Optical master unit alarm collector and translator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10847019-B2
Application number	US-201916555795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 14, 2018
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A computer-implemented system includes the following. A remote terminal unit (RTU) is configured to receive alarm information and communicate alarm event information to a control center. An optical master unit (OMU) is configured to receive alarm information from sensors at remote locations. A circuit board is configured to serve as a middle device between the RTU and the OMU. A circuit board includes a microcontroller that communicates with the OMU and processes replies from the OMU to confirm the existence of and identify the type of an alarm at a particular remote location. The circuit board also includes multiple output relays connected to the RTU and corresponding to remote alarms, each output relay associated with a particular sensor at a remote location. The computer-implemented system also includes an input relay for communicating with the OMU.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented system, comprising:
a remote terminal unit (RTU) configured to receive alarm information and communicate alarm event information to a control center;
an optical master unit (OMU) configured to receive alarm information from sensors at remote locations; and
a circuit board configured to serve as a middle device configured to support communications between the RTU and the OMU, wherein the circuit board cycles through alarm statuses received from repeaters for external alarm sources, including:
determining successful login attempts of the repeaters;
accessing the external alarm sources; and
determining whether a particular external alarm source is triggered.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit board comprises:
a microcontroller that communicates with the OMU and processes replies from the OMU to confirm the existence of and identify the type of an alarm at a particular remote location;
multiple output relays connected to the RTU and corresponding to remote alarms, each output relay associated with a particular sensor at a remote location; and
an input relay for communicating with the OMU.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 2 , wherein communication with the OMU is through a serial RS- 232 connection.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein receiving alarm information includes polling a remote repeater for the alarm information.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 4 , wherein the polling is through a single strand fiber link.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , wherein the RTU is an alarm monitoring system.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface includes a graphical liquid crystal display (LCD), pushbuttons, and indicator LEDs.

9. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving, at a remote terminal unit (RTU), alarm information and communicating alarm event information to a control center;
receiving, at an optical master unit (OMU), alarm information from sensors at remote locations; and
operating a circuit board configured to serve as a middle device between, and configured to support communications between, the RTU and the OMU, wherein the circuit board cycles through alarm statuses received from repeaters for external alarm sources, including:
determining successful login attempts of the repeaters;
accessing the external alarm sources; and
determining whether a particular external alarm source is triggered.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , the operating comprising:
communicating, by the circuit board and using a microcontroller, with the OMU;
processing replies from the OMU to confirm the existence of and identify the type of an alarm at a particular remote location;
communicating, using multiple output relays connected to the RTU and corresponding to remote alarms, information from each output relay associated with a particular sensor at a remote location; and
communicating, using an input relay, with the OMU.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein communication with the OMU is through a serial RS-232 connection.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein receiving alarm information includes polling a remote repeater for the alarm information.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the polling is through a single strand fiber link.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the RTU is an alarm monitoring system.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving user input through a user interface.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the user interface includes a graphical liquid crystal display (LCD), pushbuttons, and indicator LEDs.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at a remote terminal unit (RTU), alarm information and communicating alarm event information to a control center;
receiving, at an optical master unit (OMU), alarm information from sensors at remote locations; and
operating a circuit board configured to serve as a middle device between, and configured to support communications between, the RTU and the OMU, wherein the circuit board cycles through alarm statuses received from repeaters for external alarm sources, including:
determining successful login attempts of the repeaters;
accessing the external alarm sources; and
determining whether a particular external alarm source is triggered.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17 , the operating comprising:
communicating, by the circuit board and using a microcontroller, with the OMU;
processing replies from the OMU to confirm the existence of and identify the type of an alarm at a particular remote location;
communicating, using multiple output relays connected to the RTU and corresponding to remote alarms, information from each output relay associated with a particular sensor at a remote location; and
communicating, using an input relay, with the OMU.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein receiving alarm information includes polling a remote repeater for the alarm information.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the polling is through a single strand fiber link.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Guwaisem Badie Ali Hassan
• Alhelal Hassan Taher Salman

Classifications

• G08B29/04 Primary

  Monitoring of the detection circuits · CPC title

• H04L43/10 Primary

  Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route · CPC title

• H04L43/045

  for graphical visualisation of monitoring data · CPC title

• G08B29/16

  Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems · CPC title

• H04B10/25

  Arrangements specific to fibre transmission · CPC title