Wireless service tool for automated protection systems
A service tool accesses a building system to wirelessly configure, test, troubleshoot and control a building fire protection system. Using wireless communication with a fire alarm control panel, the service tool provides for remote viewing of a control panel. The service tool may be used for remote control for functionality of a fire alarm control panel or other devices of a building fire protection system. The service tool may display information such as status indicators that correspond to a display on a remote control panel. The service tool may be used to confirm and/or monitor an installation, test functionality, diagnose and/or troubleshoot problems.
1 . A service tool for a fire protection system having a plurality of distributed components, the service tool comprising:
a transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate information with at least one component of the fire protection system; and
a controller configured to process information received from the at least one component of the fire protection system, the information being received via the transceiver; and
a user interface operable to visually display the processed information in a user readable format.
2 . The service tool of claim 1 where the information received from the fire protection system comprises a status of the fire protection system.
3 . The service tool of claim 1 where the information received from the first protection system comprises diagnostic information of the at least one component.
4 . The service tool of claim 1 where the at least one component comprises a fire alarm control panel.
5 . The service tool of claim 4 comprising a user interface operable to receive a command for the fire alarm control panel, the command being communicated with fire protection control panel via the transceiver.
6 . The service tool of claim 5 where the command is associated with a testing for the fire alarm control panel.
7 . The service tool of claim 1 where the service tool wirelessly receives supervisory information from the fire alarm control panel.
8 . The service tool of claim 1 where the service tool remotely controls the fire alarm control panel using wirelessly communicated commands received via the user interface.
9 . The service tool of claim 1 where the controller and transceiver comprise a unitary part of the service tool.
10 . A service tool for a distributed fire protection system having a plurality of remotely located devices, the service tool comprising:
means for wirelessly communicating with at least one device of the fire protection system;
means for wirelessly receiving information related to the fire protection system in response to the communication with the at least one device of the fire protection system; and
means for displaying the information related to the fire protection system received in response to the communication with the at least one device.
11 . The service tool of claim 10 , where the information related to the fire protection system comprises a status for the fire protection system.
12 . The service tool of claim 11 , further comprising means for displaying at least one control command for the fire protection system.
13 . The service tool of claim 12 , further comprising means for receiving a user command for the fire protection system.
14 . The service tool of claim 13 , further comprising means for wirelessly communicating the user command to the fire protection system in response to receiving the user command.
15 . The service tool of claim 12 , where the at least one control command corresponds to a control command displayed by a component of the fire protection system.
16 . The service tool of claim 12 further comprising means for displaying a supervisory notification in response to wirelessly receiving information from the fire protection system.
17 . A method for wirelessly servicing a building fire protection system, the method comprising:
receiving a user service command;
wirelessly communicating, in response to receiving the user service command, with at least one of a plurality of devices of the building fire protection system using a mobile transceiver;
in response to wirelessly communicating, receiving information associated with a status of at least one of a plurality of devices of the building fire protection system using the mobile transceiver; and
displaying the received information in a user readable format.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising:
displaying real-time location specific information for the fire protection system using a mobile display, the information being updated as the transceiver changes locations within a building environment.
19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising remotely controlling at least one component of the fire protection using a command wirelessly transmitted to the at least one component using a mobile transceiver.
20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising wirelessly communicating with a control panel of the fire protection system using the mobile transceiver.