Patent Application
20070054618
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system networking, and more particularly to a system and method for a wireless access point having integrated emergency devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems often interface with each other through networks. For instance, businesses often interface employee information handling systems of a building site through a local area network (LAN). A typical business building site has Ethernet cables strung between the offices where information handling systems are located and one or more server locations where a server information handling system coordinates network communications and provides access to wide area networks (WAN) and the Internet. As businesses grow and move and as buildings age, a considerable amount of networking cabling is typically distributed about the building. In addition to networking cables, businesses also typically distribute power cables, communication cables and various emergency equipment, such as battery-powered emergency lights. The distribution of power, communications and emergency equipment is generally governed by local building codes. Compliance with such legal requirements adds to the expense of setting up and maintaining an office environment.
One solution to the difficulty of stringing Ethernet cabling across a business site is to instead use wireless networking, such as in compliance with the IEEE 802.11 (b) and (g) standards. Wireless access points (WAP) are distributed through the building site with each WAP typically providing networking coverage to plural information handling systems and peripherals. The WAPs are typically interfaced with a server information handling system using Ethernet cabling, however, the amount of cabling used for distributed WAPs is generally considerably less than that used for wiring each system and peripheral with cables. In addition, the new Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard has reduced the complexity of installing WAPs by providing power to operate the WAPs through the Ethernet cable. Wireless networking improves employee efficiency by freeing information handling system users from fixed locations for interfacing with a network. Wireless networking also allows for greater flexibility in the use of building space by allowing information handling systems and peripherals to remain interfaced with the same networking configuration throughout the coverage of the WAPs deployed in the building space. Although distributed WAPs decrease the cabling needed in a typical business space environment, other types of cabling remains for supporting various functions, such as emergency lighting, alarms, speakers and microphones.
Therefore a need has arisen for a system and method which integrates building functions distributed across a building space into wireless access points distributed across the building space.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems for distributing building functions and networking WAPs across a business space. Distributed wireless access points receive power from networking cables to charge a battery. The battery powers building devices that perform building functions, such as emergency lighting. The wireless access point provides a communication channel for the building devices to communicate with information handling systems internal and external to the building space.
More specifically, a wireless access point connects at a network interface with an Ethernet cable having Power over Ethernet functionality. A power supply receives power from the network interface and provides the power to a wireless gateway for supporting wireless networking and to a battery. The battery provides power to a building device power supply which powers a variety of building devices internal or external to the wireless access point, such as an emergency lamp, a textual warning lamp, a fire alarm pull, a heat sensor, a smoke detector, or an intercom. The wireless gateway has a building device interface that communicates information between the building devices and the wireless network or Ethernet cable. A Voice over Internet Protocol module interfaces an intercom with the wireless gateway to support voice communication between the location of the wireless access point and a distal network location.
The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that the integration of building devices with wireless access points reduces the wiring needed within a building space. The building devices are powered through the wireless access point Ethernet cable and use the wireless access point as a communication channel to communicate information relating to building functions. Advantageously, the building devices may use the wireless access point to communicate information external to the building, such as smoke and heat sensor readings that are communicated to emergency worker sensors located on emergency vehicles, allowing more rapid and accurate analysis of conditions within the building space.
The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
Wireless access points that support communication of information handling systems across a wireless network also integrate support for building devices disposed through a building area proximate wireless access points. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.
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In alternative embodiments, wireless access points deployed in a building space with standardized external peripheral device interfaces, such as a power jack and USB interface, offer tremendous flexibility for network and non-network device architectures in the building space. As one example, video cameras provide hallway and site monitoring for security using standardized network protocols that communicate through the wireless access point. As another example, enhanced security beyond wireless security measures is provided, such as with SHA-1, DES/3DES/TPM/Biometric or similar technologies, to provide restricted access with co-location of a wireless access point, hardened security or alarm testing. A physical security reader can interface with a wireless access point to include a wireless reader, such as DHS FIPS201, to have reduced wiring and cost with, for instance, the sensor reader extended from the wireless access point by an additional cable. Security is further enhanced by interfacing intrusion detection, fire, carbon monoxide or personnel devices as desired. For example, a security module 66 monitors access through wireless gateway 52 and network interface 46 to confirm that communications with a peripheral device are authorized. Security module 66 restricts access to peripheral devices with password or other protection so that unauthorized actions will not occur, such as activation of a fire alarm or monitoring of video or audio signals by unauthorized parties communicating through wireless gateway 52 or network interface 46. As some examples, access is selectively restricted by badge, network, visual, biometric or proximity access. A firewall associated with security module 66 manages communication of data and security information over either the wireless or wired network interface. The powering of such devices with PoE from a server having a power backup will help maintain continuity of sensitive equipment even during power interruptions.
Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
