Abstract: A system for monitoring events which is capable of automatically configuring itself responsive to changes in system hardware comprising: a plurality of input circuits for detecting events and a plurality of output circuits for indicating the presence of the events; a computer means, including a microcontroller connected to the input circuits for two-way communication with the input circuits and further connected to the output circuits; a front panel and means at the front panel for further indicating the events; and means within the computer means for automatically configuring the system responsive to changes in system hardware.

Abstract: A communication system in which a controller is coupled over a communication path with two or more transponders, at least two of which transponders have different addresses, which controller and transponders communicate by periodically transmitting a broadcast message simultaneously to all transponders, transmitting an acknowledge message indicative of a new input received by at least one of the transponders, and individually polling all of the transponders using a polling technique which incorporates time periods to allow communication between the controller and a selected transponder, wherein the polling is only activated subsequent to the transmission of the acknowledge message. Periodic polls of all transponders in sequence provide supervision of the integrity of the system.