WO2015169573A1

WO2015169573A1 - Alarm system communication

Info

Publication number: WO2015169573A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/058485
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Kelly; Darragh MAXWELL; John Odonnell
Original assignee: Siemens Ab
Priority date: 2014-05-07
Filing date: 2015-04-20
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: GB201408034D0; GB2525882A

Abstract

A method of configuring an alarm transmission system comprising an alarm transmission path or paths, an alarm receiving station (5) and an alarm system (2, 3, 4) to communicate in a monitored communication system comprises entering (21) at least one of alarm transmission path configuration data, or alarm transmission system configuration data at a first one of first and second sites, the first and second sites comprising one of the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; initiating a connection for communication between the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; on receipt of an acknowledgement of a valid connection, copying (23) configuration data from the first site to the second site to complete the configuration of the alarm transmission path or paths between alarm receiving station and the alarm system, or the configuration of the alarm transmission system at the alarm receiving station and the alarm system.

Description

ALARM SYSTEM COMMUNICATION

This invention relates to a method of configuring for communication in an alarm system.

Alarm systems are typically installed at a site or location and monitored remotely. For example the alarm system may be installed on a building, or a series of buildings, or on one or more pieces of equipment at the site. Whether the alarm systems are monitored remotely, or at the site, they need to be able to communicate with an alarm receiving station. For efficiency, the alarm receiving station typically monitors many sites and so is usually at a location remote from the site at which the alarm system is installed.

As well as using alarms to indicate an intrusion into a site, an alarm may be used to provide data about operation of machinery or events, such as fire or flooding that require some action in response. The more data that is available to the alarm receiving centre about the cause of the alarm, the better the centre is able to determine what response is required. However, a problem with the alarm systems being remote from the alarm receiving centre is that configuration during installation is complicated. In many cases, the same data needs to be entered at both sites, but this is time consuming and expensive if the operative does not have correct information about which configuration is required in each case. The alarm receiving centre may monitor many alarm systems, with different terms and as technology is updated, not all alarm systems that it monitors will be the same.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention a method of configuring an alarm transmission system comprising an alarm transmission path, or paths, an alarm receiving station and an alarm system to communicate in a monitored communication system comprises entering at least one of alarm transmission path configuration data, or alarm transmission system configuration data at a first one of first and second sites, the first and second sites comprising one of the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; initiating a connection for communication between the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; on receipt of an acknowledgement of a valid connection, copying configuration data from the first site to the second site to complete the configuration of the alarm transmission path, or paths between the alarm receiving station and the alarm system, or the configuration of the alarm transmission system at the alarm receiving station and the alarm system.

Preferably, the method further comprises entering different parts of the alarm transmission path or paths configuration data , or alarm transmission system

configuration data, at each of the alarm system and the alarm receiving station and on receipt of an acknowledgement of a valid connection, copying configuration data from the first site to the second site and copying configuration data from the second site to the first site to complete the configuration of the alarm receiving station and an alarm system.

Preferably, the method further comprises merging the copied configuration data with the entered configuration data.

Preferably, the method further comprises monitoring for an update event and updating the configuration data at the alarm system and the alarm receiving station on occurrence of the update event.

Preferably, the update event comprises one of number of messages sent between the alarm system and alarm receiving station exceeding a predetermined threshold; or time elapsed since the previous update exceeding a predetermined threshold; or change of communication configuration settings occurring at one of the alarm system and alarm receiving station.

Preferably, the configuration data is produced as an XML file which is installed at the first site and copied to the second site.

Preferably, the alarm receiving station comprises an automated monitoring service using a web based, internet hosted, or cloud based server.

An example of an alarm system and method of configuration according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of an alarm system structure in which the method of the present invention may be used; and,

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of the method of the present invention.

In any communications device of an alarm system at supervised premises, there is a need to be able to communicate securely along an alarm transmission path or paths between a transceiver of the alarm system and a transceiver of an alarm receiving station, for example an alarm receiving centre where operators monitor and respond to alarm signals e.g. from buildings, or an alarm base station for monitoring alarmed moveable equipment. In some cases the alarm receiving centre may receive and process alarm signals from an alarm base station which acts as a local alarm receiving centre for alarmed moveable equipment. A monitored communication system is one in which if an alarm system is being monitored by an alarm receiving station, the alarm receiving station raises a "Fail to Communicate" alarm event in the event that the monitored communication system fails to successfully communicate with the alarm receiving station within a pre-defined timeout. The timeout varies greatly depending on the application. The alarm receiving station reacts to a "Fail to Communicate" event in a predetermined way depending on the type of installation that the alarm receiving station is protecting, for example making a call to the homeowner for a domestic alarm, or a call to the police for a bank.

In some cases, the alarm receiving centre may comprise an automated monitoring service, receiving configuration updates and monitoring alarm signals without operator intervention, for example, using a remote server, which may be web based or hosted on the internet, rather than a server at the premises of the client or the provider of the monitoring service.

The alarm system and alarm receiving centre form part of an alarm network. An alarm network may comprise one or more alarm systems and an alarm receiving station. With building based intruder alarms, one of the alarm systems may be co-located with the alarm receiving centre, but generally all of the alarm systems are sited remote from the alarm receiving centre. Fig.1 illustrates an example of such an alarm network 1, in this case showing up to n alarm systems 2, 3, 4 connected to an alarm receiving centre 5 via a network 6, such as the internet, although other types of network connection, such as cable or telephone networks or local area networks may be used, depending on the distances and type of communication appropriate for the application.

Over the network, the communication path is typically multi-path. An alarm system may include 1 to 10 alarm transmission paths. A typical alarm transmission path may, for example use an Ethernet and GPRS path to a primary central monitoring station and another Ethernet and GPRS path to a backup central monitoring station. There are many settings available in the configuration of the alarm system and many alarm transmission paths. These settings need to match exactly for the system to operate as expected. If the settings are different on each side, the system will still operate, but not as expected. This may result in the monitoring station not raising alarms at the correct time, either too early, or too late. Automatically matching the settings removes the element of human error in the system.

In order for the communication between the alarm system and alarm receiving centre to be effective, the two sites must be have their communication settings configured appropriately, so that the configuration at each site matches the other.

However, actually achieving this in practice can be difficult for many reasons. At the initial set-up stage, data is entered at both sites by different personnel. An error in data entry by one of those people will result in the configuration at the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre not matching and prevent communication between the two sites from operating correctly.

The likelihood of the data entry being erroneous is increased by the fact that some of the configuration settings are difficult to understand and this becomes more complex as increasing number of alarms systems are moving to communications using IP based systems requiring entries of IP Address, TCP Ports, events filtering or remapping. In addition, some of the configuration settings are dependent on a commercial agreement, or contract put in place between the management of the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre, such as account code, or timing settings and this information may not get passed on to the operative on site at the alarm system. If different settings to those which have been contractually agreed are entered, then the operative may have to return to the site to change the settings when this is found out, adding to the costs of operation.

The present invention solves the difficulties of ensuring matching of configuration data at two sites which are remote from one another by entering information at one location and allowing the other location to copy the information. This both saves in the time required to configure the system and also reduces the chances of a mis- configuration and the need for an installer to return to a site to correct the data entry.

The data entry may be done all at one site, or in part at both sites, but in either case, the site where the configuration data is entered then communicates with the other site and allows that other site to copy across the configuration information. Thus, for some applications the data is entered at the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre is allowed to copy the data, for other applications the data is entered at the alarm receiving centre and the alarm system copies the data across. In those applications where some of the data is entered at the alarm receiving centre and some at the alarm system, then both sides need to be able to merge the data correctly.

The alarm system owns all of the configuration data. When the alarm system connects to the alarm receiving centre the alarm receiving centre re-synchronises to the data that the alarm system passes as part of the connection request. If the alarm receiving centre wants to update some or all of the data of the alarm system, then it can issue a command to update the configuration settings. The alarm system updates its settings and creates a new connection to the alarm receiving centre. The alarm receiving centre re-synchronises its data with the alarm system, but this time the alarm system includes the updated data that the alarm receiving centre had sent to it.

The alarm receiving centre may update or add connection details for a different alarm receiving centre. This allows the alarm system to connect to special alarm receiving centre called a "Commissioning Server" which then adds to or updates the configuration for a separate alarm receiving centre, the real alarm receiving centre.

This is useful in allowing a change to the alarm receiving centre configuration of many alarm systems from the same place, e.g. on a change of contract, or managing company for the alarm receiving centre. Instead of connecting to each alarm system individually, the new alarm receiving centre configuration details may be entered at the "Commissioning Server" and updated on each of the alarm systems. Each of the alarm systems then creates a connection to the new alarm receiving centre and the configuration is synchronised at the alarm receiving centre.

After the initial configuration of the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre, there may be a need to change the configuration of the system. Preferably, changes to the configuration only have to be made at one site with the other site automatically updated as described above. By contrast, conventionally if an update to the system was required the information had to be entered at both sites.

Fig.2 illustrates an example of the steps involved in the method of the present invention. From a pair of remote sites, typically an alarm system and alarm receiving centre, one site is chosen 20. Configuration data is entered at that first chosen site 21 and a connection to the second site of the pair is attempted. That configuration data may be all of the configuration data, or the configuration data may be split into two different parts and one part of the configuration data is entered at each site. When a valid connection is achieved, the configuration data settings entered at the first site are copied across 23 to the second site. If the first site had all of the configuration data entered 24, then automatic updates of the configuration at both sites are arranged, either at regular intervals, or in response to a threshold being triggered, e.g. a certain number of alarm messages having been sent, or a given period of time having elapsed, or an update being detected at the other site. If the first site did not have 24 all of the configuration data, then the other part of the configuration data is copied 25 from the second site to the first site. Then automatic updates of the configuration at both sites are arranged 26 as above.

A valid connection is acknowledged before the configuration data settings at the first site are copied across to the second site, for example using a message ID that corresponds to an Acknowledge message, such as in response to a Connection Establish command sent from the alarm system to the alarm receiving centre, the alarm receiving centre acknowledges the command by sending a message with the message ID corresponding to a "Connection Establish ACK". All other data in the message ACK, such as account codes, sequence numbers, random data etc., must also be correct for the message to be considered as having been acknowledged. If the alarm receiving centre does not want to accept the connection it typically ignores the message, but it may send a negative acknowledgement (NACK) message. This is usually only done in the case that normally the Alarm Receiving Centre would acknowledge the message, but is not acknowledging the message for some reason, such as being out of memory and this reason is included in the NACK message.

A more detailed example of the set-up of the communications between the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre will now be described. The process varies slightly according to whether the setup is carried out at the alarm system or at the alarm receiving centre or partially in each, but in all cases the side at which the configuration was not carried out then reads or copies the configuration from the side where the configuration data was entered.

In example 1 the data is entered at the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre copies the data after a communication link has been set up. An operative at the alarm system sets up all communication settings on the alarm system and once the alarm system is configured correctly the alarm system attempts to create a connection with the alarm receiving centre. If the connection is valid the alarm system informs the alarm receiving centre that certain information is available. This may include installation details, such as the type of panel, serial number and registration ID; details relating to the installer, such as name or phone number; alarm transmission system (ATS) information; and alarm transmission path (ATP) information for all ATPs in the ATS including the ATPs not being managed by the alarm receiving centre. Then the alarm receiving centre is updated as part of a Connection Establish message via XML data in the Connection Establish message.

In example 2, the data is entered at the alarm receiving centre and the alarm system copies the data. When an account is setup at the alarm receiving centre the full communication settings are entered at the alarm receiving centre according to the agreed setup. A compressed XML file is produced at the alarm receiving centre which includes the full configuration of the ATS including all ATPs. This file can be copied into the alarm system in a number of ways, either an operative imports the file locally at the alarm system, or the file is imported by means of a remote connection. The alarm receiving centre may issue a command to the alarm system to import or update the ATS configuration.

In example 3, different parts of the required configuration data are entered at each site, copied across to the other site and then merged. The operative partially configures the system at the alarm system, which may be done by importing a template configuration at the alarm system, then the alarm system communicates with the alarm receiving centre to allow the alarm receiving centre to copy all the settings of the alarm system. The ATS configuration of the system may be made at the alarm receiving centre and an automatic update the alarm system carried out.

Preferably, in any of the three examples given above, if an operative updates the communication settings on the alarm system then the alarm receiving centre is updated automatically. Similarly if the communication settings are changed at the alarm receiving centre, then these changes are downloaded to the alarm system.

In summary, in an alarm system network having at least two sites remote from one another, the invention allows automatic configuration of the other side. This can be done by a number of mechanisms which may include a 'Connection Establish' message issued by the AS, importation of the ATS Configuration issued by the alarm receiving centre, locally or remotely and transfer of a command from the alarm receiving centre to the alarm system with the ATS configuration. The method of the present invention is applicable to any alarm system or alarm receiving centre software.

The data transmitted between the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre may contain sensitive information which the operator of the site wishes to keep confidential. Communications between the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre may be encrypted, for example as described in our co-pending patent application no. GB 1408030.3 , or using conventional symmetric key encryption, where the same encryption key is entered at both the alarm system and the alarm receiving centre before any direct communication between the two can take place. The encryption key may be a 256-bit encryption key, which is usually written as 64 hexadecimal characters (0-9, A-F).

As is common with communications systems, it is desirable to have a back-up transmission mechanism in case of faults and this may be achieved by using primary and secondary communication paths as described in our co-pending patent application no. GB 1408033.7.

The formatting of alarm event messages from the alarm system to the alarm receiving centre may be adapted as described in our co-pending patent application no. GB 1408036.0 to increase the amount of information which can be transmitted to the alarm receiving centre when an alarm occurs.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an alarm transmission system comprising an alarm transmission path or paths, an alarm receiving station and an alarm system to communicate in a monitored communication system, the method comprising entering at least one of alarm transmission path configuration data, or alarm transmission system configuration data at a first one of first and second sites, the first and second sites comprising one of the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; initiating a connection for communication between the alarm system and the alarm receiving station; on receipt of an acknowledgement of a valid connection, copying configuration data from the first site to the second site to complete the configuration of the alarm transmission paths between the alarm receiving station and the alarm system, or the configuration of the alarm transmission system at the alarm receiving station and the alarm system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises entering different parts of the alarm transmission path configuration data, or alarm transmission system configuration data at each of the alarm system and the alarm receiving station and on receipt of an acknowledgement of a valid connection, copying configuration data from the first site to the second site and copying configuration data from the second site to the first site to complete the configuration of the alarm receiving station and an alarm system.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the method further comprises merging the copied configuration data with the entered configuration data.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method further comprises monitoring for an update event and updating the configuration data at the alarm system and the alarm receiving station on occurrence of the update event.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the update event comprises one of number of messages sent between the alarm system and alarm receiving station exceeding a predetermined threshold; or time elapsed since the previous update exceeding a predetermined threshold; or change of communication configuration settings occurring at one of the alarm system and alarm receiving station.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the configuration data is produced as an XML file which is installed at the first site and copied to the second site.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the alarm receiving station comprises an automated monitoring service using a web based, internet hosted, or cloud based server.