Bridge device
AssigneeTyco Fire & Security GmbH
InventorsFaruk Meah, Timothy Andrew James, Steven Bennett, Robert Feltham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a bridge device which allows for communication between two external devices (e.g. an initiating device and a control device) which use different first and second data encoding schemes, without the need to modify either of the devices. In particular, the bridge device has two communication interfaces which can communicate with the respective external devices, and a processor which can translate data from the first data encoding scheme to the second data encoding scheme, and vice versa.
Claims20
A bridge device for use in a hazard detection system that comprises a loop, the bridge device comprising:
- a first communication interface configured to communicate with an initiating device of the hazard detection system, wherein the initiating device is compatible with a first data encoding scheme;
- a second communication interface configured to connect to the loop of the hazard detection system and communicate with a control device of the hazard detection system via the loop of the hazard detection system, wherein the control device is connected to the loop of the hazard detection system and is compatible with a second data encoding scheme;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- receive, from the initiating device via the first communication interface, first data encoded using the first data encoding scheme, re-encode the first data using the second data encoding scheme, and transmit the re-encoded first data to the control device via the second communication interface;
- and
- receive, from the control device via the second communication interface, second data encoded using the second data encoding scheme, re-encode the second data using the first data encoding scheme, and transmit the re-encoded second data to the initiating device via the first communication interface.
A hazard detection system comprising:
- a loop;
- a bridge device;
- an initiating device that is compatible with a first data encoding scheme;
- and
- a control device that is compatible with a second data encoding scheme,
- wherein the bridge device comprises:
- a first communication interface configured to communicate with the initiating device of the hazard detection system;
- a second communication interface configured to connect to the loop of the hazard detection system and communicate with the control device of the hazard detection system via the loop of the hazard detection system, wherein the control device is connected to the loop of the hazard detection system;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- receive, from the initiating device via the first communication interface, first data encoded using the first data encoding scheme, re-encode the first data using the second data encoding scheme, and transmit the re-encoded first data to the control device via the second communication interface;
- and
- receive, from the control device via the second communication interface, second data encoded using the second data encoding scheme, re-encode the second data using the first data encoding scheme, and transmit the re-encoded second data to the initiating device via the first communication interface.
A method performed by a bridge device in a hazard detection system that comprises a loop, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a first communication interface of the bridge device, from an initiating device of the hazard detection system, first data encoded using a first data encoding scheme, wherein the initiating device is compatible with the first data encoding scheme;
- re-encoding the first data using a second data encoding scheme;
- and
- transmitting, by a second communication interface of the bridge device, the re-encoded first data to a control device of the hazard detection system via the loop of the hazard detection system, wherein the control device is connected to the loop of the hazard detection system and is compatible with the second data encoding scheme.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.