Abstract: An apparatus and method including the steps of providing a plurality of wireless devices in a security system having a controller wherein each of the plurality of wireless devices registers with the controller and wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless devices operating as a child device registering with the controller through another of the plurality of wireless devices operating as a parent device, a processor of the security system monitoring a charge state of a respective battery that powers each of the plurality of wireless devices and a processor dynamically adjusting an electrical load within the plurality of wireless devices based upon the monitored charge state of the respective battery of the wireless devices in order to delay a first low battery warning from any of the plurality of wireless devices as much as possible thereby reducing site visits by a battery installer.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a plurality of sensors that detect threats within a secured geographic area, a control panel that monitors the plurality of sensors for activation, a primary control unit that forms a primary mesh network coupling the plurality of sensors with the control panel based upon relative link quality, wherein the primary mesh network is defined by a primary routing table, and a redundant control unit that forms a secondary mesh network coupling the plurality of sensors with the control panel based upon the relative link quality, wherein the secondary mesh network includes a respective relationship of each of the plurality of sensors defined by a secondary routing table, wherein the redundant control unit is located in a different geographic location than the primary control unit within the secured geographic area, and wherein the secondary routing table is different than the primary routing table.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a security system that protects a secured geographic area, an audio annunciator of the security system, a pair of conductors that connects the audio annunciator to a control panel of the security system, wherein the pair of conductors supplies power to the audio annunciator, and a transceiver of the audio annunciator that exchanges messages with the control panel under a time division multiple access (TDMA) format through the pair of conductors, wherein the audio annunciator receives streaming audio messages from the control panel through the pair of conductors.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of wireless sensors that detect threats within a secured geographic area, a control panel that monitors the plurality of sensors for activation, a primary control unit that forms a primary wireless mesh network coupling the plurality of sensors with the control panel based upon relative link quality, where the primary mesh network is defined by a primary routing table and a redundant control unit that forms a secondary wireless mesh network coupling the plurality of sensors with the control panel based upon relative link quality, where the secondary mesh network including a parent or child relationship of each of the plurality of sensors defined by a secondary routing table where the redundant control unit is located in a different geographic location than the primary control unit within the geographic area and where the secondary routing table is different than the primary routing table.

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: 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: 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: An apparatus is provided, wherein the apparatus includes an audio annunciator of a security system that protects a secured geographic area, a first wireless interface of the annunciator that wirelessly exchanges synchronization and channel maintenance messages with a control panel of the security system under a TDMA format, and a second wireless interface of the annunciator that wirelessly exchanges alarm messages with the control panel of the security system through a second wireless interface under a CSMA/CA format, the second wireless interface being maintained in a deactivated state until an alarm message is detected from the control panel through the first wireless interface, the second interface being activated in response to the alarm message, wherein audio information is thereafter streamed from the control panel to the annunciator through the second wireless interface.

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 is provided, wherein the system includes a fire alarm system within a secured area, a call station of the fire alarm system, and a cellphone that includes at least one fire detection device and that forms a cellular connection with the fire alarm system, wherein the fire alarm system determines a location of the cellphone based upon the cellular connection, and wherein the fire alarm system detects a fire within the secured area and provides instructions through the cellphone for exiting the secured area based upon the detected location of the cellphone.

Abstract: An apparatus including a security system that protects a secured geographic area, an audio annunciator of the security system, a pair of conductors that connects the annunciator to a control panel of the security system wherein the pair of conductors supply power to the annunciator and a transceiver of the annunciator that exchanges messages with the control panel under a time division multiple access (TDMA) format through the pair of conductors and wherein the annunciator receives streaming audio messages from the control panel through the pair of conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus including an audio annunciator of a security system that protects a secured geographic area, a first wireless interface of the annunciator that wirelessly exchanges synchronization and channel maintenance messages with a control panel of the security system under a TDMA format and a second wireless interface of the annunciator that wirelessly exchanges alarm messages with the control panel of the security system through a second wireless interface under a CSMA/CA format, the second wireless interface being maintained in a deactivated state until an alarm message is detected from the control panel through the first wireless interface, the second interface being activated in response to the alarm message and wherein audio information is thereafter streamed from the control panel to the annunciator through the second wireless interface.

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: Devices, methods, and systems for configuring facility system devices are described herein. One method includes establishing a wireless connection between a mobile device and a facility system device, receiving operating information at the mobile device from the facility system device via the wireless connection, displaying a menu associated with configuring the facility system device based on the operating information via the mobile device, and configuring the facility system device based on a user input made using the displayed menu.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided, the method incorporating the steps of detecting other interfering wireless gateways of the security system, their frequency hopping pattern, their phase relative to a time reference and a dwell time relative to the time reference, selecting a channel set and a phase of operation for communicating with a plurality of sensors relative to the time reference using frequency hopping based upon the detected frequency hopping pattern, the phase and dwell time of the other wireless gateways, communicating with the plurality of sensors and periodically comparing its phase of operation with the phase of the other interfering wireless gateways and adjusting its phase based upon the comparison with the phase of the other interfering wireless gateways.

Abstract: A system including a fire alarm system within a secured area, a call station of the fire alarm system and a cellphone having at least one fire detection device and that forms a cellular connection with the fire alarm system, the fire alarm system determines a location of the cellphone based upon the cellular connection wherein the fire alarm system detects a fire within the secured area and provides instructions through the cellphone for exiting the secured area based upon the detected location of the cellphone.

Abstract: A wireless fire detection monitoring system comprises a control unit which includes a wireless transceiver and control software to implement a wireless multi-hop communications protocol. A network of battery powered monitoring devices is provided for monitoring alarm conditions. Each monitoring device includes software to implement the wireless communication protocol with one of, the control unit and at least one other child member of the plurality, or, at least two other members of the plurality where a selected device communicates with at least one child device and at least one parent device. The wireless multi-hop communications protocol comprises a time division multiple access communications protocol with the monitoring devices being time synchronized and the control unit and the monitoring devices are adapted to communicate compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

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 method and apparatus incorporating the steps of detecting other interfering wireless gateways of the security system, their frequency hopping pattern, their phase relative to a time reference and a dwell time relative to the time reference, selecting a channel set and a phase of operation for communicating with a plurality of sensors relative to the time reference using frequency hopping based upon the detected frequency hopping pattern, the phase and dwell time of the other wireless gateways, communicating with the plurality of sensors and periodically comparing its phase of operation with the phase of the other interfering wireless gateways and adjusting its phase based upon the comparison with the phase of the other interfering wireless gateways.