Alarm system component with unpowered event detection

Abstract

A component 10 for use in an alarm system includes a component controller 12 and an offline configuration module 14. The offline configuration module 14 includes a passive RFID tag and is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the configuration module. Upon initialisation of the component 10, the component controller 12 operates the component 10 in accordance with one or more protocol determined by the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module 14.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component for use in an alarm system comprising:
 a component controller; and   an offline configuration module,   wherein the offline configuration module is configured to receive and store an indication of at least one configuration parameter wirelessly transmitted to the configuration module, and   wherein the component controller is configured to, upon initialisation of the component, operate the component in accordance with the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module.   
     
     
         2 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the offline configuration module comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         3 . A component according to  claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag is a passive RFID tag. 
     
     
         4 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the component controller comprises a memory storing a plurality of protocols, and wherein the component controller is configured to operate in accordance with at least one of the plurality of protocols based on the indication of the at least one configuration parameter. 
     
     
         5 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the component controller is configured to, upon initialisation of the component, acquire the indication of the at least one configuration parameter from the offline configuration module. 
     
     
         6 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the alarm system is a fire alarm system or an intrusion alarm system. 
     
     
         7 . A method of configuring a component for an alarm system, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an offline configuration module of the component, wireless transmission of an indication of at least one configuration parameter; and   storing, by the offline configuration module, the indication of the at least one configuration parameter,   wherein a component controller of the component is configured to, upon initialisation of the component, operate the component in accordance with the at least one configuration parameter indicated by the indication stored by the offline configuration module.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the component controller is configured to, upon initialisation of the component, acquire the indication of at least one configuration parameter from the offline configuration module. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the component controller is configured to, in response to acquiring an indication of at least one configuration parameter, activate a protocol stored in a memory of the component controller and indicated by the at least one configuration parameter. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 establishing a configuration zone, wherein a wireless transmission containing an indication of the at least one configuration parameter is transmitted to each component brought into the configuration zone; and   bringing the component into the configuration zone.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the component is one of a plurality of components brought into the configuration zone simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 broadcasting a wireless transmission from a transceiver; preferably wherein the wireless transmission is a radio frequency (RF) signal and the transceiver is an interrogator.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the method is performed after production of the physical component has been completed. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the method is performed after the component has been packaged.