Alarm Traffic Manager
Monitoring Software Enhancements

Central One will implement the following upgrades to the Alarm Traffic Manager monitoring software during the month of March, 2003:

Zone Anding:

A new instruction may be entered into any of an account’s four special instruction fields. The syntax for the command is “AND: [zonelist] WITH: [zonelist]”. A zone list consists of a list of zone numbers, separated by commas, a range of zone numbers, separated by a dash, or a combination of both. For example, “1, 3, 7-12, 14, 16-22, 29” would be acceptable. It is not possible to include zone zero in a list.

Here is how zone anding will work:

• When a BUR signal is received the software will see if the zone number is included in either the first (“AND:”) or second (“WITH:”) list.
• If included, the software will look back two minutes (up to ten signals) in the alarm history to see if a BUR signal with a zone number listed in the other (and or with) field was already received.
• If not, the signal will be canceled.
• If so, the signal will be presented to the operator for immediate action.

Here are some examples where the instruction is “And Zones: 1 With: 2”:

BUR Zone 3 is received. It is presented to the operator because anding does not apply to zone 3.

BUR Zone 1 is received. Alarm history is checked to see if zone 2 was received in the last two minutes. If so, the new signal is presented to the operator. If not, the signal is cancelled.

Note: The result would have been the same if the instruction read, “And Zones: 2 With 1”. When the zone number is found in either field the other field provides the list of zones to search for in the alarm history.

Here is an example where the instruction is “And: 2,4,6,8 With: 2,4,6,8”:

BUR Zone 2 is received. Alarm history is checked to see if any of zones 2, 4, 6 or 8 were received in the last two minutes. If so the new signal is presented to the operator. If not, the signal is cancelled. Two consecutive trips of zone 2 will result in operator action because zone 2 appears in both fields.

When should zone anding be used?

Every zone that consists of motion detectors is a proper candidate for zone anding. The use of zone anding will prevent the dispatching of police in response to a single trip from a motion detector. It is important to configure panels so that multiple trips are reported to the central station, up to a reasonable swinger shut down limit of three or more trips per zone.

Back-Up Transmitters:

A new field has been added to the signal definitions screen in the Alarm Traffic Manager database. The field is labeled “Backup Only (Y/N)?” Here is how it behaves:

• When a signal is received that has been designated backup only, the software holds the signal for two minutes to see if a signal with the same alarm type arrives. If so, the back up signal is cancelled. If not the back up signal is then presented to the operator for action.
• A back up signal that is presented to an operator will be included as a trouble signal on log reports. You can assume that the primary transmitter must have been down for this signal to become a priority (be presented to an operator).
• A back up signal does not update the date and time of last non-system signal field and therefore does not count as a dialer test.

When should signals be designated “Backup Only”?

• The system is not U.L. certificated (U.L. does not permit holding a signal).
• It is desirable to receive the signal from a primary transmitter because it contains special information (such as zone descriptions) or features (such as two way voice).
• Zone anding features are in use and would be thwarted by signals from the back-up transmitter.
• You would like to easily identify primary transmitter failures by looking at a trouble signal report.
• You would like to prevent signals from the back up transmitter from satisfying the account’s period test interval requirements.

Request for Comments:

Central One is always interested in comments and suggestions from our dealers and other interested parties. Please send email to webmaster@centralone.com if you have questions, comments or suggestions concerning these or any other issues.