 1/n)/(log !4) steps, rounded to the nearest natural number. Thus for 30 detectors after 5 steps and for 100 detectors after 7 steps, each only lasting in the order of one second. It therefore only takes a short period of several seconds without any additional outlay to locate the precise position of the newly installed device.
The invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hazard detection system in a state representing a first step of the inventive method; and Fig. 2 shows the hazard detection system in Fig. 1 in a state representing the second step of the inventive method.
Figures 1 and 2 show a hazard detection system, comprising a control centre Z, a ring signaling line ML going out from this and detectors M1 to M8 linked to the signaling line ML. Let the detector MI have the communication address 1, the detector M2 the communication address 2, etc. Each of the detectors Mi to M8 essentially contains at least one sensor for a hazard parameter, such as smoke, temperature or a combustion gas, an electronic evaluation system (both not shown) and an isolator 81 to S8.
As already mentioned in the introduction, detectors M refer not only to a hazard detector but quite generally to an addressable device installed in a signaling line. As well as a hazard detector it can also be an actuator, such as
an optical or acoustic alarm emitter, a relay, an alarm display, a transmission device for forwarding alarms, etc.
Let it be assumed that the detector M8 with the communication address 8 is a newly installed detector. The detector M8 is scanned a number of times from one end, according to the diagram the upper end of the signaling line ML, to determine its position. The isolator of a detector already known in the topology is thereby previously opened in each instance. In a first step a detector is selected for this purpose, which is as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line ML. According to Fig. 1 this is the detector M4 with the isolator S4. It is then investigated whether the searched for newly installed detector is available from the selected end of the signaling line ML. This provides the information whether the searched for detector Ms is located before or after the detector M4 with the opened isolator S4.
In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown the newly installed detector Ma is not available from the upper end of the signaling line ML due to the opened isolator S4, so it must be located in the branch after the detector M4. The isolator S4 of the detector M4 is then closed and the interval halving method is continued in the branch after the detector M4. According to Fig. 2 the isolator of a central detector of this branch is then opened, according to the diagram the isolator S6 of the detector Me, and this provides the information that the searched for detector Ma is between the detectors M4 and M6, in other words it is one of the detectors M5 or Ms.
By closing the isolator Se of the detector Me and then opening the isolator 85 of the detector Ms, the newly installed detector M8 is finally located precisely after only three steps in all.
It can generally be said that for a hazard detection system containing a total of n detectors, it takes (log 1/n)/(log 1/£) steps, rounded to the nearest natural number, to locate a newly installed detector, in other words for 30 detectors 5
steps and for 100 detectors 7 steps, each only lasting in the order of a second.
It therefore only takes a short period of several seconds without any additional outlay to locate the precise position of the newly installed detector.
The inventive method is not restricted to a ring signaling line ML of the type shown in Fig. 1 and 2 but can also be used with what are known as spur lines or branch lines. If for example a spur line containing a newly installed detector were branched from the signaling line ML between two detectors, the described method could be used to determine the site of the branch and the same method could then be used to determine the position of the newly installed detector on the spur line.

We Claim:-
1. A method for determining the position of a newly installed device (M8) of a
hazard detection system, the devices (M1 - M8) of which have an isolator
(S1 - S8) and are linked to a control centre (Z) by way of a signaling line
(ML),
wherein the newly installed device (M8) is scanned a number of times from one side of the signaling line (ML), with the isolator of a device already known in the topology being opened previously and the signaling line (ML) thereby being divided into two branches and it is determined in which of the branches the newly installed device (M8) is located and this method is continued until the precise position of the newly installed device is located.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein first the isolator (S4) of a device
(M4) disposed as close as possible to the centre of the signaling line (ML) is
opened and it is then determined based on the availability of the newly
installed device (M8) from the selected end of the signaling line (ML),
whether it is located in the branch before or after the device (M4) with the
opened isolator (S4).
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the isolator (S4) just opened is then closed and the isolator (S6) of a device (M6) disposed as close as possible to the centre of the branch of the signaling line containing the newly installed device (M8) is opened (ML) and it is determined based on the availability of the newly installed device (M8) from the selected end of the signaling line (ML) whether the newly installed device (M8) is located before or after the device (M6) with the opened isolator (S6).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the described method of interval
halving is implemented until the precise position of the newly installed
device (M8) is established, which in the case of a hazard detection system
containing a total of n detectors is after (log 1/n)/(log Vz) steps, rounded to
the nearest natural number.
5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is formed by a hazard detector in the nature of a fire or gas detector or by an actuator.

Documents:

5968-delnp-2007- Amendoned Abstract..pdf

5968-delnp-2007-abstract.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Claims-(25-06-2012).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-claims.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-Correspondence Others-(10-06-2013).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Correspondence Others-(25-06-2012).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Correspondence-Others (25-01-2010).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Correspondence-Others (29-10-2009).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-correspondence-others-1.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-correspondence-others.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-description (complete).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-drawings.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-1 (25-01-2010).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-1 (29-10-2009).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-1-(25-06-2012).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-1.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-18.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-2-(25-06-2012).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-2.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-26.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-Form-3-(10-06-2013).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-3-(25-06-2012).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-3.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-5 (25-01-2010).pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Form-5 (29-10-2009).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-form-5.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-GPA (29-10-2009).pdf

5968-delnp-2007-pct-237.pdf

5968-delnp-2007-pct-304.pdf

5968-DELNP-2007-Petition-137-(25-06-2012).pdf

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Patent Number

257311

Indian Patent Application Number

5968/DELNP/2007

PG Journal Number

39/2013

Publication Date

27-Sep-2013

Grant Date

23-Sep-2013

Date of Filing

31-Jul-2007

Name of Patentee

SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Applicant Address

WITTELSBACHERPLATZ 2, 80333, MUNICH, GERMANY

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	KASTLI, URS	AUFDORFSTRASSE 95C, 8708 MANNEDORF, SWITZERLAND.

PCT International Classification Number

G08B 25/04

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2006/050054

PCT International Filing date

2006-01-05

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	EP05002480	2005-02-07	EUROPEAN UNION