Description of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a call point for use in an alarm system, with the term "call point" being used to refer to a device which is manually operable by a user to alert others to a fire or similar emergency.

A call point typically includes an element which is frangible or moveable in response to pressure applied to it by a user. When pressure is applied to the element, the call point is activated, with the element breaking or moving to indicate that the call point has been activated.

A typical alarm system in a building, for example, includes a number of call points positioned around the building. The call points are connected in one or more electrical circuits to a control station. In the event of a fire or other emergency, one of the call points can be activated. The control station detects that the call point has been activated, and causes an alarm signal to be produced by one or more sounders, warning the occupants of the building of the emergency.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a call point for an alarm system, having a variable information display and an input to receive data from a location remote from the call point, the information displayed being variable in response to the data received at the input.

In this way, relevant information may be provided to users of the alarm system.

The variable information display may comprise a display screen.

The variable information display may comprise a liquid crystal display.

The screen may be capable of displaying video images.

The screen may be a touch screen.

Thus, the call point may be activated by touching the touch screen.

The information display may be operable, when the call point is activated, to indicate a safe escape route from a building in which the call point is installed.

Thus, the display could show directions, such as "Turn left", or arrows, to indicate a safe escape route from the building.

The call point may further comprise a user interface, by means of which a user is able to view and alter operating parameters of the call point and the alarm system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a call point for an alarm system having a variable information display wherein, when the call point is activated, the display indicates a safe escape route from a building or whatever location the call point is installed.

The call point may be in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a call point for an alarm system having a variable information display and a pressure- sensitive element, the pressure-sensitive element being operable to activate the call point.

The variable information display may comprise a screen.

The screen may be capable of displaying video images.

The screen may be a touch screen.

Thus, the touch screen may comprise the pressure-sensitive element, and the call point may be activated by touching the touch screen.

The call point may be in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an alarm system having a plurality of call points, at least one of which has a variable information display, the at least one call point being operatively associated with one or more other call points such that activation of a call point results in a change in the information displayed on one or more of the variable information display.

Thus, activating a call point may cause other call points in the alarm system to display, for example, information indicating a safe escape route from a location in which the alarm system is installed.

The call point may be in accordance with any of the preceding paragraphs.

Specific and non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in its various aspects, will now be described in greater detail, strictly by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a call point according to the invention.

A call point is shown generally at 10 in Fig. 1 , and comprises a chassis 12, which is attachable to a wall or the like, and a fascia 14 which overlies the chassis 12. The fascia 14 includes, at a generally central part thereof, a recess 16, within which is disposed a variable information display 18. In this example, the variable information display 18 is a touch-screen which is capable of displaying moving images such as video footage, but it will be understood that the variable information display 18 could be of any suitable type, for example a liquid crystal display (LCD). The call point 10 also includes a pressure-sensitive element, in this example in the form of the touch screen, but which could be of any other suitable type, for example a push switch. The pressure-sensitive element is operative to activate the call point 10 when pressure is applied thereto by a user. An indicator 20, in this example a Light Emitting Diode (LED), is located in an upper part of the fascia 14, and provides a visual indication that the call point 10 has been activated.

Circuitry (not shown) is disposed within the chassis 12 of the call point 10, to control the operation of the call point 10. The circuitry includes an input, by means of which the call point 10 is able to receive data from a location remote from itself, for example from a control station or another call point. The circuitry also controls the operation of the variable information display 18, with the information displayed being variable in response to the data received at the input. An output is also provided, by means of which the call point 10 is able to provide data, for example details of its operational status, to a location remote from itself. The call point 10 also includes an address which is pre- settable to a unique numerical value to identify the call point, which may be set in any appropriate manner, for example by setting dual in-line package (DIP) switches, or by configuring software embedded in the circuitry.

The call point forms part of an alarm system which may also include one or more additional call points 10, with each call point 10 in the alarm system

being pre-set with a unique address as described above, enabling it to be identified by the control station and/or the other call points 10 in the system.

The alarm system further comprises a control station having inputs for data from the call point(s) 10 and outputs to supply data to the call point(s) 10. The control station also includes a processing element with an associated memory element containing details of the building layout and location of the call point(s) 10.

The alarm system may also include other devices, such as sounders, detectors and security cameras, with the call points and additional devices being connected to the control station and to each other, where appropriate by cables or a suitable wireless connection protocol.

When a call point 10 is activated (in this example by a person touching the touch screen), the indicator 20 is activated to provide a visual indication that the call point 10 has been activated, and a signal is transmitted from the call point, via the output, to the control station. The control station uses the call point 10 address to identify which call point 10 has been activated. The processor activates the memory to find the location of the activated call point 10 and, from this information and the information relating to the layout of the building determines the quickest and/or safest escape route from the building from each call point 10. This data is relayed to the appropriate call point 10, which displays it on its variable information display in the form of words, for example "Turn Left", symbols such as directional arrows, or any other suitable form. Thus, occupants of the building are able to find a safe escape route simply by looking at the call points 10.

The call point may 10 include a user interface which is accessible by means of the touch screen such that, in addition to providing details of the safest or nearest exit, the call point 10 can provide diagnostic information on the status

of the alarm system. A password or other security feature may be required to permit access to the user interface. Thus, a system administrator or other authorised user is able, by means of the touch screen, to view and alter the operating parameters of the call point 10 or the alarm system. For example, if a call point 10 has been activated by accident, the authorised user is able to deactivate it using the activated call point 10 itself, or any other call point 10.

Where the alarm system includes security cameras, the variable information display may be able to display images, either static or moving, from the cameras. Thus, in the event of a fire in a building, for example, firefighters are able to use the call point 10 to view the fire and surrounding areas of the building to assess the intensity of the fire and the likelihood of it spreading, or to located people trapped in the building by the fire.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.