Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ED~251
A COLOR GRAPHICS TERMINAL FO~ MONITORING A_ ALARM
SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a novel
multi-graphic display and touch screen terminal
capable of monitoring the events of a system,
e.g., a fire alarm system. Alarm1 trouble, super-
visory, and monitor inputs are instantly and
simultaneously depicted on floor plans, building
profiles, facility overview~, and zone plans to
accurately identify their source and location.
This novel color graphics terminal also allows
authorized operators to manipulate certain aspects
of the fire alarm system directly from the touch
screen, i.e., they can move the graphic displays
from one window to another and call up othar
graphic displays to specific windows; acknowledge
status changes, such as alarm or supervi~ory
inputs; print hard-copy report~; and acti.vate or
deactivate individual systelll devices or circuits,
such as smoke detectors, manual stations, doors,
fans, sprinklers, and individual circuits.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recent advancements in alarm system technology
involve the integration of remote alarm devices
and computer systems. Th~ computers typically
allow the operator to view a diagram of the specific
floor plan from which the alarm source is derived,
and control certain ~unctions of the system directly
from a computer keyboard or mouse.
Although use o~ computers has greatly enhanced
the control over the entire alarm system, there
remains a desire to make these systems more user
friendly. That is, firemen entering a burning
building under an emergency situa-tion find it
extremely difficult to sit down at a computer
keyboard to issue commands to, or decipher in~or-
mation provided from, the computer. This problem
has prompted -the alarm system industr~ to undertake
the development of systems which are easier to
use and operate.
In one user friendly system that has been
developed, a single graphics window and touch
screen capability are provided, thereby overcomin~
the disadvantages of manual computer syste~s,
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i.e., keyboard commands and cumbersome key stroke
combinations.
Still, under emergency situations it is very
difficult for a fireman or oth,er system operator
to know exactly where the alarm source is coming
when confronted with a single graphic displa~
system. That is, a ~ireman unfamiliar with the
premises will be con~ronted with a graphic display
that only shows the floor plan of the specific
floor ~rom which the alarm source is emanating.
The fireman will have no other reference to aid
in his or her understandi:ng of the location or
relationship of this floor plan -to the building
or facility. This is a particular problem in a
building having multiple wings or facilities
having multiple buildings, such as a university
campus.
Another problem arises when there are multiple
fires on di~ferent, floors or in a di~ferent build-
ing. A single graphic display sys,tem only permitsviewing of the alarm'situation on one -~loor, and
thus the operator has no idea that there are
fires on other -floors or in other parts of the
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facility. Having such information would certainly
aid in the strategy for extinguishing the fires.
The present invention overcomes the a~'ore-
mentioned disadvantages relating to both keyboard
systems and single graphic display, touch screen
systems. It is an cbject of the present invention
to provide easy-to-read multi-graphic displays,
preferably with a touch screen that eliminates
ke~board inputs, complex codes, and single graphic
displays.
The multiple graphics windows of the present
invention having at-a-glance portrayal of events
and their relationship to the overall building or
faci}ity, coupled with the 'graphic terminal's
touch screen operation, makes it invaluable in
emergency situations when seconds count. That
is, a ~ireman simultaneously views the detail
area o~ the fire, as well as bro~der peri.pheral.
views of where the fire,'s location is relative to
ZO the building and/or campus. Also, the fireman
receives visual information as to what other
areas of the building or campus may be involved in
the fire. All this information is pro~ided to
the fireman as he or she approaches the graphies
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monitor without the need ~o interact with the
computer or issue any commands.
A -~urther objec-t o~ the present invention is
to keep tabs on a wide range o~ system events,
whereby alarm, trouble, supervisory, and monitor
inputs are instantly color-coded and depicted on
floor plans that pinpoint their source. Addition-
ally, authorized operators can manipulate certain
aspects of the fire alarm system, i.e., they can
acknowledge status changes, such as alarm or
supervisory inputs, print hard copy reports, and
activate or deactivate individual de~ices and
circuit, such as smoke detectors, manual stations,
doors, fans, sprinklers, and individual circuits.
The present invention also provides many
additional advantages which shall b0come apparent
as described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A color graphics terminal ~or monitoring a
system comprising: a computer means; a graphics
monitor connected to th0 computer means, the
graphics monitor having at least two separate
graphics windows and capable of presenting simul-
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taneously -two or more related graphic displays o~
the system; and a means for controlling the computer
means to automatically present on the graphics
monitor related graphic displays in response to
certain inputs received by the computer means.
The inputs received by the computer means may,
for example, relate to the occurrence of certain
events taking place wi-thin the system; whereby at
least a peripheral perception of the events is
displayed in the graphics windows. Additional
inputs may be received due to operator con-tact
with the graphics moni-tor.
The color graphics terminal typically includes
a touch screen which is capable of moving the
related graphic displays from one graphics window
to another, calling-up other graphic displays of
the system to any of the graphics windows, and
activating switches on a common control pan~l.
In a principal embodiment, the graphics
monitor comprises at least a main graphics window
and a secondary graphics window. More preferably,
the graphics monitor comprises three graphics
windows, e.g., a main graphics window and two
secondary graphic~ windows. The related graphic
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displays shown in the three graphics windows may
have the following hierarchical relationship: zone
plans, floor plans, building profile1 Eacility
overview, common control panel, and cover screen.
The graphics monitor also may include a command
menu window, a-t least one message window, a system
status window, a system title window and a time/date
window.
The means for interacting with the graphic
displays is preferably either a touch screen, a
computer keyboard or a computer mouse.
The preferred color graphics terminal includes
a touch screen disposed about the graphics monitor
in such a manner that when a given area of the
touch screen is -touched the related graphic displays
will be affected. For example, touching icons in
the main graphics window will ~nable or disable
system devices or circuits corresponding to the
respective icons or acknowledge input ~rom these
system devices or circui-ts. Moreover; touching
touch points of the secondary graphics window
immediately moves -the graphic displayed in -the
secondary graphics window into the main graphics
window. The icons in the graphic displays are
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inoperable while the graphic displays are in the
secondary graphics window.
Also, touching touch-points in the nlain
graphics window will select floor plans or activate
swi-tches on a common control panel. Touching any
part of a zone within a floor plan graphically
displayed in khe main graphics window immediately
moves the respective zone plan into the main
graphics window and the floor plan to the secondary
graphics window.
The color graphics terminal of the present
invention is preferably used with a fire alarm or
security system for mo~itoring alarm and trouble
events and the like. The system devices or circuits
which may be enahled or disabled b~ ~ouching
icons when the color graphics terminal is connected
to a fire alarm system are, ~or example, smokc
detectors, manual st,ations, doors, Eans, sprinklers,
and individual circuits.
Other and further objects, advanta~es and
features of the present invention will be understood
by re~erence to the following specification in
conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein
iike parts have been gi~en like numbers.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN~
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the
color graphics terminal according to the presenk
invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic r0presentation of the
complete set of windows on the screen of the
graphics ~onitor according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a
series of graphics windows which may appear on
the graphics monitor screen during operation of
the color graphics terminal of the present inven-
tion;
Figo 4 is a schematic representation of the
graphics windows of the graphics monikor wherein
a common control panel is positioned within khe
main graphics window;
Fig. 5 is a flowchart demonstrating khe
levels of user authorizations;
Fig. 6 is a schemakic representation oP the
graphics windows of the graphics monitor wherein
a floor plan is positioned within the main graphics
window, a building profile is positioned within
one secondary graphics window9 and a facility
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overview is posi-tioned within another secondary
graphics window;
Fig. 7 is an over~iew flowchart depicting
the basic computer operations taking place in the
color graphics terminal of the present invention
when an input signal is received from either the
touch screen or alarm interface; and
Fig. 8 is a more detailed, e~emplary, intar-
active flowchart depicting the decisions and
actions that may be taken when an input signal is
detected by the computer o the color graphics
terminal according *o the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The color graphics terminal of the present
invention represenks the combination o~ the latest
computer technology with the besk in ~ire alarm
system~. The result is an elegank and deceptivaly
simple system monitoring and response tool. lt
features easy-to-read graphic displays and a
touch-sensitive screen that eliminates keyboard
input and complex codes. This terminal simul-
taneously provides, at the userts selection,
peripheral related graphic displays, such as
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building profile, floor plans, detailed instructions
for responding to inputs, ~nd ~one plans of' khe
building being moni-tored. Alarm, trouble, super-
visory, and monitor inputs are instantl~ color-
coded and depicted simultaneously on floor plans,building profiles, zone plans, and ~acility over
views that pinpoint their source.
In addition to reviewing system events,
authori~ed operators can manipulate certain aspects
of the system. They can, for example, acknowledge
status changes such as alarm or supervisory inputs,
print hard-copy reports, and even activate or
deactivate individual devices.
The color graphics terminal according to the
present invention can best be described by re~erring
to the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is schematic
representation of a color graphics terminal for
monitoring a system comprising: a computer means
2; a graphics monitor 4 connected to compuker
means 2; and touch screen 6. Touch screen 6 and
the alarm system (not shown) are connected to
computer means 2 via interf'aces 8 and 10, respec-
tively.
Computer means 2 is preferably an IBM PC/386
compatible computer having at least a 12MHz system
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clock and a 20 megAbyte hard dri~e, e.g., ~n
Epson Equity 386sx with a clock speed of 16MHz
and lMB RAM. The computer should have a 3.5 inch
floppy disk drive with a capacity greater than or
5 equal to 750KB. Monitor 6 is typically a 14 inch
VEA compatible graphics controller having greater
than or equal to 640 W x 350 H pixels resolution
and greater than or equal to sixteen simultaneous
colors9 e.g., a NEC Multisync ZA. Interf~ce 8
should preferably be a 16 bit AT bus compatible
interface. Touch screen 6 is preferably an Elo-
graphics Accutouch touch screen. The software is
typically MS-DOS version 3.2 from Microso~t Inc.,
HALO 88 Graphics Library from Media Cybernetics
Inc., and, optionali.y, DR HALO III Graphics Editor
from Internatiorlal Microcomputer Software Inc.
The color graphics terminal is typically
connected to a fire alarm system, such as that
disclosed in co pending U.S. Patent Application,
20 Serial No. 609,173 (Fergllson et al.), filed May 11,
1984, and entitled 'IFire Alarm Control and Emergency
Communication System". This application is incor-
porated herein by reference.
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The basic functions or operations o~ the
color graphics terminal of the present invention
are outlined in the overview flowchart set ~orth
in Fig. 7. The color graphics terminal receives
an input signal from either the touch screen or
alarm/trouble signal from their respective system
interfaces. If the input is a signal from the
touch screen, then the cover screen on the graphics
monitor is replaced with a Working Screen depicting
related graphic displays in three graphics window~.
If the input is a signal from the alarm/trouble
devices or circuits, then the cover screen on the
graphics monitor is replaced with a Working Screen
wherein the lowest order graphics display capable
of pinpointing the source i5 displayed in the
main graphics window, related views are displayed
in -the secondary ~r~phics windows, the status
display flashes the event, and the evsnt i~ ~tor0d
in the respective queue. Therea~ter, the operator
may either (1) present a lowar order graphic
display in the main graphics window by touching
any part on the gr2phic display of the next higher
order already appearing in the main graphics
window, or t2) move a graphic di~play from a
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secondary window to the main graphics window by
touching any part of the respective secondary
graphics window. The devices anffl circuits of the
alarm system may thereafter be controlled by
touching either an icon or a touch-point activated
on the graphics display in the main graphics window.
As depicted in Fig. 2, graphics monitor 4
has multiple fgraphics windows capable of presenting
simultaneously two related graphic displays o~
the system. Fig. 2 is a schematic representation
of a typical "Working Screen". This Working
Screen is central to the color graphics terminal
of the present invention. It is preferably divided
into nine constant (i.e., immovable) fields. The
nine fields are system title window 20, system
status window 22, time/date windofw 24, mairl graphics
window 26, secondary graphics window '2f~ff, secondar~
graphics window 30, command menu windofw 32., messffa,gfef
window 34, and message window 36.
System title window 20 is simply a field
provided to display the name c~ff tbe buildin~ or
location. The contents of this windofw are programed
when the system is installed and do not change.
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System status window 22 displays the current
system status of highest priority. If the system
is in standby mode, the message simply says "SYSTEM
IN STANDBY". If it then goes into trouble mode,
"SYSTEM IN TROUBLE" is displayed. An alarm input
at this point will result in "SYSTEM IN ALARM"
appearing in the system status window 22 and
there it will remain until the alarms are cleared
and the system is reset. Background colors of
this field are also associated with each system
status, i.e., red for alarm, yellow for trouble,
and green for standby.
Timefdate window 24 displays the current
system time and date, updated continually.
Main graphics window 26 is a~ in~eractive
~ield that holds a selected graphic display.
Bllilding profiles, floor plans, zone planst facility
overviews, and common controls are typical contents
o~ this field. ~ach of these graphic Aisplays
contain one or more touch-points that can be used
to manipulate system controls.
Secondary graphics windows 28 and 30 o~-fer
limited interaction. They hold graphic displays
in waiting -- reduced versions of floor plans,
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zone plans, building profiles, ~acility overviews,
OI' control panels -- that are selected by touching
them anywhere within their borders. The contents
of secondary graphics windows 28 and 30 change
depending on the graphic displayed in main graphics
window 26. If, for example, a zone plan is in
main graphics window 26, then a building pro~ile
will be displayed in secondary graphics window
28, and a floor plan showing the whole floor from
which the ~one plan is excerpted will be displayed
in secondary window 30. Fvr secondary graphicæ
windows 28 and 30, the entire field is one active
touch area. No -touch- points within them can be
selected until the whole graphic display is enlarged
and pulled into main graphics window 26 by selecting
it.
Command menu window 32 is a screen area that
contains all the control buttona that are active
at any given time. Control button~, which are
individllal touch-senaitive fielda, are used to
operate the graphics terminal's optionsO These
options include the displa~ of specifi.c graphic
displays, activation or deactivation o~ individual
fire alarm devices 7 printing of reports, etc.
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Message windows 34 and 36 display single
lines of text. Generally speakin~, message window
34 displays system responses to operator input,
while message window 36 displays system prompts
for operator input.
The color graphics terminal operates as
follows. Each screen or page of graphics monitor
4 includes pre programed areas that, when touched,
execute specific commands. These areas vary in
size and shape according to the graphic composition
o~ the current screen. For example, a row of
buttons depicted in comm~nd menu window 32 will
actually be ~ully functional as bu-ttons. Each
time an active area is touched, an audible beep
is generated by the color graphics terminal to
confirm the selection.
The color graphics terminal uses touch-serlsi.-
tive areas in three different ways, i.e~, to
operate buttons; to select touch-points and icons;
and to chan~e the main graphics window. Buttons
are used to execute specific commands. They
acknowledge alarms, sign on operators, or call up
on-line help. Purely ~unctional, buttons ar~
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simply button-shaped, and always appear in co~mand
menu window 32 near the bottom of the screen.
Touch-poin*s and icons, on the other hand,
appear exclusively within the graphic displays
disposed within main graphics window 26 and second-
ary graphics windows 28 and 30. Touch-points are
used to select floor or levels on a building
profile, or to activate swi*ches on a common
control panel. Icons are the same a touch-points,
bu$ represent fire alarm devices or circuits,
they are appearance- and position- signi~icant.
This means that an icon representing a manual
station, for example, will have a distinct appear-
ance and its position in the ~raphic display will
represent the location of the actual device.
Icons are used to enable or disable smoke de-tec*ors,
manual stations, doors, ~ans, sprinkle~s, and
individual circuits, or to acknowledge i~put ~rom
these devices or circui ts .
The graphics monitor 4 uses touch-sensitiv~
areas on touch screen 6 to change the graphic
displayed in main graphics window 26. Touching
any part of either of the two secondary graphics
windows immedia*ely moves the graphic display
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from the selected secondary graphics window into
the main graphics window. Once there, the icons
and touch-points within the graphics display can
be manipulated or operated.
There are two ways of interacting with the
color graphics terminal through its graphics
windows and its command menu window. Interaction
through the graphics windows involves the msnipu-
lation and selection of graphic displays, icons,
and touch-points. Commands, on the other hand,
involve only buttons. These buttons always appear
in the cGmmand area just below the graphics windows.
Command buttons are arranged in groups call0d
menus. One menu is displayed at a time. To execute
a command simply touch -the designated button.
Only active buttons appear in command menu wi.ndow
32. This means that if the user is not authorized
to execute the command, or i~ the command i3 llG't
possible at that stage o~` interaction, the button
simply will not appear. Command menus are arranged
in a chain, i.e., a command in one menu will
bring up another menu and so on.
As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the color graphics
terminal authorizes three levels of user interac-
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tion. Level 1 is the default authorization,
i.e., no sign-on is required. Within this level
of authorization, the user can move among graphic
displays and view system events (i.e., alarms,
troubles, etc). From Levsl 1 the operator can
also invoke help and sign-on to higher authorization
levels. No ~ther activities are possible.
Authorization Levels 2 and 3 enjoy the same
privileges offered to Level 1, but in addition,
users at these higher levels can control and
interact with the color graphics terminal. Specif-
ically, Levels 2 and 3 users can acknowledg~
events, activate and deactivate devices and common
controls, and print r~ports. The only function
protected by Level ~ authorization is the main-
tenance command, which allows the changing of
pass codes and other maintenance operations. Except
for this, Levels 2 and 3 are the ~ame.
The color graphics terminal can support
dozens of graphic displays to show e~erything
from the layout of a main lobby to the building
arrangement of a university campus. Typically,
however, five kinds o~ graphic displays will be
configured. These depict a cover screen~ a building
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profile, a common control panel, a serie~ of'
floor plans, and zone plans.
As shown in Fig. 3, a cover ~raphic display
(cov~r screen~ will fill the entire screen of
monitor 4 if there are no alarms on the color
graphics terminal and if more than one minute has
elapsed without any activity. The cover screen
is designed to minimize the amount of wear to the
monitor 4. The cover screen will $ypically identify
the color graphics terminal and show the message
"TOUCH SCREEN TO ACTIVATE SYSTEM". Touching any
part of the cover screen brings up the Working
Screen with the Level 1 main menu displayed, and
above it, in the main ~raphics window 26 the
building profile. (See the first display in Fi8
3 below the cover screen).
The f'acility overview is the highest o:rder
o~ graphic disp].ay. Next is the building progile
which shows the ~loor- by-floor ~rrangement o~
the site in proeile. A touch-poin:t is associated
with each floor or level. Touching one of these
touch-points when the building profile is in the
main graphics window calls the plan for the sel~ct2d
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floor to the main graphics window 26. ~See the
next lower display in Fig. 3).
Each floor plan will have one or more æone
associated with it. These zones are graphically
presented on the ~loor plan with the use of dif-
ferent colors. Touching the main graphics window
within the borders of a zone plan when the floor
plan is in the main graphics window will seleck
it and move it into the main graphics window 26.
(See the lowermost display in Fig. 3).
Zone plans in the main graphics window have
one or more icons associated with them. These
icons (Fig. 6), which typically represent devices,
can be controlled (i.e., acknowledged, activated,
deactivated, etc.) by selecting them in conjunction
wi-th the control menu.
The secondarg graphics windows 28 and 30
display the same contents as the main graphics
window 26, described above, though never at the
same time. In addition to this, the secondary
~raphics windows display -the in~ormation at about
one quarker of the size, and the touch-points and
icons, though visible are not active.
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The con-tents of the two secondary graphics
windows depends on what is displayed in the main
graphics window. As a rule, plans showing wider
views of what is in the main graphics window will
be displayed in the secondary graphics windows.
For example, if a zone plan is displayed in the
main graphics window, then the corresponding
building profile and floor plan will appear in
the secondary graphics windows. (See lowermost
display in Fig. 3).
This is better exemplified in Fig. 6 wherein
monitor 40 comprises: system status window 42,
system title window 44, time/date window 46,
command menu window 48~ first message window 50,
second message window 52, main graphics window 54,
secondary ~raphics window 56, and secondary graphics
window 58. Main graphics window 54 contains a
graphic display of a floor plan, whereas secondary
graphics window 56 contains a graphic di3play Oe
the building pro~ile and secondary graphics window
58 contains a graphic displ~y of the campus or
facility overview. Icons 60 and 62 are clearly
displayed within the floor plan shown in main
graphics window 54. Upon the selection of a
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particular zone plan Erom the floor plan displayed
in main ~raphics window 54, the selected æone
plan will be displayed in main graphics window
54, the ~loor plan graphic di~play will appear in
secondary graphics window 58, and the building
profile will remain in secondary graphics window
56.
Each of the three maps (i.e., building profile,
æone plan and floor plan) has an additional touch-
point labeled CONTROL PANEL. Selecting thistouch-point displays the terminal's common controls
in the main graphics window 26. (See graphics
display: Common Control Panel in Fig. 4). Each
of these controls, which include RESET, SIGNAL
SILENCE, TROUBLE SILENCE, AND TOTAL EVACUATION,
is represented by a control button and an indicator
(i.e., a corresponding area o contrasting color),
which shows its currerlt status.
These controls can be operaked with the
control ~eature, initiate~ by touching CONTROI,S
in the Level 2 and 3 main menus. While users at
any authorization level may view the Common Control
Panel, seen in Fig. 4, the CONTROLS button does not
appear on the Level 1 main menu and consequently,
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operation of -th~ common controls is restricted to
-the higher authorization levels. (Se0 Fig. 5).
The color graphics terminal according to the
present invention is particularly useful in the
monitoring o~ system events, especially in alarm
systems. Keeping tabs on system events such as
troubles and alarms is the primary purpose of the
color graphics terminal. The terminal organizes
each event according to its type and the time it
was logged. All events are sorted into one of
four lists, called queues. They are called queues
because events are stored within them in the
order they were received. These queues are used
to track alarms, troubles, supervisory clevices,
and monitôrs -- one ~ueue per event type. The
four queues are also designated priorities relative
to one another, with alarms being the highest and
monitors being the lowest.
When an event occurs, say an alarm condition,
several things happen. (See Fig. 8). First, the
main graphics window takes on the lowest order
graphic display toperation designated 100~ that
can be pinpointed as the source of the alarm
condition. This means that if the system can
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narrow the alarm condition down to a particular
device, a æone plan will be displayed with the
device in question Plashing. Similarly, if th0
alarm condition can only be traced to a zone,
then the corresponding floor plan will be displayed
with the zone in question flashing.
At the same time, the syste~ status window
at the top left corner o~ the graphics monitor
displays the word ALARM on a red background (oper-
ation 102) and the Queue Display Menu appearsbelow the graphics windows in the command menu
window. This arrangement is displayed until an
event of higher priority is received or until the
operator interacts with the color graphics terminal.
The automatic time-out function, which causes the
cover screen to appear after a specified duration
of inactivity, is suspended when an event ha~
been logged.
The color graphics term:inal automatically
displays only the first event in the queue of
hi~hest priority~ This means that i~ a second
alarm comes in, or if a supervisory device cr
monitor is activated while the first alarm is
being displayed, no outward change woul~ occur.
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These subsequent events would, however, be entered
into their respective queues for later viewing.
However, if a trouble condition was being
indicated and then an alarm was received while
the trouble was displayed, the main graphics
window would chan~e to show the source of that alarm
and the status window would displa~ ALARM on a
red background. All subsequent events at this
stage would be added to their respective queues
and the graphics windows would remain as they are
until the operator initiated some other activity.
All three main menus include a QUEUE DISPLAY
bu*tosl. Touching this brings ~orward a menu from
which a specific queue can be chosen. Choosing a
queue allows the operator to scroll among events
that are stored in it. This is done by touchin8
NEXT and PREVIOUS, as appropriate. Scrolling
among events changes the con~ents o~ khe ~aisl
graphic3 window to tha floor plan or zone plan
where the event has taken place. Unackno~ledged
events are indicated by ~lashing device icons.
The acknowledge ~unction is available to
Level 2 and Level 3 authorized users only. The
ACKNOWLEDGE control button appears on the main
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menus and on the QUEVE DISPLAY MENUS ~or -the
authorized levels. This makes it convenient to
acknowledge events as you scroll through the queues.
An unacknowledged event is distinguished by
a flashing icon that represents its device or
origin (i.e., a smoke detector or manual station).
To acknowledge the event, make sure the event in
question is displayed in the main graphics window
and touch the ACKNOWLEDGE button belo~. This
will result in the message "Select point to be
acknowledged" appearing in the message window.
Touching a flashing icon at this point stops the
flashing and the message "Point acknowledged" is
displayed in the message window. The touch-
point is acknowledged and the system is ready foryou to acknowledge another one.
Acknowledging an event does not change its
position in the queue. This means that the ~:isplay
order will remain the same. To remove an event
~rom a queue, the color graphics terminal must be
reset.
Individual devices or circuits can be enabled
or disabled, allowing you to open dampers, start
fans, charge sprinkler systems, etc~, by touching
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iconx that appear in the main graphics window.
Also common con-trols such as signal silence and fire
department relays can be activated or deactivated
through the common control panel. (See Fig. 4).
Icons and touch-points are operated by making
sure that the main graphics window contains the
graphic display (i.e., :Eloor plan or control
panel) that carries the icon or touch- point you
wish to control. The controls menu must then be
called up.
With the icon or touch-point in the main
graphics window and the controls menu below it,
-touch SWITCH ON or SWITCH OFF, as appropriate.
This will cause all the switchable icons and
touch-points in the main graphics window to be
displayed encircled with a dotted box. In the
message windows below the menu, the Eollowing
will appear for a switch on command: "Switch on
in progress-" "Select pOitlt or function ~icon in
graphics window) to be activated.",
Touching a highlighted icon or touch-point
at this point will cause the following me~sages
to appear: "Switch on point selected." "Touch
PROCEED to confirm operation, or CANCEL to abort."
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3 ~ ~
ED-251
Finally J touch PROCEED. This will ac~ivate the
icon or turn on the switch you selected and
ready the color graphics terminal to control
another one.
While we have shown and described several
embodiments in accordance with our invention, it
is to be clearly understood that the samz are
susceptible to numerous changes apparent to one
skilled in the art. Therefore, we do not wish to
be limited to the details shown and described,
but intend to show all changes and modifications
which come within the scope o~ the appended claims.
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