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: 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 method for determining the displacement of or the tampering with a device is provided. The method includes determining an effective displacement in an X direction of a device, determining an effective displacement in a Y direction of the device, and determining an effective displacement in a Z direction of the device. The method also include determining if any one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, or the effective displacement in the Z direction is greater than a predetermined threshold, and when at least one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, and the effective displacement in the Z direction is great then the predetermined threshold, determining that the device has been displaced.

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 method and apparatus for operating a security system. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of wireless detectors within a security system, each of the plurality of wireless detectors exchanging packets with a control panel of the security system, at least one of the plurality of wireless detectors monitoring a wireless channel of a transmission radio frequency band for a periodically transmitted packet from another of the detectors, decoding the packet and forwarding the received packet to the control panel, the at least one wireless detector detecting radio frequency energy on the wireless channel and the at least one wireless detector transmitting a packet notifying the control panel of jamming upon failing to decode the periodically transmitted packet from the other wireless detector while continuing to detect radio frequency energy on the wireless channel in place of the periodically transmitted packet.

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: A firefighter tracking system is provided for use in conjunction with a fire truck to track firefighters at the scene of a fire.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers arranged in a mesh network that each synchronously communicate with at least one other of the plurality of transceivers in an assigned slot of a TDMA channel, at least a first of the plurality of transceivers asynchronously transmitting a priority message on a priority channel that is different than the TDMA channel and at least a second of the plurality of transceivers that detects an information content of the asynchronous priority message on the priority channel and retransmits the detected information content synchronously on the TDMA channel to a third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for setting up a fire alarm system. The method includes the steps of coupling a user interface to a wireless fire detection system having a wireless gateway and a plurality of wireless fire detectors, receiving a selection through the user interface of a wireless transmission parameter used in transmitting messages between the wireless gateway and the plurality of wireless fire detectors, determining a latency time value associated with use of the received selection of the wireless transmission parameter in the transmission of messages between the wireless gateway and the plurality of fire detectors, displaying the calculated latency time value on the user interface and changing an operating mode of the plurality of wireless fire detection devices in accordance with the received selection.

Abstract: A method for determining the displacement of or the tampering with a device is provided. The method includes determining an effective displacement in an X direction of a device, determining an effective displacement in a Y direction of the device, and determining an effective displacement in a Z direction of the device. The method also include determining if any one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, or the effective displacement in the Z direction is greater than a predetermined threshold, and when at least one of the effective displacement in the X direction, the effective displacement in the Y direction, and the effective displacement in the Z direction is great then the predetermined threshold, determining that the device has been displaced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for setting up a fire alarm system. The method includes the steps of coupling a user interface to a wireless fire detection system having a wireless gateway and a plurality of wireless fire detectors, receiving a selection through the user interface of a wireless transmission parameter used in transmitting messages between the wireless gateway and the plurality of wireless fire detectors, determining a latency time value associated with use of the received selection of the wireless transmission parameter in the transmission of messages between the wireless gateway and the plurality of fire detectors, displaying the calculated latency time value on the user interface and changing an operating mode of the plurality of wireless fire detection devices in accordance with the received selection.

Abstract: A firefighter tracking system is provided for use in conjunction with a fire truck to track firefighters at the scene of a fire.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a multi-hop time division multiple access communication system to link a control unit wirelessly and redundantly with a plurality of modules. Communications to modules occur during predetermined time slots in a first portion of a selected frame. Communications from the modules occur during corresponding time slots during a second portion of the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers arranged in a mesh network that each synchronously communicate with at least one other of the plurality of transceivers in an assigned slot of a TDMA channel, at least a first of the plurality of transceivers asynchronously transmitting a priority message on a priority channel that is different than the TDMA channel and at least a second of the plurality of transceivers that detects an information content of the asynchronous priority message on the priority channel and retransmits the detected information content synchronously on the TDMA channel to a third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers.

Abstract: A building control system is described that includes a building controller and a bridge. The building controller may control one or more portions of a building control system and may communicate with the bridge over a wired network. The bridge may be coupled to the building controller and may be configured to communicate with other remotely located building controllers via a wireless network. The bridge may provide a link between the wired communication of the local building controller and the wireless communication of the remotely located building controllers. The bridge may include a cache memory for storing data received from remotely located building controllers. In some cases, the data stored in the cache memory may be requested and received in advance of the data being requested by the local building controller.

Abstract: A building control system is described that includes a building controller and a bridge. The building controller may control one or more portions of a building control system and may communicate with the bridge over a wired network. The bridge may be coupled to the building controller and may be configured to communicate with other remotely located building controllers via a wireless network. The bridge may provide a link between the wired communication of the local building controller and the wireless communication of the remotely located building controllers. The bridge may include a cache memory for storing data received from remotely located building controllers. In some cases, the data stored in the cache memory may be requested and received in advance of the data being requested by the local building controller.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, an intelligent badge having the ability of collecting the identifiers of each of the badges located within the zone of the intelligent badge may be employed to identify the location of each badge. The central processing system determines the relative location of an asset by processing the sets of identifiers received from multiple intelligent badges. The relative location of an asset is determined by identifying at least one common badge identifier of a badge attached to a corresponding one of assets. The relative location of each asset may be determined with reference to known location of some badges by employing reference badges.