Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing security in security systems and alarm systems that use mesh networks are provided. In some embodiments, such systems and methods can include a mesh controller activating diagnostic, configuration, and control functions of a service device in response to physical activation of the a verification device, the service device using the diagnostic, configuration, and control functions of the service device to add a new mesh element to a plurality of mesh elements, and one of the plurality of mesh elements detecting a signal transmitted during an assigned time slot of the one of the plurality of mesh elements from a device other than the one of the plurality of mesh elements and, responsive thereto, disrupting transmission of the signal.

Abstract: A Wi-Fi mesh fire detection system and methods therefor are provided. The system can include a plurality of access points, where each access point in the plurality of access points is wirelessly connected to at least two other access points in the plurality of access points. For example, a first access point can be assigned as a primary parent device to a third access point, and a second access point can be assigned as a secondary parent device to the third access point. The third access point can transmit a message to the secondary parent device when the third access point fails to confirm that the primary parent device successfully received the message transmitted by the third access point.

Abstract: A redundant mesh communications network uses multiple controllers or controller gateways to route messages and to monitor the integrity of wired and wireless mesh system elements. Such multiple control units and multiple paths provide various redundant communications solutions, thereby avoiding a single point of failure in the network.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a control panel of a security system that protects a secured geographic area, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of annunciators, a processor that wirelessly exchanges information with the sensors and the annunciators based upon a timing table defining a repeating superframe having a plurality of non-overlapping time periods including at least one response period, at least one request period, and at least one silent period, a processor of the control panel that transmits an activation message to one of the plurality of annunciators within the response period of a first of the plurality of non-overlapping time periods, and a processor of the one of the plurality of annunciators that processes the activation message and directly synchronizes an audio or visible output of the one of the plurality of annunciators to a subsequent one of the plurality of non-overlapping time periods.

Abstract: Systems and methods to increase battery life in and identify misuse of a wireless device using environmental sensors are provided. Some methods can include identifying times during which at least one of a transceiver or a sensing device in the wireless device is operating outside of a low power sleep state, instructing a thermal sensing device in the wireless device to measure ambient temperatures of the wireless device during the identified times, recording the measured ambient temperatures and the identified times in a memory device of the wireless device, identifying a service time of the wireless device corresponding to the identified times, and using the recorded ambient temperatures or the identified service time to optimize the battery life of the wireless device or to identify the misuse of the wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of self-monitoring notification appliances are provided. A self-monitoring notification appliance can include a notification device and a monitoring sensing device. The notification device can produce one or more signals, and the monitoring device can sense a visual and/or acoustic characteristic of the one or more signals to determine successful operation thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods to increase battery life in and identify misuse of a wireless device using environmental sensors are provided. Some methods can include identifying times during which at least one of a transceiver or a sensing device in a wireless device is operating outside of a low power sleep state, instructing a thermal sensing device in the wireless device to measure ambient temperatures of the wireless device during the identified times, recording the measured ambient temperatures and the identified times in a memory device of the wireless device, identifying a service time of the wireless device corresponding to the identified times, and using the recorded ambient temperatures or the identified service time to optimize a life of a battery of the wireless device or to identify misuse of the wireless device.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a control panel of a security system, a memory of the security system having a reference frequency hopping pattern and a reference frequency offset saved therein, a plurality of wireless threat sensors that communicate with the control panel using the reference frequency hopping pattern and a fixed frequency offset for each frequency and each hop of the reference frequency hop pattern, wherein the fixed frequency offset is an integer multiple of the reference frequency offset, and a processor of the security system that detects any nearby security systems that use the reference frequency hopping pattern, determines the integer multiple of the reference frequency offset used by each of the nearby security systems, and sets the fixed frequency offset used by the plurality of sensors at a selected integer multiple of the reference frequency offset that is not used by any nearby security system.

Abstract: A system including a control panel of a security system, a memory of the security system having a reference frequency hopping pattern and a reference frequency offset saved therein, a plurality of wireless threat sensors that communicate with the control panel using the reference frequency hopping pattern and a fixed frequency offset for each frequency and each hop of the reference frequency hop pattern where the fixed frequency offset is an integer multiple of the reference frequency offset, a processor of the security system that detects any nearby security systems that use the reference frequency hopping sequence and that determines the integer multiple of the reference frequency offset used by each of the nearby security systems and a processor that sets the fixed frequency offset used by the plurality of sensors at a selected integer multiple of the reference frequency offset that is not used by any nearby security system.

Abstract: An apparatus including a control panel of a security system that protects a secured geographic area, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of annunciators, a processor that wirelessly exchanges information with the sensors and annunciators based upon a timing table defining a repeating superframe having a plurality of non-overlapping time periods including at least one response period, at least one request period and at least one silent period, a processor of the control panel that transmits an activation message to one of the plurality of annunciators within the response period and a processor of the at least one annunciator that processes the activation message and then directly synchronizes an audio or visible output of the at least one annunciator to a subsequent one of the plurality of non-overlapping time periods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing battery life in wireless multi-hop communication systems are provided. Some methods include a child node transmitting a data packet to a parent node in a wireless system, wherein the data packet includes a parent node identifier, data information, and a length of the data information, and wherein the data packet omits inclusion of a child node identifier. Some methods include a parent node receiving a data packet from a child node in a wireless system, wherein the data packet includes a parent node identifier, data information, and a length of the data information, and wherein the data packet omits inclusion of a child node identifier.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a plurality of fire detectors distributed throughout a secured geographic area, a monitoring panel that detects a status of each of the plurality of fire detectors and saves a status indicator of the fire detector indicating one of normal, alarm, and fault into a memory along with a time value, an alarm processor of the monitoring panel that detects alarm signals from the plurality of fire detectors and presents respective indicators of the activated fire detectors on a geographic map of the secured area shown on a display, and a fire progression processor that displays an indicator of a progression of a fire on the map of the display based upon the status indicators saved in memory and upon a correlation between a status indicator of alarm in a previous time period and a status indicator of fault in a more recent time period.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that uses the steps of providing a plurality of wireless sensor devices coupled to a controller in a security system configured into a wireless network where at least one is a child sensor device that communicates with the controller through at least first and second parent sensor devices, the child sensor device measuring an environmental parameter within the secured area and transmitting a message to the controller through the at least two parents, the message is transmitted during a first time period and on a first frequency to the first parent and a copy is transmitted during a second time period and on a second frequency to the second parent wherein the first and second times and first and second frequencies are all different and wherein the first and second time periods are directly adjacent to one another in time.

Abstract: A high intelligibility voice announcement system is described herein. One system includes an announcement station containing a speech to text engine in which a spoken announcement from a user is converted to text data, wherein any errors are identified and marked in the converted text data and displayed to the user. After the user has corrected any errors, the corrected text data is transmitted to one or more speakers, where a text to speech engine converts the text data to an audible message that is then broadcast via the speakers.

Abstract: A redundant mesh communications network uses multiple controllers, or controller gateways to route messages and to monitor the integrity of wired and wireless mesh system elements. The multiple control units and multiple paths provide various redundant communications solutions thereby avoiding a single point of failure in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods of near field communication enabled programming of peripheral devices in fire alarm and security systems are provided. For example, some systems can include a near field configuration device transmitting a near field communication signal to a peripheral device, and all or a portion of the peripheral device being powered for configuration via the near field communication signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods of self-monitoring notification appliances are provided. A self-monitoring notification appliance can include a notification device, and a monitoring sensing device. The notification device can produce one or more signals, and the monitoring device can sense a visual and/or acoustic characteristic of the one or more signals to determine successful operation thereof.

Abstract: Planning a wireless network is described herein. One method includes navigating a first unmanned mobile vehicle to a location in an environment, navigating a second unmanned mobile vehicle along a route through the environment, capturing, by the second unmanned mobile vehicle while navigating along the route, data associated with a wireless signal emitted by the first unmanned mobile vehicle at the location and locations of the second unmanned mobile vehicle while the second unmanned mobile vehicle is capturing the data associated with the wireless signal, and determining locations to place a number of wireless network access points in the environment based on the captured data.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of fire detectors distributed throughout a secured geographic area, a monitoring panel that detects a status of each of the plurality of fire detectors and saves a status indicator of the fire detector indicating one of normal, alarm and fault into a memory along with a time value, an alarm processor of the monitoring panel that detects alarm signals from the plurality of fire detectors and presents respective indicators of the activated fire detectors on a geographic map of the secured area shown on a display and a fire progression processor that displays an indicator of a progression of a fire on the map of the display based upon the status indicators saved in memory and upon a correlation between a status indicator of alarm in a previous time period and a status indicator of fault in a more recent time period.

Abstract: A high intelligibility voice announcement system is described herein. One system includes an announcement station containing a speech to text engine in which a spoken announcement from a user is converted to text data, wherein any errors are identified and marked in the converted text data and displayed to the user. After the user has corrected any errors, the corrected text data is transmitted to one or more speakers, where a text to speech engine converts the text data to an audible message that is then broadcast via the speakers.