AU643476B2 - Improved fire alarm display - Google Patents

Description

643476 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952-1969 Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: GRINNELL ASIA PACIFIC PTY. LIMITED 21 Fame Street Sunnybank, Queensland, Australia Ronald WALTER Brian Addisson CHADWICK CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: IMPROVED FIRE ALARM DISPLAY The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to us: THIS INVENTION relates to an improved fire alarm (or protection) system. In particular, the invention relates to a computer-based display system for a fire alarm system, ad well as an improved interface between the fire alarm 5 system and the computer of the display apparatus.

Fire alarm systems in large buildings normally comprise a plurality of sensors, such as heat sensors or smoke detectors, which are located at predetermined positions throughout the building. These sensors are connected to a central control panel which typically is located in a control room or security office. Conventional control or mimic 0*O panels may include a LED display comprising a series of LEDs corresponding to respective sensors. When a particular sensor is activated, for example by detecting heat or smoke 0 in its vicinity, its corresponding LED on the control panel lights up or flashes to signal that its associated sensor is in an alarm condition.

However, an inherent and significant disadvantage of such known control panels is that the position of the activated sensor within the building is not immediately apparent from the control panel. When an alarm is signalled,

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it is necessary to look up the position of the activated Ssensor in a register or building plan which, in turn, may result in unacceptable delays in an emergency situation. To overcome this problem, some control panels display a brief message indicating the position of the activated sensor, e.g.

"third floor, guest room 310". Such information however, does not give the operator an immediate indication of the position of the sensor relative to the room or floor layout, nor does it given any information regarding the position of the activated sensor relative to other sensors in its vicinity (such information providing, for example, an indication of the spread of the fire).

There are also known fire alarm control panels which are provided with a video display, such as a small CRT screen, to provide a graphic indic.ation of the position of the activated sensor relative to its surroundings. Such displays are normally specific or dedicated to the particular ,L building for which they are designed, and often display only

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basic information, e.g. only one screen may be available.

.'15 The screen display is usually fixed or not easily changed, for example to add or vary positions of sensors. The cost of such a dedicated display is usually quite high, due to the need to custom design the display specifically for the building and/or fire protection system in question e.g. using a dedicated CAD (computer aided design) program.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display system for a fire alarm system.

It is a further objection of the present invention to provide a display system for a fire alarm system which is relatively simple and economic to implement and of general application.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an improved method of displaying the output of a fire alarm system.

In one broad form, the present invention provides display apparatus suitable for use with a fire alarm system having a plurality of sensors positioned at various locations within a building or area, the display apparatus comprising: input means for deriving first information relating to the layout of the building or area from at lerst one pre-existing graphic representation of the layout, and for converting the first information into computer readable form; (ii) computer means having a memory for storing o. 15 the first information; (iii) superposition means for adding second information relating to the locations of the sensors to the memory; and (iv) visual display means connected to the computer means for selectively displaying the stored layout of some or all of the building or area, the displayed layout including the locations of at least some of the sensors within the layout.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of displaying information relating to an area layout of a fire protection system having a number of sensors at various locations within the area, the method comprising the steps of deriving first information relating to the area layout from at least one pre-existing graphic representation, converting the first information into computer readable form, storing the first information in a memory of a computer in distinguishable files each containing information relating to the layout of a particular part of the area; adding second information to the memory relating to the positions and/or other characteristics of the sensors; and selectively displaying on a display device connected to the computer the first and second information so that the positions and/or other characteristics of sensors are superimposed on the displayed layout.

In the preferred embodiment, the input means comprises a screen capture facility which enables a 0: screen image for the visual display to be captured from a 15 variety of sources, such as a graphic display on another a computer generated by a CAD program, or obtained from a drawing, building plan, photograph or other graphic *0 S. representation using a scanning device. Graphic 0* representations of various parts of the layout are 0 captured and stored as respective screen image files in the memory of the computer means, which typically is a 0 conventional personal computer (PC).

The superposition means ,comprises a software facility enabling the positions of the sensors to be superposed on the visual displays generated by each screen image file. Preferably, the data includes not only position information, but also any special details of the particular sensor and any relevant messages for T emergency personnel.

A printer and/or logging printer may suitably be connected to the computer means for providing a hard copy *as* 00*06 toC S S

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to output of the screen images, well as a listing of logged alarms and faults.

The computer-based display apparatus of this invention enables a number of screen images to be readily ,5 obtained from existing graphic representations of the layout of the building, and further enables the positions of the sensors in the building to be subsequently added, by software, to the layouts of the screen images stored in computer memory. The hardware typically comprises a conventional PC with its associated monitor, and an interface card for enabling communication between the fire alarm system and the PC. The hardware, apart from the interface card, is too* readily available and is generally applicable to most fire protection systems. As the hardware is largely of ,'ll conventional design, and the layouts of each particular building can be readily programmed into the computer using the abovedescribed screen capture facility, the cost of the fire alarm display system of this invention is significantly less than known dedicated displays. Furthermore, the alarm display system of this invention provides an immediate and graphic representation of the location of sensors which are in an alarm condition (or fault condition) as will be 0"60 described in more detail below.

The display system of the present invention may be retrofitted to existing fire protection systems. In another form therefore, the present invention provides a fire I i 7 protection system having a number of sensors at various locations within a building, a control panel or the like connected to the sensors, and a fire alar:m display system as Sdescribed above, wherein the output of the control panel is connected to an interface card within the computer means.

The interface card of this invention enables two way ,ommunications between the computer and the control panel of the fire alarm sensor system. The interface card converts the protocol of the data from the control panel into a format which is rea.able by the computer, and vice versa. Secondly, the interface card provides hardware copy protection of the **go software within the computer, to thereby prevent unauthorised duplication of the computer software.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment a i thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a fire alarm system; and 20. Fig. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of the interface card.

As shown in the drawing, the fire alarm system comprises a number of sensors 11 which are connected to a control panel 12. Typically, the sensors are distributed throughout the building in which the fire alarm system is installed. For example, in a hotel, at least one sensor will 8 be located in each room. The sensors 11 suitably are smoke detectors, heat responsive switches or other fire detection devices. The sensors 11 and control panel 12 will not be described in detail as they are conventional devices and well known in the art.

The display system of the present invention includes computer means connected to the control panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the computer means comprises a personal computer 13, which is preferably an IBM PC/AT personal computer or an equivalent or compatible PC.

The PC 13 of the preferred embodiment has 640 Kbytes RAM, a *g 30 Megabyte hard disk with a 1:1 interleave controller, a 1.2 *0*6 megabyte floppy disk drive, EGA graphics card, a serial S* RS23210 port and a parallel printer port. The PC operates on DOS 3.2 operating software, or a later version. (It is particularly advantageous to use DOS 4.01 or later for the operating system, since hard disks larger than 32 megabytes S may be operated as a single DOS partition thereby eliminating any possible restrictions that the 32 megabyte boundary may .,2Q present with large fire protection installations.) The PC 13 e has an associated video display 14 which preferably is a

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colour monitor. A printer 15 or logging printer 16 may be *0O* connected to the PC 13 as options.

The output of the control panel 12 is connected to a microprocessor-based interface card (described in more detail below) which is plugged into an expansion slot of the PC 13. The printer 15 is also plugged into the interface card. The interface card provides a number of functions.

First, it serves to convert the protocol of the data from the control panel 12 into a format which is readable by the PC 13 and vice versa. In other words, the interface card enables communications between the control panel 12 and the PC 13, as well as the printer. Secondly, the interface card provides hardware copy protection of the software of the PC to prevent unauthorised duplication of the PC software.

Information relating to the layout of the building in which the fire protection system is installed, as well as 0@* the positions of the sensors 11 within that building, is stored in the hard disk memory of the PC 13 in software files woo* each representing a screen image. Thus, when installing the *1#5 display system, it is necessary to first load the screen 4 4 image files into the PC memory. Data relating to the individual sensors is also stored in memory.

A particularly advantageous feature of the present invention is a software utility to enable the capture of 2q0 screen images to be used in the display system. In prior art visual display systems for fire =larm systems, it was normally necessary to purchase a relatively expensive CAD software package to enable the building layout to be displayed on the PC video screen 14. This required a separate licence fee to be paid for each system using the CAD program.

The screen capture software of the present invention enables a screen image to be captured from a variety of sources, and stored in a disk file called a "screen image file". A copy of the source listing of the screen image capture software is attached to this specification and marked Annexure A. The software is in two parts; a first program to load the screen dump files, and a seaond program to save the files.

Screen images can be derived from CAD-produced screen displays. However, the display system of this invention does not require its own CAD program. Its screen *Roo 0694 capture software can be simply transferred onto a floppy disk *0 and taken to another computer in which a CAD program is used to generate the floor layouts of the building to which the

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0 .615 fire alarm system relates. In this manner, a single CAD program can be used to draft the layouts of all required buildings. Although the display system of this invention may utilize the end product of CAD program, it does not require its own CAD software, thereby reducing software costs.

s. 0 Alternatively, the input means may comprise a e scanner device to generate a screen image from a drawing, building plan, brochure, photograph or the like.

The CAD, scanner or other display program is run to display on the computer screen an image of a particular layout. The screen image capture software of this invention is then run to save a copy of the EGA graphics screen 11 currently being displayed as a disk file (a "screen image file"). This process is repeated until all desired screen images have been saved in the computer memory. The screen image files are given individual names. (Where screen images are derived from another computer, the image files are transferred from the floppy disk to the display system PC).

If a PC having 32 megabytes of memory is being used, up to 280 screen image files can be created and stored.

The files which have been saved may be viewed by using the loading program (EGALOAD) of Annexure A. This can be used to check that the screen images have been captured and saved correctly.

The PC 13 will now contain a number of screen image files which can be used to display on the PC monitor 14 the 15 layout of a particular part of the building. For example, one screen image file may be used to display the layout of a whole floor of the building, while other screen image files may display the layouts of parts of that floor on an expanded scale. As described above, the screen image files are bit map representations, usually of floor plans, generated using CAD software, but can also be images from drawings, photographs or brochures of buildings or floor layouts etc.

captured using a colour scanner or some other suitable graphic capture device. Information and data relating to the sensors are also stored, as described below.

The next step in the initialisation procedure is to 12 load into the computer 13 information relating to the position and nature of the sensors 11 and other related data.

This can be achieved by using a data loading program which superimposes the position of the sensors 11 onto the layouts represented by the screen image files. The source listing of such a program is attached to this specification as Annexure B. When this program is run, it will seek information from the operator which can be input using the keyboard and the cursor positioning keys.

Typical information which is loaded into the computer 13 includes the loop and device numbers for each sensor, the type or nature of the sensor e.g. ionization, *SeS 5045 manual station etc., and the names of the screen image files to which that sensor relates.

4, 5 At a subsequent date when the system is in operation, the data loading program enables details of a new sensor to be added to the fire alarm display system. Using this program, the operator enters details of the loop number and the sensor number, followed by details of the sensor 20 type. The program will confirm the sensor type selected and

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then ask for the screen image file name for the first screen image for this sensor. The screen image will then be agI displayed to enable the operator to use the cursor positioning keys on the keyboard to position the device at the appropriate position on the layout displayed on the screen.

To assist in adding new sensors, the devices that have already been assigned to this particular screen file'are shown in green while the newly added sensor to be positioned on the screen is shown in red. When the sensor has been correctly positioned, the ENTER key is pressed, and the program will request the file name for the next screen image file, the process then being repeated for up to ten screen image files. After the sensor has been positioned on all desired screen images, the operator may add information relating to this sensor. This information is displayed when the sensor is in an alarm condition.

The data loading program also enables sensors to be removed from the display system, to list all sensors recorded *Su a in the system, and to show the location of a selected sensor.

J5 The operator also has the option of specifying whether the sensor is to be displayed on the screen when inactive. Thus, some sensors may be displayed only when active or in a fault condition, while others may be displayed continuously. Furthermore, whether or not a sensor is to be 20 displayed when inactive is selectable for each screen image 0. I file, i.e. for each level of zoom. Thus, to avoid overcrowding on the screen, it may be advisable not to show all inactive sensors on a screen image of the whole floor layout of a large installation, yet inactive sensors can still be displayed in an expanded screen image of a polrtion of the layout sur .ounding the activated sensor.

The related data which is loaded for each sensor can be used to produce screen messages when that sensor is actuated. For example, the screen messages may advise fire personnel to bring breathing apparatus if that sensor is positioned at a location where toxic fumes are likely to be present, or advise of other specific actions to be taken in response to a particular sensor alarm, thereby increasing safety to emergency personnel as well as building occupants.

The computer 13 and its associated software can be used to monitor alarms and faults as detected by the control panel 12. It provides two separate disk-based log files, one

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boo# .for alarm details, and the other for fault details, which may be enabled, disabled and cleared as desired. These log files o are continually appended until they are manually cleared,.and 9.

therefore provide extensive historical information about the sensors 11 connected to the control panel 12.

When an alarm or fault occurs in a particular wuw sensor, the fire alarm system of this embodiment displays the

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first screen image file for the activated sensor. Complete details of the device in alarm (or fault) are graphically 4 displayed, preferably in high resolution colour, allowing emergency personnel to immediately identify the location of .OW the fire. The operator also has the option of zooming in on the location of the actuated sensor (in alarm or fault) by displaying screen image files of the area proximate to the sensor, or the operator may look at details of other sensors currently in alarm and/or fault. Alarm detection overrides fault rectification. That is, if only faults have occurred up to a particular time, the detection of an alarm condition in a sensor will override whatever is currently being done on the screen at that time.

If an optional touch screen is being used, options may be selected on the touch screen instead of the keyboard function keys. That is, control is effected by merely touching the screen to "zoom in", "zoom out", etc.

The computer-based fire protection system of the preferred embodiment has capacity for 190 alarms and 190 faults being concurrently active. Once this limit is exceeded, the sybtem will discard additional incoming alarm «g a and fault details, although these details will still be logged to disk if fault and/or alarm logging is enabled.

However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, t:.,at the capacity of the system can be increased by increasing the capacity of the computer.

A colour monitor 14 is used in the' preferred 20 embodiment. Inactive sensors not in an alarm or fault as condition) can be displayed in green, and sensors in an alarm condition can be displayed in red, while sensors currently in fault are shown in yellow on the screen. If an a' alarm and/or fault has not been acknowledged at the control panel, then the symbol for the active device is preferably shown with a flashing attribute to attract attention. After 16 acknowledgement, active devices are shown as solid red for a alarms, or solid yellow for faults The active sensor whose details are currently being displayed on the screen is shown encircled by a flashing red ring for easy identification. If there are no recorded details or information for the active device, then an icon representing the fire indicator panel itself is shown.

Faults in the fire indicator panel module are also handled in this manner.

The device details of any active sensor will be shown in an information box at the bottom left of the screen.

a' "g An information box at the bottom right of the screen displays the current number of alarms and faults detected, and any custom message for the sensor as sent from the control panel.

T When the alarm display system 4 s in this display 0e mode, the operator may select the required action by use of the keyboard function keys or, if a touch screen is being used, the operator may select desired actions by simply Se,, touching the monitor screen surface at the location of the desired opti.on shown on the monitor screen. For examr.e, the operator may select a display of the next screen for the o* current active sensor, or the previous screen. The operator may select to display the next sensor in alarm or fault condition. The display system will change from this display mode and return to a monitor mode when a reset condition is detected from the control panel. However, if alarms or t 17 faults ha.ve been detected, it is not possible to return to the monitor mode until all alarms and faults have been acknowledged at the control panel, and the panel is then finally reset.

Fig. 2 is a circut diagram of a plug-in card 'used to provide an interface between the PC 13 and control panel 12. The illustrated card is an XL Graphics Interface card which is designed to plug into an 8 bit bus expansion slot of an IBM PC-AT personal computer or equivalent personal computer, and is a half length card.

The interface card performs two primary functions,

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namely full duplex 20 mA current loop communications with the hot fire protection (control) panel, and a hardware copy protection mechanism to prevent software theft.

The current loop communications is achieved by mapping a National Semiconductor NS16450 Serial Communications Adaptor in the IBM PC-AT 1/0 address space reserved for the second communications port (COM2) of the

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computer. The serial input and output !from the NS16450 are 26 converted to 20 mA current loop by Hewlett Packard HCPL4200 and HCPL4100 optically coupled converters respectively, as shown in Fig. 2.

The use of current loop communications enables data to be transmitted over long distances between the control panel and the computer, typically up to 1.5 kilometers. This allows the computer and associated peripheral equipment to be located in a different building from that in which the control panel is housed.

The copy protection mechanism uses a Motorola 68705P5 microcomputer running suitable protection scheme software, with two of its ports being addressable through an Intel D71055C parallel peripheral interface mapped in the IBM PC-AT memory address space, as shown in Fig. 2.

The computer-based display system of this invention has several advantages over prior art systems, including: The layout of the particular building in which the fire alarm system is installed can be simply and economically loaded into the screen image files. Only one CAD or scanning program is required to initialise a multiplicity of display systems. Alternatively, the screen image files can be derived from existing drawings, •060 photographs and the like by using a known scanning device.

The positions of the sensors are easily loaded

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into the system and are clearly displayed on the screen 23: layouts. As the system is software-based, additional sensors can be added to the screens, or removed, or changed in position simply by keyboard instructions.

0* f The display system hardware is of universal application, and is interchangeable between fire protection systems in different buildings for example.

The display system uses a conventional PC 19 which is readily available and relatively inexpensive.

The position of a sensor in alarm or fault condition is immediately ascertained upon viewing the screen.

Furthermore, particular information relating to that sensor is immediately available to the operator.

The computer-based display system can be retrofitted to existing fire alarm systems which have a suitable data outport port with minimum modification.

The computer-based display system is field programmable to allow easy economical on site modification for all building alterations. Password protection is preferably provided for security.

SThe foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

*o S*e 44 c C rr ANNEXURE A EGALODE. COM EGALode Include file used to load an rEGASaved' screen dump function egalode(infilename :fnametype; state :boolean; show-all-devices :boolean boolean; type bitplane type array~1. .112003 of word; var bitjilane number :integer; bitjplane :bitplane type absolute $aO0o:$0000; dryer :integer; dryer -mode :integer; infile :file of bitplane -type; devfile :file of device-record type; in device :device record,_type; jld-color :word; *set scr -numn integer; begin 'Goes if state then begin 000, egalode false; if IOResult 0 then begin ClearDevice; outtextxy(l0,100o,'The Screen D1'mp File infilename 1) could not be located...'t); delay(2000); end else begin *bit-plane-number 1; :.epeat **Port[$3c4] 2; :=bitplane_num,,ber; read(infile,bitplane); bitplane number :=bit plane number *2; until bit -plane-number 16;- ***Port[$3c43 2; close (inf ile) assign(devfile, 'alarmdev'); reset(devfile); If IOResult 0 then begin ClearDevice; outtextxy(l00,100,'The Alarm Device File (alarmdev)' -*)*could not be located...'1); delay (2000) end else begin while (not eof(devfile)) do begin read(devfile,in -device); if (in -device.loop_number then for scr num to MAXSCREENS do if ('~crccii~\'I in ~dciv icci.scccins[scr nun] niaime infilinanci) then if show-all_devices orin-device.screens~scr nun) .display ten display sensor(in_device.device type, in -device.screenstscr nun) .x, in-device.screens~scr-nun) Green); end; of while) close(devfile); end; egalode :=true; end.

end else begin **ver 4.2 nod egalode :=false; assign(infile, infilename); reset(infile) ($If; if lOResult 0 then begin gettextsettings(old -text-info); SetUserCharSize(l,2,l,2); {MultX,DivX,MultY,DivY ~OS~SetTextJustify(LeftText,CenterText); H-oriz,Vert) SetTextStyle(DefaultFont,HorizDir,UserCharSize); Font, Dir, CharSize S..old color :=GetColor; SetColor(Black); outtextxy(50,12OI'The Banner Dump File infilename seat SetColor (Red) 0S outtextxy(50,120,4The Banner D'ump File infilename could not be located... 1); settextjustify(old-t~xt-info.horiz, old text-info.vert); **9settextstyle(old -text info, font,old_text-info.direction, old -text-info.charsize); end else begin bitplane-number repeat *Port($3c41 2; a ae Port[$3c5]: bx;Jplane number; *bitJplane n~umber :=bitplane number *2; 0until bitplane number =16;- Port[$3c4] 2; a* Port($3c5) i) close(infile); end; S egalode :=true; end; end;

EGALOAD.PAS

5 (EGALoad -Loads screen dump files which have been 'EGASaved' to check that they're ok ver program egaload; uses Graph, Crt; ty pe fnametype =string(63]; va r inifilename -fnametype; ch :char; dryer :integer; dryer-mode integer; state :boolean; inchar :char; egald.inc) procedure egavgadriver; external; egavga.obj) begin if RegisterBGldriver(@egavgadriver) 0 then begin writeln 'Fatal ERROR registering graphics driver: GraphErrorMsg(GraphResult) halt 1I) end; writeln; itate false; writeln; writeln; os..writeln('EGALoad Version 5.0 Loads screen dump files "1EGASaved"'); writeln; write('Screen Dump File Name cr> to abort....) readin (infilename); if infilename 1' them halt 6 SFirst we set the EGA into 640x350 graphics mode dryer 3; (EGA dryer mode 1; 640 x 350 pixels, 16 colours imitdraph (drver, dwer-mode,''); if egalode(imfilename) then begin Srepeat until keypressed; ch readkey; CloseGraph; end else CloseGraph; .:end.

TXSAEPAS

EGASave -T~his Terminate and Stay Resident Routine is used to capture the current image on an EGA screen which is the 640 x 350 pixel colour graphics mode. It U capture the 4 colour planes at location AOG S a distance of 22,400 bytes (or 280 rows) 'ar2 ($M4 1024,0,.200) program EGASavo; uses Dos,Tplnt,TpTsr,Crt; (Units from Turbo Professional const HotKey =$080F; {Use Alt-Tab to pop-up WaitForDos True; (Don't pop-up unless we're sure it's ok type bitplane type array~l. .11200] of word; var outfile file of bityPlane type; bitplane: bitplane type absolute $a000:$0000; bitplane-number :integer; charl :char; char2 :char; oundfile :boolean; tadfile :boolean; procedure PopupEntryPoint (var Regs Registers); begin chari 'A; char2 chr(ord('A') (start pointing one before AA foundfile :=false; badfile :=false; repeat char2 chr(ord(char2) 1); if char2 then begin Char2 W='A; harl chr(ord(chkrl) 1); if (char. then begin ass ign (outf ile,'Is'I cha rl 4- cia r2); if IOResult 0 then foundfile true else close(outfile); end else badfile true; until ((foundfile) or (badfile)); es. assign(outfile,'s' charl char2); rewrite (outfile); *0 if IOResult 0 then begin *for bitplane -number 0 to 3 do begin (Must save all 4 bit-planes Port($3ce] 4; *.Port[S3cf] :=bitplane_number; write(outfile~bit plane); end; *Port(S3ce) 4; *Port[$3cf) 0; close(outfile); end; end; in-line of the Program. We set up the interrupts then go resident begin if DefinePop(HiotKey,@PopupEntryPoint,Ptr(SSeg,SPtr) ,WaitForDos) then begin writein; writeln('EGASave Version 5.0 Loaded press <Alt><Tab> to activate.'); writeln; P0 pup s~n if not TerminateAndStayResi.dent(ParagraphsToKeep,O) then 9 end; writeln(ISorry, ECASave was unable to go resident.'); end.

procedure display event sensors; Displays all sensors in the array for th current -event floorplan, highlight the current event and show its details /ar cntr :integer; cf ilename ccolor word; scr-nun, integer; beg in show -device -info (event loop [current-event], event device~current-event), type_.n-~i_words(eventdtype~current-eventJ),event-r-act_1(current event] event_rj_act_2[current event), event-custom~current-event), current-even 'S.cilename event screens[current event,current screen] .name; for cntr 1to tot-events do begin *if (event -typetcntr) WA) then coor Red else ccolor :=Yellow; for scr_num 1 to MAXSCREENS do *if ((event -screens~cntr,sor-num].name cfilename) )then (device is on current screen so display it display sensor (event dtype[cntr], event screens[cntr,scr nun] .x, event-screens [cntr, scr nun] ocolor); end; SatFillStyle(SolidFill, Black); Oct* c Bar(1,280,640,290);*) end; function Sensor image memory pointer(var men -size word) pointer; 9, *var P :pointer; 5 begin men -size ima%,esize(0,0,30,24); S getmen(P, men -size); Seg sensor image memory pointer :=P end; 0:000: function GetScreen -Pos(infilename :fnamesize; device type :char; var xpos, ypos integer) boolean; var ch keyboard -code; dryer :integer; dryer-mode :integer; P :pointer; mem-size word; begin GetScreen Pos :=false; First we set the EGA into 640x350 graphics mode) dryer EGA) dryer-mode 1; 640 x 350 pixels, 16 colours InitGraph (dryer, dryer-mode,"); state true; if egalode (Iscreens\' inf ilename, state, TRUE )then begin if xpos 11 or xpos 619 )then xpos 240; if ypos 14 or ypos 260 )then ypos 63; bar-menu('A'); SP sensor image memorypo inter (nem size); getimage((xpos 10),(ypos 12), .00 (xpos 20),(ypos 12),PA); display sensor (device-type, xpos, ypos,red); repeat repeat until keypressed; get-key ch putimage((xpos -10),(ypos 12) ,,normalput); if ch.flags 0 then 0: begin unshifted key has been pressed case ord(ch.scan-code) of ~72: begin up~ 1 yps)os-1 if ypos >14thnyo ps-1 end; begin down if ypos 260 then ypos :~ypos 1; end; 0 00675: begin left if xpos 11 then xpos :~xpos -1; end; 77: begin right) if xpos 619 then xpos :~xpos 1; end; else begin end; end; end of if a cursor key else begin (*shift key has been pressed case ord (ch.ascii )of 56: begin UP if ypos 20 )then A6 ypos 14 else ypos ypos 7; end; begin (down) if ypos 253 then ypos :=260 else ypos ypos 7; end; 52: begin (left if xpos 19 then xpos 1 else Xpos xpos -8 end; 54: begin (right if x'pos 611 then xpos 619 else xpos :=xpos 8; end; else begin Send; 9. end; *fe end; see:getimnage((xpos 10),(ypos -12), (Xpos 2O),(ypos 12),PA*); display sensor(device type,xpos,ypos, red); until ord(ch.ascii) 13; freemem(p,inem size); *see( Now we must set the Screen Mode back to Text CloseGraph; GetScreenPos true; end (of if not error "000"else CloseGraph; (if an error has occurred in loading the screen ANNEXURE B Display sensors procedure DisplaySensor(device type i char; xpos,ypos: integer ;ccolor :word); var ccolorl word; begin ccolorl getcolor; setcolor(ccolor); SetFillStyle(SolidFill,Black); case device '-type of begin Pressure Sensor bar((xpos 5),(ypos ,(xpos+ 12),(ypos rectangle((xpos 5),(ypos Go*:,(xpos 12),(ypos+ OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- g 4090end; 00 31: begin (Flow Switch 0* as bar((xpos 5),(ypos .09.,(Xpos+ 12),(ypos see qrectangle((xpos 5),(ypos ,(xpos 12),(ypos+ OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- end; begin (Valve Monitor Switch *999 bar((xpos 5),(ypos ,(xpos+ 14),(ypos rectangle((xpos 5),(ypos ,(xpos 14) 1(ypos+ OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- end; begin (Ion Detector4 bar((xpos -7),(ypos 6) ,(xpos+ 20),(ypos OVS circle(xpos,ypos,7); **to OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- IS It); end; 6 begin (Manual Station bar((xpos 7),(ypos 6) 1 (xpos+ 7),(ypos rectangle((xpos 7),(ypos 6) ,(xpos 7),(ypos+ circle(xpos,ypos.7); end; begin (Photo Detector bar((xpos 7),(ypos 6) (xpos+ 20) ,(ypos 6)) circle(xpos,ypos,7); OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- IS PI); end; begin Roof Smoke Detector bar((xpos 10),(ypos 8) ,(xpos+ 20),(ypos circle(xpos,ypos,7); circle(xpos,ypos, OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- 'S end; IT': begin (Thermal Detector} bar((xpos 8),(ypos 6) ,(xpos+ 20),(ypos circle(xpos,ypos,8); iine(xpos,(ypos 6) ,xpos,(ypos o a line((xpos 1),(ypos 6) ,(xpos l),(ypos line((xpos 2),(ypos ,(xpos 2),(ypos line((xpos 3),(ypos ,(xpos 3),(ypos line((xpos 4),(ypos 4) ,(xpos 4),(ypos line((xpos 5),(ypos 4) ,(xpos 5),(ypos line((xpos 6),(ypos 3) ,(xpos 6),(ypos line((xpos 7),(ypos 2) ,(Xpos 7),(ypos OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- 3), end; begin (Under-Floor Smoke bar((xpos 1Q),(ypos 8) (xpos+ 2 0),1(ypos 8)) circle(xpos,ypos,7), circle (xpos,ypos, OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- 3), end; begin {Air Duct Detector bar((xpos 10),(ypos 8) I,(xpos+ 14) 1(ypos 8)) circle(xpos,ypos,7); arc(xpos,ypos,90,270,l0); line(xpos,(ypos 7) ,(xpos 12),(ypos linekxpos,(ypos 7) ,(xpos 12),(ypos CutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- 3), end; Detector I'S aI a '?:begin Device Not on File bar((xpos lO),(ypos ,(xpos+ 16),(ypos rectangle((xpos lO),(ypos ,(xpos 16),(ypos+ OutTextXy((xpos 8),(ypos- 'FIP'); bar((xpos 5),(ypos ,(Xpos+ 12),(ypos rectangle((xpos 5),(ypos ,(xpos 12),(ypos+ CutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- end; else OutTextXY((xpos 3),(ypos- end; of case setcolor(ccolorl); end; EGALD. INC (EGALd Include file used to load an 'EGASaved' screen dump file ver function egalode(infilename :fnametype) :boolean; *>.*type bit plane type =array~l. .11200] of word; var bit plane number :integer; bit plane :bitplane type alisolute $aOOO:$0000; dryer :integer; *~.dryer_ mode :integer; infile :file of bit plane type; begin egalode :=false; assign(infile, infilename); .$)reset(infile) if IOResult 0 then begin ClearDevice; outtextxy(10Q,100,,'Thk Screen Dlimp File infilename.

could not be located...') delay(2000); 9 end else begin bit_plane number repeat Port[$3c4] 2; bit plane-number; read(infile,bitplane); bit plane -number :=bitplane number *2; until bitplane -number =16; Port[$3c4] 2; close (infile) egalode true; end end; *,e ojSS **to

*SO,:

Claims (12)

1. Display apparatus suitable for use with a fire alarm system having a plurality of sensors positioned at various locations within a building or area, the display apparatus comprising: input means for deriving first information relating to the layout of the building or area from at least one pre-existing graphic representation of the layout, and for converting the first information into computer readable form; (ii) computer means having a memory for storing the first information; o*ea (iii) superposition means for adding second information relating to the locations of the sensors to the memory; and (iv) visual display means connected to the computer means for selectively displaying the stored layout of some or all of the building or area, the S displayed layout including the locations of at least some of the sensors within the layout.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, *wherein the input means comprises means for reading image data relating to a screen display of a computer-driven VDU.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input means comprises means for reading output data from a computer-aided design program.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, ;I B/ wherein the graphic representation is in documentary 21 form, and the input means comprises a scanning device for scanning the documentary representation of the layout and providing an output thereof in digital form, and means for reading the scanning device output.

Display apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first information is stored in separate files each relating to a screen image for a part of the layout, and the superposition means comprises a software facility for superimposing the locations of the sensors on the screen images.

6. Display apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the superposition means includes a facility for o: recording selected characteristics of sensors, whereby if a sensor is activated, the recorded characteristics of *fe that sensor are displayed on the visual display means when the screen image of the layout including that sensor is displayed. a. *a

7. Display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to control means, further comprising an interface circuit connected between the control means and the computer for providing protocol conversion of data communication between the control means and the computer.

8. Display apparatus suitable for use with a fire alarm system having a plurality of sensors positioned at various locations within an area layout, the display apparatus comprising: computer means for storing information relating C, to said area layout, said computer means having a memory; 22 (ii) input means for deriving said information relating to said area layout from at least one pre- existing documentary graphic representation of said area layout, said input means storing in said memory said information as st least one screen image, said input means including a scanning device for scanning said documentary graphic representation and providing an output thereof in digital form to said memory; (iii) superposition means for adding data relating to said locations of said sensors to said at least one screen image stored in said memory; and (iv) visual display means connected to said computer means for selectively displaying said superpositioned stored screen image so as to display said layouL including said locations of said sensors.

9. A method of displaying information relating to an area layout of a fire protection system having a .number of sensors at various locations within the area, the method comprising the steps of deriving first information relating to the area layout from at least one pre-existing graphic representation, converting the first information into computer readable form, storing the first information in a memory of a computer in distinguishable files each containing information relating to the layout of a particular part of the area; adding second information to the memory relating to the positions and/or other characteristics of the sensors; and selectively displaying on a display device connected AS 40-4_\ to the computer the first and second information so that S b S Sa *a S. *a 5 Sa *r S SS 55 *5 .S *7 S' the positions and/or other characteristics of sensors are superimposed on the displayed layout.

A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pre-existing graphic representation is a documentary representation, and the first information is derived by scanning the documentary representation.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the area includes a multi-level building and the first information includes information relating to the layout of individual levels of the building.

12. A fire alarm system comprising a plurality of sensors deployed at selected locations in an area; (ii) control means connected to the sensors for monitoring conditions of the sensors; (iii) computer means having a memory for storing information relating to the area layout and information relating to the sensors, and a visual display; (iv) an interface circuit connected between the control means and the computer means; input means for deriving first information relating to the area layout from a pre-existing graphical representation of the layout, and storing the information in the memory; and (vi) means for storing second information, including the positions of the sensors, in the memory such that upon display of the layout on the visual display, the positions of the sensors are superimposed thereon. DATED this twenty-third day of August 1993 GRINNELL ASIA PACIFIC PTY. LIMITED By their patent attorneys CULLEN CO. 0000 ~0* .0 0906 S.. S :*600S 5 41