Abstract: Method and apparatus of a network protocol that provides the network, transport, session and presentation layers of the open systems interconnection model.

Abstract: There is provided a configuration programming system for a life safety network in which a remote computer system downloads one or more module databases to a panel subsystem connected to various input and output devices. The panel subsystem includes interconnected target modules having a processor and a memory portion. The memory portion of each target module stores an executable code and a particular module database. For each target module, the computer system generates a source code of descriptive labels and rules, converts the source code to the module database, and downloads the module database to the target module. The module database provides the executable code with module-specific information for controlling the input devices and said plurality of output devices.

Abstract: There is provided an audio communication system for a life safety system. The audio communication system includes an audio data line having a plurality of audio channels for transmitting audio data and a CPU for controlling the transmission of the audio data along the audio data line. An audio source module and an audio amplifier module are coupled to the audio data line. To produce an audible sound, the CPU selects a particular channel of the plurality of audio channels for transmitting the audio data and sends this selection to the audio source module. The audio source module then places one or more audio packets, corresponding to the audible sound, on the selected channel. The audio amplifier module then receives a signal from the CPU that identifies the selected channel and, thus, the audio amplifier module will know which channel to find the audio packets. The audio packets are converted and directed to speakers to produce the audible sound.

Abstract: There is provided a phone control system for a life safety network which comprises a panel arrangement, a control center module, a loop controller module, a transponder and a remote handset. The panel arrangement has a local rail for receiving a plurality of control modules and for interconnecting the control modules in which inter-module data is transmitted and received along the local rail. The control center module and the loop controller module are control modules positioned on the local rail. The control center module includes a processor, a memory portion, input keys for receiving user input, an output screen for displaying alpha-numeric text output, a central handset for communication of voice messages along a voice communication line. Similarly, the loop controller module includes a processor, a memory portion, and a data line interface for receiving and transmitting loop controller signals along a loop controller line. The transponder and remote handset are position remote from the panel arrangement.

Abstract: A life safety system having message priority of a network of panels, each panel including a first module in the form of a central processing unit, and a plurality of local I/O modules connected to the central processing unit and to each other. To establish a message priority in communication between the panels, including a two-state token form of coded invitations to transmit messages, the first state of the token represents the low priority invitation and the second state of the token represents the high priority invitation. Moreover, to further establish message priority including the passing of tokens continuously between panels to determine if any panel has the high priority message, that panel having the high priority message preempts communication of such messages between panels by first capturing the high priority state token.