ZA200504837B - Telecommunication base station monitor - Google Patents

Description

c.2005/8:2837

TELECOMMUNICATIONS BASE STATION MONITOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to telecommunications base stations and, in particular, to a telecommunications base station monitor and a telecommunications base station ® 10 access control.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cellular telephone base stations typically comprise a plurality of systems such as a Base Transceiver System (BTS) which is responsible of receiving and transmitting telephone signals, a power supply, AC mains of the BTS, a rectifier system which rectifies power supplied by the power supply, a battery, a standby power generator, aircraft warning lights, perimeter fencing, an intruder detection system, air conditioning systems to ensure that the temperature of the BTS is maintained within an optimal range, and the like.

Some of these systems have their own monitoring and, where applicable, control means. The Inventor believes that a need exists to monitor and where applicable control all such systems using a central monitor so as to eliminate the need for a plurality of different monitoring and control means. The Inventor also believes that a need exists for the central monitor to be compatible with a plurality of different BTS's such as those supplied by Motorola, Alcatel, Siemens and the like, so that the same monitor can be used regardless of the type of BTS.

oz 805/310 27 { SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a telecommunications base station monitor which includes : - - a base transceiver system (BTS) monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a base transceiver system (BTS) of a telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly, which BTS monitoring means is compatible with a plurality of BTS types; and - a BTS warning means which is activated when the BTS monitoring means

PY 10 monitors that the BTS is operating incorrectly.

The plurality of BTS types may be selected from the group including those currently available from Motorola, Alcatel, and Siemens. A BTS type may facilitate communication in a medium selected from the group including DCS,

GSM, GPRS, and UMTS.

The BTS type currently available from Motorola may be selected from the group including the Mcell and Incell and Horizon types. The BTS type currently available from Alcatel may include the Alcatel Patch Board type. The BTS type currently available from Siemens may include the Siemens BS240 type. ® The BTS monitoring means may monitor whether or not a transceiver of the BTS is operating incorrectly. The BTS monitoring means may monitor that the transceiver of the BTS is operating incorrectly should it monitor that a voltage standing wave ratio of the BTS falls outside a predetermined operational range.

A connector may be provided for connecting the monitor to the BTS. The connector may be selected from a plurality of different types of connectors provided with the monitor, each different type of connector being configured for connection to a specific BTS type.

® The BTS monitoring means may include circuitry which facilitates compatibility of each of the plurality of BTS types. The circuitry of the BTS monitoring means may include at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate compatibility with the plurality of BTS types.

The monitor may also include an air-conditioner (A/C) system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an air-conditioner (A/C) system of a telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly, which A/C system includes at least one air- conditioner (A/C); and air-conditioner (A/C) warning means which is activated when the A/C monitoring means monitors that the A/C system is operating @® incorrectly.

The A/C system may be operating incorrectly due to an A/C plug of an A/C not being in a properly inserted position. The A/C system may be operating incorrectly due to a power supply failure to an A/C. A thermometer measuring an outlet vent temperature of an A/C may cause the A/C system monitoring means to determine that the A/C system is operating incorrectly should the outlet vent temperature not be less than a predetermined minimum operational temperature within a predetermined measurement delay period after the A/C is activated.

The predetermined minimum operational temperature may be set at 5°C less ® than room temperature.

The monitor may include a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined minimum operational temperature. The monitor may include a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined measurement delay period.

At least one thermometer, each thermometer measuring an outlet vent temperature of an A/C, may be provided with the monitor.

Pe 2 00 "grag ) The monitor may include a display for displaying an outlet vent temperature of each A/C.

The monitor may also include : - - an air-conditioner (A/C) system status monitoring means for monitoring the status of an air-conditioner (A/C) system of a telecommunications base station, which A/C system includes at least one air-conditioner (A/C); and - air-conditioner (A/C) status warning means which is activated when the

A/C status monitoring means monitors that the A/C system is operating in a

PS 10 predetermined status.

The predetermined status may be that the temperature within the container housing the BTS is greater than a predetermined maximum operational temperature. The monitor may include a processor programmed with

I5 instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined maximum operational temperature. The predetermined status may be that at least two A/C’s are active simultaneously.

The monitor may include A/C control means for automatically controlling the A/C system.

The A/C system monitoring means may measure the temperature within the ® container housing the BTS, and the A/C control means may accordingly control the A/C system so as to maintain a predetermined required temperature within the container housing the BTS. The predetermined required temperature within the container housing the BTS may be adjusted manually using an input means of the monitor. The predetermined required temperature within the container housing the BTS may be pre-set. The monitor may include a reset facility for resetting the predetermined required temperature within the container housing the BTS to the pre-set value.

Otherwise, the A/C system monitoring means may measure the temperature ® within the container housing the BTS, and the A/C control means may accordingly control the A/C system so as to activate at least two A/C’s of the A/C system should the temperature within the container be above a predetermined ambient temperature.

The monitor may include a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined ambient temperature. The predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the BTS may be adjusted manually using an input means of ® the monitor. The predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the BTS may be pre-set. The monitor may include a reset facility for resetting the predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the BTS to the pre-set value.

The A/C system monitoring means may measure the temperature within the container housing the BTS using a measurement obtained from an existing thermometer of the A/C system. Otherwise, a thermometer may be provided with the monitor for measuring the temperature within the container housing the BTS.

The A/C control means may automatically control the A/C system by cyclically @® alternating the activity of a first and a second A/C so as to allow an A/C to be rested. The monitor may include a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the cycle time for : 25 such alternation. The cycle time for such alternation may be adjusted manually using an input means of the monitor. The cycle time for such alternation may be pre-set. The monitor may include a reset facility for resetting the cycle time to the pre-set value. Alternation of the activity of the A/C’s may be triggered manually using an input means of the monitor to override the automatic functioning of the A/C control

® means. The monitor may include a reset facility for cancelling such manual triggering.

The AIC system control means typically includes circuitry provided with the monitor, which circuitry facilitates the automatic controlling of the A/C system as described above. The circuitry of the A/C system control means may include at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate the automatic controlling of the A/C system. [ 10 The monitor may further include rectifier system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a rectifier of the telecommunications base station is operating correctly; and rectifier system warning means which is activated when the rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly.

The rectifier system monitoring means may monitor that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should complete rectifier system failure occur. The rectifier system monitoring means may monitor that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should a rectifier module of the rectifier system fail. The rectifier system monitoring means may monitor that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should a rectifier system output voltage of the rectifier system exceed a maximum threshold voltage. ¢ The monitor may still further include battery monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a battery voltage of a back-up battery of the telecommunications base station is below a minimum threshold voltage; and battery warning means which is activated when the battery monitoring means monitors that the battery voltage is below the minimum threshold voltage.

The monitor may also include AC mains monitoring means for monitoring whether or not all three mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telecommunications base station have failed; and AC mains warning means

® which is activated when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that all three mains phases after the main circuit breaker have failed.

The monitor may further include : - - AC phases monitoring means for monitoring whether or not one or two of the mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telecommunications base station have failed; and - AC mains warning means which is activated when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that one or two of the mains phases after the main ® 10 circuit breaker have failed.

The monitor may still further include mains power supply monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a mains power supply of the telecommunications base station has failed; and mains power supply warning means which is activated when the mains power supply monitoring means monitors that the mains power supply has failed.

The monitor may also include generator control means which activates a standby power generator of the telecommunications base station should the mains power supply monitoring means monitor that the mains power supply has failed, and de- activates the generator should the mains power supply monitoring means

C monitor that the mains power supply has been re-established.

The monitor may further include fire monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a fire has broken out at the telecommunications base station; and fire warning means which is activated when the fire monitoring means monitors that a fire has broken out.

A smoke detector may be provided with the monitor to facilitate sensing of a fire.

The smoke detector may be an optical smoke detector.

The monitor may still further include aircraft warning light system monitoring ® means for monitoring whether or not an aircraft warning light system of the telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly; and aircraft warning light system warning means which is activated when the aircraft warning light system monitoring means monitors that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly.

The aircraft warning light system monitoring means may monitor that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly should a warning light of the aircraft warning light system break. The aircraft warning light system monitoring means _ may monitor that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly should a power supply to the aircraft warning light system be interrupted. An adaptive current sensor may be provided with the monitor, which sensor senses when the current drawn by the aircraft warning light system has decreased thereby to

I5 facilitate monitoring that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly.

Such decrease in the current drawn would be the case should the power supply to the aircraft warning light system be interrupted or should at least one warning light of the aircraft warning light system break.

The monitor may also include intruder monitoring means for detecting an intruder on the telecommunications base station property; and intruder warning means which is @ activated when the intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is on the telecommunications base station property.

The intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder warning means when a door sensor senses that a door of a container housing the BTS is not closed in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means may include the door sensor.

The intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder warning means when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means may include the movement ® sensor. The movement sensor may include an infrared sensor.

The intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder warning means when a perimeter fence sensor senses that a perimeter fence of the telecommunications base station has been breached or tampered with in order to detect an intruder.

The intruder monitoring means may include the perimeter fence sensor.

The intruder monitoring means may be selectively de-activatable and activatable through communication with a telecommunications base station access control. ® The telecommunications base station access control may be provided with the monitor.

The sensor may include a video camera interface which activates a video

I5 camera located on or proximate the base station when an intruder is detected.

The video camera interface may be configured to receive video footage from the video camera. The video camera interface may be configured to store the video footage received from the video camera. The video camera interface may be configured to transmit the video footage received from the video camera via the

BTS El Communication Infrastructure to a remote station. At least one video camera may be provided with the monitor, each camera for locating on or @ proximate the base station such that an intruder can be captured on video when the intruder is detected.

The monitor may further include generator monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a standby power generator of the telecommunications base station is operating or is about to operate incorrectly; and generator warning means which is activated when the generator monitoring means monitors that the generator is operating or is about to operate incorrectly.

® The generator monitoring means may monitor that the generator is operating incorrectly should the generator fail. The generator monitoring means may monitor that the generator is about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on fuel. The generator monitoring means may monitor that the generator is about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on oil.

The monitor may still further include intruder repellent monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an intruder repelient of the telecommunications base station requires replacement or replenishment; and intruder repellent warning ® 10 means which is activated when the intruder repellent monitoring means monitors that the intruder repellent generator requires replacement or replenishment.

The intruder repellent may be provided with the monitor. The intruder repellent may be in the form of at least one pepper gas canister.

The monitor may also include access control monitoring means for monitoring whether or not communication with the access control module has failed; and access control warning means which is activated when the access control monitoring means monitors that communication with the access control module has failed. ® The monitor may also include test monitoring means for monitoring whether or not any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly; and test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means monitors that any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly.

Each monitoring means typically includes circuitry provided with the monitor, which circuitry facilitates determination of whether the associated warning means is to be activated. The circuitry of each monitoring means may include at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate determination of whether the associated warning means is to be activated.

® The monitor may include at least one connector, each connector for connecting the circuitry of each monitoring means to a remote sensor, which remote sensor facilitates sensing of that which is to be monitored as described above.

Each remote sensor may be provided with the monitor.

The test monitoring means may monitor that any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly should circuitry of any such other monitoring means not ® 10 be properly connected to an associated remote sensor.

Each warning means may include audible warning means associated with the monitor. Each warning means may include visual warning means associated with the monitor. Each visual warning means may be associated with a

I5 description of the nature of the warning provided on a warning display of the monitor so that when the visual warning means is activated a person within view of the monitor is able to determine the nature of the warning.

Each warning means may remain activated even though an external power supply to the monitor is interrupted. The external power supply is typically the mains power supply mentioned above. The monitor may switch to a standby ® internal power supply when the external power supply to the monitor is interrupted. The standby internal power supply is typically the stand-by battery mentioned above. Each warning means may be reset after being activated.

A remote station may be provided, which remote station is alerted should any of the above warning means be activated. The monitor be configured to communicate with the remote station via the BTS when any of the above warning means is activated.

The remote station may include at least one remote warning means, each remote warning means corresponding to a warning means as described above so that a

® remote warning means is activated should the corresponding warning means as ) described above be activated. The remote warning means may include audible warning means. The remote warning means may include visual warning means.

The visual warning means may be associated with a description of the nature of the warning provided on a warning display of the remote warning means so that when the visual warning means is activated a person within view of the remote warning means is able to determine the nature of the warning.

The monitor may also include BTS test monitoring means for monitoring whether ® 10 or not the monitor is communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS.

The BTS test monitoring means may be configured for communication with a portable processor, which portable processor and BTS test monitoring means operate together to determine whether or not the monitor is communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS. The portable processor may include BTS test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS. The monitor may include BTS test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS. ® According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a telecommunications base station access control which controls access to a container housing a Base Transceiver System (BTS) of a telecommunications base station, the telecommunications base station access control including automatic lock control means for selectively locking or unlocking a door of the container.

The automatic lock control means may be configured to selectively lock or unlock an electromechanical lock of the door.

® The access control may also include determination means for determining whether or not a user is an authorised user so that the automatic lock control means unlocks the door when the determination means determines that a user is an authorised user.

The determination means may include an identification means for identifying a user. The identification means may be configured to identify whether or not an access token presented by a user is a valid access token. The identification means may include a radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag reader.

The RFID tag reader may be mounted to the exterior of the container proximate ® the door.

The access control may include a door sensor which senses whether or not the door has been closed so that the automatic lock control means automatically locks the door in response to the sensor sensing that the door has been closed.

The access control may include warning means which is activated when an intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control means has not unlocked the door.

Otherwise, the access control may be configured to communicate with a monitor as described above to ensure that intruder warning means of the monitor is not @ activated when the automatic lock control means has unlocked the door of the container for an authorised user.

The access control may include intruder repellent means which is activated when an intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control means has not unlocked the door. The intruder repellent means may include at least one pepper gas dispenser.

The intruder monitoring means may be provided with the access control.

® Otherwise, the access control may be in communication with intruder monitoring means of a monitor as described above, in order to activate the intruder repellent means when the intruder monitoring means of the monitor detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control means has not unlocked the door.

The intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder repellent means when a door sensor senses that the door of the container housing the BTS is not closed, in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means may include the ® 10 door sensor.

The intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder repellent means when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means may include the movement

I5 sensor. The movement sensor may include an infrared sensor.

The access control may include extraction means which is activated when the determination means determines that an authorised user is present after the intruder repellent means has been activated. The extraction means may be provided with the monitor as described above, in which case the access control at least communicates to the monitor that the determination means has @® determined that an authorised user is present after the intruder repellent means has been activated so that the monitor can activate the extraction means.

The access control may communicate with the monitor that the intruder repellent means has been activated so that the monitor can deactivate an A/C system of the monitor in order that the intruder repellent is not dispersed by the A/C system.

The access control may include at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions, and associated circuitry both of which are configured to control working of the access control as described herein. The instructions can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions from another ® processor.

The determination means may include at least a part of such processor, the processor being programmed with instructions including a database of information relating to at least one authorised user so that information received from the identification means can be compared to the database in order to determine whether or not a user is an authorised user. Such database can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions from another ® 10 processor.

The processor(s) of the access control may include instructions which allow another processor to communicate with the processor of the access control.

Accordingly, the other processor may be able to control the processor(s) of the access control to unlock the door. This would prevent the warning means of the access control and/or the intruder repellent from being activated. Such communication may be facilitated by a serial data communication interface to the access control. The serial interface may be in the form of a normal landline modem, GSM modem or EI Communication Infrastructure or any other device which interfaces a communication medium to an RS-232 serial data port, or a transmission network. ® The access control is typically supplied with power from a back-up battery (typically 24 V DC to 48 V DC) of the telecommunications base station. The access control may include a stand-by battery which provides a DC power supply when the back-up battery of the telecommunications base station is interrupted.

The stand-by battery may be continuously charged by the back-up battery of the telecommunications base station, converted down to a sufficiently low voltage by means of a switch mode DC to DC converter.

THE DRAWINGS

® The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings in which: -

Figure 1 shows a warning display of a telecommunications base station monitor, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows an air-conditioner (A/C) control means display of a telecommunications base station monitor, in accordance with the invention; ® 10 Figure 3 shows, schematically, a block diagram of a telecommunications base station access control, in accordance with the invention.

Figures 4 to 18 show, schematically, circuit diagrams of a telecommunications base station monitor and a telecommunications base station access control, in accordance with the invention.

Fig 19 and 20 show face plated detailing functions provided in particular embodiments, and

Figure 21 shows the general layout of a typical installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With particular reference to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a warning display of a telecommunications base station monitor. The warning display includes a plurality of warning means. Each warning means includes visual warning means, in the form of a Light Emitting

Diode (LED). Each visual warning means is associated with a description of the nature of the warning provided on the warning display 10 of the monitor so that when the visual warning means is activated a person within view of the monitor is ® able to determine the nature of the warning.

The monitor includes Base Transceiver System (BTS) monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a Base Transceiver System (BTS) of a telecommunications base station, in the form of a cellular telephone base station, is operating incorrectly. The BTS monitoring means is compatible with a plurality of BTS types. The monitor also includes BTS warning means 12 which is activated when the BTS monitoring means monitors that the BTS is operating incorrectly. ® The plurality of BTS types includes those currently available from

Motorola, Alcatel, and Siemens.

The BTS type currently available from Motorola includes the Mcell

I5 and Incell and Horizon types. The BTS type currently available from Alcatel includes the Alcatel Patch Board type. The BTS type currently available from

Siemens includes the Siemens BS240 type.

The BTS monitoring means monitors whether or not a transceiver of the BTS is operating incorrectly. The BTS monitoring means monitors that the transceiver of the BTS is operating incorrectly should it monitor that a voltage @ standing wave ratio of the BTS falls outside a predetermined operational range.

A connector is provided for connecting the monitor to the BTS. The connector is selected from a plurality of different types of connectors provided with the monitor, each different type of connector being configured for connection to a specific BTS type.

The BTS monitoring means includes circuitry which facilitates compatibility of each of the plurality of BTS types. The circuitry of the BTS

® monitoring means includes at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate compatibility with the plurality of BTS types.

The monitor also includes an air-conditioner (A/C) system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an air-conditioner (A/C) system of the telephone base station is operating incorrectly. The A/C system includes two or more air-conditioners (A/C’s). The monitor further includes air-conditioner (A/C) warning means 14, 16 each of which is activated when the A/C system monitoring means monitors that a first or a second A/C respectively is operating ) 10 incorrectly.

An A/C may be operating incorrectly due to an A/C plug of an A/C not being in a properly inserted position. An A/C may be operating incorrectly due to a power supply failure to that A/C. A thermometer measuring an outlet vent temperature of an A/C may cause the A/C system monitoring means to determine that the A/C is operating incorrectly should the outlet vent temperature not be less than a predetermined minimum operational temperature. The predetermined minimum operational temperature may be 5°C less than room temperature.

Should a first A/C be operating incorrectly due to a power supply ® failure to that A/C then A/C 1 power warning means 60 is also activated. Should a second A/C be operating incorrectly due to a power supply failure to that A/C then A/C 2 power warning means 62 is also activated.

Two or more thermometers, each thermometer measuring an outlet vent temperature of each A/C, are optionally provided with the monitor.

Fig 19 shows a face plate, with display of various functions. Alarm conditions are provided for the rectifier system, rectifier over voltage, low battery, the two generators, low fuel, water trap, mains/phase, BTS, smoke, high

® temperature, air conditioner, lights, gate, door, intruder perimeter and auxiliaries, for example.

Fig 20 shows similar alarm conditions, including for the rectifier system, over voltage, low battery, smoke, high temperature, rectifier, AC failure, lights, intruder, movement generator aspects and others, for example. Both face plates also provide for air conditioner control.

The monitor further includes an air-conditioner (A/C) system status ) 10 monitoring means for monitoring the status of the air-conditioner (A/C) system of a telephone base station. The monitor also includes air-conditioner (A/C) status warning means 18, 20 which is activated when the A/C status monitoring means monitors that the A/C system is operating in a predetermined status.

A predetermined status is that the temperature within the container housing of the BTS is greater than a predetermined maximum operational temperature, in which case A/C status warning means 18 is activated. The predetermined maximum operational temperature is set at 5 °C more than a predetermined ambient temperature (which predetermined ambient temperature is described below). ® Another predetermined status is that both A/C's are active simultaneously, in which case A/C status warning means 20 is activated.

With particular reference to Figure 2, reference numeral 100 generally indicates an air-conditioner (A/C) control means display of a telephone base station monitor. The air-conditioner (A/C) control means display 100 includes a display 102. The display 102 displays the outlet vent temperature of the first A/C when input means 104 is activated and the outlet vent temperature of the second A/C when input means 106 is activated.

) The monitor also includes A/C control means for automatically ) controlling the A/C system.

The A/C system monitoring means measures the temperature within the container housing the BTS, and the A/C control means accordingly controls the A/C system so as to activate both A/C’s should the temperature within the container be above a predetermined ambient temperature. The predetermined ambient temperature is pre-set to a value of 30 °C. The predetermined ambient temperature may be adjusted manually using input means 112, 114 of the monitor. Input means 112 is used to increase the _ predetermined ambient temperature and input means 114 to decrease the predetermined ambient temperature. Upon activating the input means 112, 114 the current predetermined ambient temperature is displayed on display 102.

The monitor includes a reset facility 122 for resetting the predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the BTS to the pre-set value of 30 °C. This is achieved by pressing the reset facility 122 in for 3 seconds.

The A/C system monitoring means measures the temperature within the container housing the BTS using a measurement obtained from an @® existing thermometer of the A/C system. In other embodiments, a thermometer is provided with the monitor for measuring the temperature within the container housing the BTS.

The A/C control means automatically controls the A/C system by cyclically alternating the activity of the first and second A/C’s so as to allow an

A/C to be rested. The cycle time for such alternation is pre-set to 16 hours. The cycle time for such alternation may be adjusted manually using an input means 108, 110 of the monitor. Input means 108 is used to increase the cycle time and

@® input means 110 to decrease the cycle time. Upon activating the input means 108, 110 the current cycle time is displayed on display 102.

Pressing the reset facility 122 in for 3 seconds resets the cycle time to the pre-set value of 16 hours (at the same time resetting the predetermined ambient temperature as described above).

Alternation of the activity of the A/C’s may. be triggered manually using input means 120 of the monitor to override the automatic functioning of the

A/C control means irrespective of the cycle time set. Reset facility 122 is o pressed briefly to cancel such manual triggering.

The A/C system control means typically includes circuitry provided with the monitor, which circuitry facilitates the automatic controlling of the A/C

I5 system as described above. The circuitry of the A/C system control means may include at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate the automatic controlling of the A/C system.

The monitor still further includes rectifier system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a rectifier of the telephone base station is operating correctly. Rectifier system warning means 22, 24, 26 is activated when the rectifier ® system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly.

The rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should complete rectifier system failure occur, in which case rectifier system warning means 22 is activated. The rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should a rectifier module of the rectifier system fail, in which case rectifier system warning means 24 is activated. The rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should a rectifier system output voltage of the rectifier system exceed a maximum threshold voltage, in which case rectifier system warning means 26 is activated.

® The monitor further includes battery monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a battery voltage of a back-up battery of the telephone base station is below a minimum threshold voltage. Battery warning means 28 is activated when the battery monitoring means monitors that the battery voltage is below the minimum threshold voltage.

The monitor also includes AC mains monitoring means for monitoring whether or not all three mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telephone base station have failed. AC mains warning means 30 is activated ® when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that all three mains phases after the main circuit breaker have failed.

The monitor further includes AC phases monitoring means for monitoring whether or not one or two of the mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telephone base station have failed. AC mains warning means 32 is activated when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that one or two of the mains phases after the main circuit breaker have failed.

The monitor still further includes mains power supply monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a mains power supply of the telephone base station has failed. Mains power supply warning means 34 is activated when the ® mains power supply monitoring means monitors that the mains power supply has failed.

The monitor also includes generator control means which activates a standby power generator of the telephone base station should the mains power supply monitoring means monitor that the mains power supply has failed, and de- activates the generator should the mains power supply monitoring means monitor that the mains power supply has been re-established.

The monitor further includes fire monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a fire has broken out at the telephone base station. Fire warning

® means 36 is activated when the fire monitoring means monitors that a fire has broken out. A smoke detector is provided with the monitor to facilitate sensing of a fire. The smoke detector is typically an optical smoke detector.

The monitor still further includes aircraft warning light system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an aircraft warning light system of the telephone base station is operating incorrectly. Aircraft warning light system warning means 38 is activated when the aircraft warning light system monitoring means monitors that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly. The aircraft warning light system monitoring means monitors that the @® aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly should a power supply to the aircraft warning light system be interrupted or should a warning light of the aircraft warning light system break. This is achieved by an adaptive current sensor provided with the monitor, which sensor senses that the current drawn by the aircraft warning light system has decreased as would be the case should the power supply to the aircraft warning light system be interrupted or should a warning light of the aircraft warning light system break.

The monitor also includes intruder monitoring means for detecting an intruder on the telephone base station property. Intruder warning means 40, 42, 44 is activated when the intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is ® on the telephone base station property.

The intruder monitoring means activates the intruder warning means 40 when a door sensor senses that a door of a container housing the BTS is not closed in order to detect an intruder. The door sensor is provided with the monitor.

The intruder monitoring means activates the intruder warning means 42 when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder. The movement sensor is ® provided with the monitor. The movement sensor includes an infrared sensor.

The intruder monitoring means activates the intruder warning means 44 when a perimeter fence sensor senses that a perimeter fence of the telephone base station has been breached or tampered with in order to detect an intruder. The perimeter fence sensor is provided with the monitor.

The intruder monitoring means is be selectively de-activatable and activatable through communication with an access control module. The access ® control module is optionally provided with the monitor.

The monitor further includes generator monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a standby power generator of the telephone base

I5 station is operating or is about to operate incorrectly. Generator warning means 46, 48, 50 is activated when the generator monitoring means monitors that the generator is operating or is about to operate incorrectly.

The generator monitoring means monitors that the generator is operating incorrectly should the generator fail, in which case generator warning means 46 is activated. The generator monitoring means may monitor that the ® generator is about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on fuel, in which case generator warning means 48 is activated. The generator monitoring means may monitor that the generator is about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on oil, in which case generator warning means 50 is activated.

The monitor still further includes intruder repellent monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an intruder repellent of the telephone base station requires replacement or replenishment. Intruder repellent warning means 52 is activated when the intruder repellent monitoring means monitors that the intruder repellent generator requires replacement or replenishment. The intruder

® repellent is in the form of a pepper gas canister. The pepper gas canister is optionally provided with the monitor.

The monitor also includes access control monitoring means for monitoring whether or not communication with the access control module has failed. Access control warning means 54 is activated when the access control monitoring means monitors that communication with the access control module has failed.

The monitor also includes test monitoring means for monitoring ® whether or not any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly. Test warning means is activated when the test monitoring means monitors that any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly. In this embodiment of the invention the test warning means takes the form of the relevant warning means

I5 associated with the monitoring means which is found to be operating incorrectly.

Pressing test input means 56 for 3 or more seconds enables manual test monitoring means of the test monitoring means. This activates the

LED's of all of the above warning means after 5 seconds. A user then proceeds with an activity which would ordinarily activate a warning means. Should this indeed be monitored by the associated monitoring means then the LED of the ® associated warning means is de-activated indicating that the monitoring means is operating correctly. Should the LED not be de-activated it is an indication that that monitoring means is not operating correctly. This could be as a result of circuitry of any such other monitoring means not be properly connected to an associated remote sensor, or failure of the associated remote sensor.

Each monitoring means typically includes circuitry provided with the monitor, which circuitry facilitates determination of whether the associated warning means is to be activated. The circuitry of each monitoring means includes at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate

® determination of whether the associated warning means is to be activated.

Circuit diagrams of such circuitry are shown in Figures 4 to 18.

The monitor includes a plurality of connectors, each connector for connecting the circuitry of each monitoring means to a remote sensor, which remote sensor facilitates sensing of that which is to be monitored as described above.

Each warning means remains activated even though an external power supply, in the form of the mains power supply mentioned above, to the monitor is interrupted. The monitor switches to a standby internal power supply, ® in the form of the back-up battery mentioned above, when the external power supply to the monitor is interrupted.

All of the warning means may be reset after being activated by pressing reset input means 58.

A remote station is also provided, which remote station is alerted should any of the above warning means be activated. The monitor communicates with the remote station via the BTS when any of the above warning means is activated. The remote station includes a plurality of remote warning means, each remote warning means corresponding to a warning means as described above so that each remote warning means is activated should the @ corresponding warning means as described above be activated. The remote warning means may include audible warning means. The remote warning means may include visual warning means. The visual warning means may be associated with a description of the nature of the warning provided on a warning display of the remote warning means so that when the visual warning means is activated a person within view of the remote warning means is able to determine the nature of the warning.

Pressing test input means 56 for less than 3 seconds enables automatic BTS test monitoring means of the monitor. The BTS test monitoring o means monitors whether or not the monitor is communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS.

The BTS test monitoring means is configured for communication with a portable processor (not shown), which portable processor and BTS test monitoring means operate together to determine whether or not the monitor is communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS. The BTS test monitoring means sequentially activates all of the warning means described above and the portable processor then determines whether or not the monitor is ® 10 communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS.

The portable processor includes BTS test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS.

I5 The monitor includes BTS test warning means (not shown) which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS.

It is to be appreciated that the monitor also includes a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust various parameters of the monitor described above. The ® instructions can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions from another processor.

As previously alluded to, it is to be appreciated that at least one processor programmed with instructions, and associated circuitry is provided in order to facilitate functioning of the monitor, where necessary, as described above.

The instructions can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions by means of a computer connected to the monitor. Circuit diagrams of such processor(s) and associated circuitry are shown in Figures 4 to 18.

Referring to Figure 3, reference numeral 200 generally describes a ® telecommunications base station access control which controls access to a container housing a Base Transceiver System (BTS) of a telecommunications base station. The access control 200 includes automatic lock control means 202 for selectively locking or unlocking a door of the container.

The automatic lock control means 202 is configured to selectively lock or unlock an electromechanical lock of the door by including a lock interface for interfacing with any one of a plurality of different types of electromechanical locks such as an electromagnetic lock, a solenoid lock, a motorised (servo) lock ® and the like.

The access control 200 also includes determination means 204 for determining whether or not a user is an authorised user so that the automatic lock control means 202 unlocks the door when the determination means 204 determines that a user is an authorised user.

The determination means 204 includes an identification means 206 for identifying a user. The identification means 206 is configured to identify whether or not an access token presented by a user is a valid access token. The identification means 206 typically includes a radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag reader. The RFID tag reader is typically mounted to the exterior of ® the container proximate the door.

The access control 200 is configured to communicate with a monitor as described above to ensure that intruder warning means 40 of the monitor is not activated when the automatic lock control means 202 has unlocked the door of the container for an authorised user.

The access control 200 also includes intruder repellent means 210 which is activated when an intruder monitoring means 212 detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control 202 y means has not unlocked the door. The intruder repellent means 210 typically ® includes at least one pepper gas dispenser. The pepper gas dispenser is typically activated by means of an electromechanical actuator depressing a nozzle of the dispenser for a period of three seconds every minute. A processor (see below) controlling operation of the access means 200 can be reprogrammed to change the period of depression of the nozzle and the interval between depression of the nozzle.

In this embodiment, the intruder monitoring means 212 is provided ® 10 with the access control 200.

The intruder monitoring means 212 activates the intruder repellent means 210 when a door sensor senses that the door of the container housing the

BTS is not closed, in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means 212 includes the door sensor.

The intruder monitoring means 212 activates the intruder repellent means 210 when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder. The intruder monitoring means 212 includes the movement sensor. The movement sensor typically includes an infrared sensor. ® The access control 200 includes extraction means 214 which is activated when the determination means 204 determines that an authorised user is present after the intruder repellent means 210 has been activated.

The access control 200 is configured to communicate with the monitor described above that the intruder repellent means 214 has been activated so that the monitor can deactivate an A/C system of the monitor in order that the intruder repellent is not dispersed by the A/C system. The A/C system may be re-activated after three minutes provided that the movement sensor does not detect movement during such three minutes. If such movement

X is detected the A/C system remains de-activated until the movement sensor ® detects no movement for a period of three minutes. A processor (see below) controlling operation of the access means 200 can be reprogrammed to change such period of three minutes.

It is to be appreciated that the telecommunications base station monitor is configured so that by manually activating input means 104 and 106 (shown in Figure 2) simultaneously the A/C’s are temporarily disabled for 20 minutes should the determination means 204 have determined that a user is an authorised user and the automatic lock control means 202 have unlocked the ® door in response so that the authorised user could enter the container and simultaneously activate input means 104 and 1086.

The access control 200 is further configured so that when the door sensor senses that the door has been closed then the automatic lock control means 202 automatically locks the door, provided that the movement sensor has not detected movement for a period of 30 seconds after the door has been closed.

The access control 200 includes at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions, and associated circuitry both of which are configured to control working of the access control 200 as described herein. The ® instructions can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions from another processor. Circuit diagrams of such processor(s) and associated circuitry are shown in Figures 4 to 18.

The determination means 204 typically includes a processor, the processor being programmed with instructions including a database of information relating to at least one authorised user so that information received from the identification means 206 can be compared to the database in order to determine whether or not a user is an authorised user. Such database can be upgraded by downloading replacement or additional instructions from another processor.

LJ The processor of the access control 200 also includes instructions which allow another processor to communicate with the processor of the access control 200. Accordingly, the other processor may be able to control the processor of the access control 200 to unlock the door. This would prevent the intruder repellent means 210 from being activated. Such communication is facilitated by a serial data communication interface to the access control 200.

The serial interface is typically in the form of a normal landline modem, GSM modem or any other device which interfaces a communication medium to an RS- ® 10 232 serial data port.

The access control 200 is typically supplied with power from a back-up battery (typically 24 VV DC to 48 V DC) of the telecommunications base station. The access control 200 includes a stand-by battery which provides a DC power supply when the back-up battery of the telecommunications base station is interrupted. The stand-by battery may be continuously charged by the back-up battery of the telecommunications base station, converted down to a sufficiently low voltage by means of a switch mode DC to DC converter.

A means of ensuring continuous modem operation is provided by means of the access control 200 switching off the power supply of the modem ® once every day (switching interval) for a period of five seconds (OFF time). The switching interval and OFF time may be adjustable by means of a changing the instructions of the processor which controls operation of the access control 200.

Figure 21 shows schematically the general layout of an example of the invention. The site access control and monitoring unit 215 is connected to numerous monitoring, communicating and activating modules. These include a room thermometer, switch units 217 with thermometers 218, a b-mon vswr monitor 219, a rectifier 220, a mains monitor 221, a current monitor 222. aircraft warning lights 223, a movement sensor 224, a smoke detector 225, a door 226, a

C GSM modem link 227 to field staff 228 and to a remote terminal 229, an access control module 230, a communication controller 231, a video interface 232 to a video 233. There is a permanent link from the communication controller to the remote terminal.

S

Claims (58)

@ CLAIMS

1. A telecommunications base station monitor, which includes a base transceiver system (BTS) monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a base transceiver system (BTS) of a telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly, which BTS monitoring means is compatible with a plurality of BTS types; and a BTS warning means which is activated when the BTS monitoring means monitors that the BTS is operating incorrectly.

2. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 1, in ® which the plurality of BTS types are selected from the group including those currently available from Motorola, Alcatel, and Siemens and the BTS type facilitates communication in a medium selected from the group including DCS, GSM, GPRS, and UMTS.

3. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in either one of claims1 or 2, in which the BTS monitoring means monitors whether or not a transceiver of the BTS is operating incorrectly.

4. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 3, in which the BTS monitoring means monitors that the transceiver of the ® BTS is operating incorrectly should it monitor that a voltage standing wave ratio of the BTS falls outside a predetermined operational range.

5. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the BTS monitoring means includes circuitry which facilitates compatibility of each of the plurality of BTS types, the circuitry of the BTS monitoring means including at least one processor programmed with a set of instructions to facilitate compatibility with the plurality of BTS types.

6. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of 4 claims 1 to 5, in which the monitor also includes an air-conditioner (A/C) system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an air-conditioner (A/C) system of a telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly, which A/C system includes at least one air-conditioner (A/C) and air- conditioner (A/C) warning means which is activated when the A/C monitoring means monitors that the A/C system is operating incorrectly.

7. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 6, in ® which the monitor includes a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined minimum operational temperature and/or the predetermined measurement delay period.

8. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 7, in which the monitor also includes an air-conditioner (A/C) system status monitoring means for monitoring the status of an air-conditioner (AIC) system of a telecommunications base station, which A/C system includes at least one air-conditioner (A/C) and air-conditioner (A/C) status warning means which is activated when the A/C status ® monitoring means monitors that the A/C system is operating in a predetermined status.

9. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 8, in which the predetermined status is that the temperature within the container housing the BTS is greater than a predetermined maximum operational temperature.

10. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 9, in which the monitor includes a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the ® predetermined maximum operational temperature.

11. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 10, in which the predetermined status is that at least two A/C’s are active simultaneously.

12. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 11, in which the monitor includes a processor programmed with instructions ® 10 which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the predetermined ambient temperature.

13. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 12, in which the predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the BTS is adjusted manually using an input means of the monitor.

14. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 13. in which the monitor includes a reset facility for resetting the predetermined ambient temperature within the container housing the ® BTS to the pre-set value.

15. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the A/C control means automatically controls the A/C system by cyclically alternating the activity of a first and a second A/C so as to allow an A/C to be rested and/or the monitor includes a processor programmed with instructions which enables a computer connected to the monitor to adjust the cycle time for such alternation and/or the cycle time for such alternation can be adjusted manually using an input means of the monitor, or the cycle time for

\ such alternation can be pre-set or the monitor includes a reset facility ® for resetting the cycle time to the pre-set value.

16. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, in which the monitor further includes rectifier system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a rectifier of the telecommunications base station is operating correctly and rectifier system warning means which is activated when the rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating ) 10 incorrectly.

17. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 16, in which the rectifier system monitoring means monitors that the rectifier system is operating incorrectly should complete rectifier system failure occur, should a rectifier module of the rectifier system fail, and should a rectifier system output voltage of the rectifier system exceed a maximum threshold voltage.

18. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the monitor still further includes battery monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a battery voltage of a ® back-up battery of the telecommunications base station is below a minimum threshold voltage and battery warning means which is activated when the battery monitoring means monitors that the battery voltage is below the minimum threshold voltage.

19. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, in which the monitor also includes AC mains monitoring means for monitoring all three mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telecommunications base station has failed and AC mains warning means which is activated when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that all three mains phases after the main ® circuit breaker have failed.

20. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, in which the monitor further includes AC phases monitoring means for monitoring whether or not one or two of the mains phases after a main circuit breaker of the telecommunications base station have failed and AC mains warning means which is activated when the AC mains monitoring means monitors that one or ) 10 two of the mains phases after the main circuit breaker have failed.

21. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, in which the monitor still further includes mains power supply monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a mains power supply of the telecommunications base station has failed and mains power supply warning means which is activated when the mains power supply monitoring means monitors that the mains power supply has failed.

22. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, in which the monitor also includes generator control ® means which activates a standby power generator of the telecommunications base station should the mains power supply monitoring means monitor that the mains power supply has failed, and de-activates the generator should the mains power supply monitoring means monitor that the mains power supply has been re-established.

23. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, in which the monitor further includes fire monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a fire has broken out at the telecommunications base station and fire warning means which is activated when the fire monitoring means monitors that a fire has 9 broken out.

24. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, in which a smoke detector is provided with the monitor to facilitate sensing of a fire.

25. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, in which the monitor still further includes an aircraft ® 10 warning light system monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an aircraft warning light system of the telecommunications base station is operating incorrectly and aircraft warning light system warning means which is activated when the aircraft warning light system monitoring means monitors that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly.

26. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 25, in which the aircraft warning light system monitoring means monitors that the aircraft warning light system is operating incorrectly should a warning light of the aircraft warning light system break, should a power supply to the aircraft warning light system be interrupted, should an ® adaptive current sensor sense that the current drawn by the aircraft warning light system has decreased.

27. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, in which the monitor also includes intruder monitoring means for detecting an intruder on the telecommunications base station property and intruder warning means which is activated when the intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is on the telecommunications base station property.

28. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 27, in 4 which the intruder monitoring means activates the intruder warning means when a door sensor senses that a door of a container housing the BTS is not closed in order to detect an intruder, when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder, and/or when a perimeter fence sensor senses that a perimeter fence of the telecommunications base station has been breached or tampered with in order to detect an intruder. ® 10

29. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, in which the intruder monitoring means is selectively de-activatable and activatable through communication with a telecommunications base station access control.

30. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in either one of claims 28 or 29, in which the sensor includes a video camera interface which activates a video camera located on or proximate the base station when an intruder is detected, the video camera interface being configured to receive video footage from the video camera and to store the video footage received from the video camera. ®

31. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 30, in which the video camera interface is configured to transmit the video footage received from the video camera via the BTS EI Communication Infrastructure to a remote station.

32. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, in which the monitor further includes generator monitoring means for monitoring whether or not a standby power generator of the telecommunications base station is operating or is about to operate incorrectly and generator warning means which is activated when the generator monitoring means monitors that the ® generator is operating or is about to operate incorrectly.

33. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 32, in which the generator monitoring means monitors that the generator is operating incorrectly should the generator fail, or about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on fuel, or about to operate incorrectly should the generator be low on oil. ® 10

34. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 33, in which the monitor still further includes intruder repellent monitoring means for monitoring whether or not an intruder repellent of the telecommunications base station requires replacement or replenishment and intruder repellent warning means which is activated when the intruder repellent monitoring means monitors that the intruder repellent generator requires replacement or replenishment.

35. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, in which the monitor also includes access control monitoring means for monitoring whether or not communication with the access control module has failed and access control warning ® means which is activated when the access control monitoring means monitors that communication with the access control module has failed.

36. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 35, in which the monitor also includes test monitoring means for monitoring whether or not any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly and test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means monitors that any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly.

® 37. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 36, in which the test monitoring means monitors that any of the other monitoring means are operating incorrectly should circuitry of any such other monitoring means not be properly connected to an associated remote sensor.

38. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 37, in which each warning means includes one or more ® 10 selected from audible warning means associated with the monitor, visual warning means associated with the monitor.

39. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 38, in which each visual warning means is associated with a description of the nature of the warning provided on a warning display of the monitor so that when the visual warning means is activated a person within view of the monitor is able to determine the nature of the warning.

40. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 39, in which each warning means remains activated even though an external power supply to the monitor is interrupted, the ® external power supply being a mains power supply, the monitor switching to a standby internal power supply when the external power supply to the monitor is interrupted.

41. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 40, in which a remote station is provided, which remote station is alerted should any of the above warning means be activated, the monitor being configured to communicate with the remote station via the BTS when any of the above warning means is activated.

42. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of ® claims 1 to 41, which includes at least one remote warning means, each remote warning means corresponding to a warning means as claimed above so that a remote warning means is activated should the S corresponding warning means as described above be activated.

43. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 42, in which the monitor also includes BTS test monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the monitor is communicating correctly with PY 10 the remote station via the BTS.

44. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43, in which the BTS test monitoring means is configured for communication with a portable processor, which portable processor and BTS test monitoring means operate together to determine whether or not the monitor is communicating correctly with the remote station via the BTS.

45. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 44, in which the portable processor includes BTS test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor ® monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS and includes BTS test warning means which is activated when the test monitoring means and portable processor monitor that the monitor is communicating incorrectly with the remote station via the BTS.

46. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 45, in which there is provided a telecommunications base station access control which controls access to a container housing a Base Transceiver System (BTS) of a telecommunications base station,

the telecommunications base station access control including ® automatic lock control means for selectively locking or unlocking a door of the container.

47. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 46, in which the access control also includes determination means for determining whether or not a user is an authorised user so that the automatic lock control means unlocks the door when the determination means determines that a user is an authorised user. ®

48. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in claim 47, in which the determination means includes an identification means for identifying a user, which identification means is configured to identify whether or not an access token presented by a user is a valid access token.

49. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in either one of claims 47 or 48, in which the access control includes a door sensor which senses whether or not the door has been closed so that the automatic lock control means automatically locks the door in response to the sensor sensing that the door has been closed. ®

S50. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 49, in which the access control includes warning means which is activated when an intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control means has not unlocked the door.

51. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 47 to 49, in which the access control is configured to communicate with a monitor as claimed above to ensure that intruder warning means of the monitor is not activated when the automatic lock ® control means has unlocked the door of the container for an authorised user. S

52. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 51, in which the access control includes intruder repellent means which is activated when an intruder monitoring means detects that an intruder is in or proximate the container and the automatic lock control means has not unlocked the door. ® 10

53. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 52, in which the intruder monitoring means may activate the intruder repellent means when a door sensor senses that the door of the container housing the BTS is not closed, in order to detect an intruder.

54. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 53, in which the intruder monitoring means activates the intruder repellent means when a movement sensor senses movement within a container housing the BTS in order to detect an intruder. ® 585.

A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 54, in which the access control includes extraction means which is activated when the determination means determines that an authorised user is present after the intruder repellent means has been activated.

56. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the access control communicates with the monitor that the intruder repellent means has been activated so that

GL. 005/00L837 ® the monitor can deactivate an A/C system of the monitor in order that the intruder repellent is not dispersed by the A/C system.

57. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in any one of S claims 47 to 56, in which the determination means includes at least a part of such processor, the processor being programmed with instructions including a database of information relating to at least one authorised user so that information received from the identification means can be compared to the database in order to determine ) 10 whether or not a user is an authorised user.

58. A telecommunications base station monitor as claimed in the preceding claims, in which the processor(s) of the access control include instructions which allow another processor to communicate with the processor of the access control.

$9. A telecommunications base station monitor as herein described and as illustrated in the drawings. DATED THIS roa OF JUNE 2005 yl & HARING. Agent for Applicant