EP0874342A2 - Differentiation method in the processing of alarm signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The alarm processing method involves responding to operation of at least one alarm group within a number of alarm groups. The individual alarm signals provided within a defined pre-alarm time are combined into a single collective alarm. Each alarm is identified by the alarm signal type, the alarm group and a further alarm value criteria. All criteria at the alarm reception point for each alarm group are evaluated, for indicating the intervention priorities.

Description

The method according to the invention relates to better ones Exploitation of the information content when processing messages of alarm messages. In particular, a Differentiation of the reason for triggering or the reasons for triggering, that led to the alarm. The aim of the invention Solution is due to more sophisticated Information on the reason for the trigger also in the choice of intervention measures to be able to proceed in a more differentiated manner. Especially should be prevented that alarm messages that were not triggered due to minor events is reacted with excessive measures.

According to the known prior art, an alarm system consists of an alarm center with transmission devices, which is usually located in the object to be monitored or in the security area to be monitored. Detectors or zones with individual detectors are connected to the alarm center. Individual detectors can be designed, for example, as motion detectors, window contacts or similar sensors. The alarm message (s) are transmitted from the alarm center to an alarm receiving center using a suitable transmission protocol, such as the Telim transmission protocol or, for ISDN, the VdS 2465 transmission protocol (VdS = Association of Non-Life Insurers).
When using the Telim transmission protocol, the detectors or zones are limited to the max. 16 zone inputs of the alarm center connected. The alarm groups of an alarm center must be assigned as clearly as possible to the location of the alarm so that the alarm location can be determined from the alarm receiving center. This ensures that the intervention measures provided for the alarm reason can be carried out in a targeted manner.

The transmission of a message (e.g. intrusion) from the Alarm center to the alarm receiving center is by the Transmission protocol regulated. It is widespread so-called Telim protocol, in which usually through existing hardware conditions only 8 instead of the possible 16 zones of the protocol frame are occupied.

Of these 8 detection lines, some of the existing detection groups are used for the transmission of information that is to be assigned to the alarm center itself in the conventional methods for reasons of simpler evaluation in an alarm receiving point, for. B. Set / unset, sabotage, technical error and clear message (reset). Sabotage or technical errors of a single detector cannot be transmitted with the conventional procedure due to capacity reasons, although this would be desirable for radio detectors. There are only a few options left for determining the reporting location (assignment of detector group). The processing of reports by the alarm receiving point is therefore inaccurate.
If several detectors are combined to form a detection group, it is therefore not possible to identify the individual detector within the detection group (individual detector identification) with conventional methods for the reasons mentioned above.

According to the state of the art, when using conventional transmission protocols in a conventional alarm receiving point, only a single message group is evaluated, to which a single cause of the message is permanently assigned during commissioning. A plausibility check to identify possible false alarms, for example as part of a technical verification of the alarm by logical linkage with other message groups, does not take place. Furthermore, it cannot be recognized whether a message belongs to the alarm center itself or to a detector.
Under these conditions, an alarm receiving center can only recognize which message has been sent using conventional software. Precise statements about the location and possible connections with other reports cannot be made. False alarms can generally not be recognized because they require precise knowledge, for example of the exact location of the message or the sequence in which several detectors or alarm groups are triggered. However, such information would be of great importance both for the intervention forces as well as for technicians who are supposed to fix reported errors, for example.

In the known solutions, for example on the Telim transmission protocol based, will cause the message the alarm center unnecessarily by certain Assignment to one of the few zones and evaluated. Stick to such a practice therefore only a few for the designation of the reporting location Zones left. Only 8 or 16 different measures are overall using the conventional methods possible.

The technical problem of the method according to the invention is based on the full utilization of the Information content of the known transmission protocols, in particular the standard Telim transmission protocol or the VdS 2465 / ISDN transmission protocol, for the complex Monitoring of security areas with automatic Message processing in an alarm receiving center aligned. For the manual evaluation of a few messages in micro-receiving points using a plain text printer without computer support is the invention No solution provided.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the usual Telim transmission protocol. The VdS 2465 ISDN transmission protocol is used analogously.
In principle, a distinction is made between messages that are associated with a detector, e.g. B. a motion detector. These messages are referred to as alarm-related messages.
Messages that come from the alarm center and are therefore not related to a detector are called messages without detector reference.

Every message has a reason or an alarm reason. This alarm reason is transmitted in Telim word 6 "signal type". The reason for the alarm is decisive for the execution of the agreed intervention measure.
For example, the "alarm" occasion / signal type requires a different intervention measure than the "technical error" occasion / signal type.
The reason for a transmission to the alarm receiving point is that one of the detectors or one of the detection groups triggers due to an external influence (alarm reason). Which detector or message group first recognized an event or reason for the alarm is transmitted in Telim word 7 "triggering group".
The triggering group is assigned the respective signal type. Since a triggering detector can have several reasons for transmission, the assignment of the agreed measure in the alarm receiving center is a function of the combination of the Telim word "triggering group" and "signal type". At least 4 reasons / signal types are possible for each zone: hold-up, alarm = intrusion, sabotage, technical alarm = battery empty. In the protocol frame of the Telim transmission protocol, max. 16 message groups can be transferred. This results in 4 x 16 = 64 different states with measures for detector reference. In the case of alarm systems with (in-house) radio detectors, there is thus also the possibility of signaling a defective or sabotaged detector to a permanently manned alarm receiving point.

According to the invention, the signal type is added to the criteria and triggering group for each detector in the triggered zone a criterion called detector value is recorded, which indicates the activation status ON / OFF of the respective detector at the end one due to local conditions specified pre-alarm time.

All messages of the triggered zone (s) received during the pre-alarm time are grouped together in the order in which they were received. The collective message contains information on the signal type, the triggering group and the detector value. The detector value indicates the ON / OFF states of the individual detectors of the detector group / groups triggered within the pre-alarm time. With the transmission of a message and given signal type, specifying the triggering group, those message groups in Telim word 8 and 9 "detector values" are also transmitted that triggered for the same reason within the pre-alarm time (same signal type). This type of message transfer is referred to as homogeneous message transfer. After the pre-alarm time has elapsed, the collective message is transmitted to the alarm receiving center. In the alarm receiving center, the collective message is evaluated by computing. Based on the criteria signal type, triggering alarm group, detector value which are in the correct order for all alarms / alarm groups triggered during the pre-alarm period, a mathematical reference is made to the stored specific local conditions of the security area to be monitored. If, for example, all detectors who have given a report due to a break-in are related to the local conditions that are assumed to be known, a statement can be made as to which route an intruder traveled in the security area during the pre-alarm time. This is how the first triggered detector designates the place where the intruder enters. Its further path can be recognized, for example, by the fact that successively several motion detectors are triggered that the intruder has passed.
By evaluating the entirety of the information received in relation to its causal relationship, a computational statement is made regarding the state of the triggered alarm group (s). The status of the reporting group (s) and the intervention measures ordered according to priorities for this specific status are displayed.

As part of an automated message processing in an alarm receiving point becomes the probability Detection of a false alarm, in which generally only one only detector triggers, increased accordingly. This process is called technical verification. Missed bets of the intervention forces (security guard, police) compared to conventional evaluation of a single reporting group with great probability in the solution according to the invention avoided.

If, for technical reasons, the collective transfer after Waiting time (pre-alarm time) of several detector states / zones single transfers are not possible various detectors through the software of the alarm receiving parts again to a coherent message, accordingly the criteria of the solution according to the invention will.

The method according to the invention is to be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are based on the Telim transmission protocol.
It is assumed that a security area to be monitored is monitored by at least two zones. For example, contact or motion detectors are assigned to each zone. An alarm center is installed in the object or in the security area to be monitored, in which all incoming alarm messages appear. The alarm messages are summarized by this alarm center and transmitted to an alarm receiving point. By definition, messages that belong to the alarm center itself have no detector reference. To identify the transmission of central messages, the bits of Telim words 8 and 9 all have the value 0. Such a procedure is considered effective since the resources of the message groups are not required for this. With such a procedure, the already limited possibilities offered by the Telim transmission protocol are not unnecessarily restricted, since the information for message processing is derived solely from the Telim word "signal type". The content of the Telim word 7 "triggering group" is redundant in this case.

Within the scope of the method according to the invention, the value F _HEX .bzw. In the Telim transmission protocol for the group triggering the criterion. 0 Transfer _HEX (HEX = hexadecimal notation). At least 4 further measures are possible to process the central messages (armed / disarmed, technical alarm, sabotage, routine message = sign of life).

In a further variant, in which several detectors one Detection groups must be individually identifiable (individual detector identification), can the Telim word "triggering group" interpreted in such a way that it names the person who which is triggered first within a zone Has. The Telim words 8 and 9 then refer to the other detectors in the same zone. This variant assumes a modification of the software within the Alarm center with the aim of individual detector identification.

At the end of a notification processing, there is a clear notification the alarm center expects. This transfer takes place without Detector reference and sets the idle state of all zones ahead. Only the Telim word is transmitted and evaluated 6 "Signal type" = Clear.

Based on the standard Telim transmission protocol the existing information content of alarm systems completely and automatically by software from Alarm receiving point evaluated. This involves mass processing assumes that at short intervals several Messages from various security areas arrive that can hardly be differentiated manually. By logical Linking the Telim words will be at least 68 different States plus the states for multiple use generated with measures for avoidance processing. With conventional methods are max. 16 different states with measures available. Essential characteristic of this Description is the detection of possible false alarms and the targeted use of intervention forces. The given Resource groups that describe the location of the alarm should be optimally used. Except for security-related ones Alarms also transmit status messages such as sabotage or battery failure of the detectors.

I.) Der Glasbruchmelder der Terrassentür an Meldegruppe 5 hat zuerst ausgelöst. Jetzt läuft die Voralarmzeit. Ein weiterer Melder reagiert nicht. Nach Ablauf der Voralarmzeit wird die Sammelinformation wie folgt übertragen:

• SIGNALTYP: Alarm
• AUSLÖSENDE GRUPPE: 4_HEX (0100_BIN, ⇒ ML 5_DEZ)
• MELDERWERT: AUS₁ AUS₂ AUS₃ AUS₄ AN ₅ ... AUS₁₆ (BIN = binär/DEZ = dezimal)

Auswertung mittels der Software der Alarmempfangsstelle:

• ALLE MELDERWERTE AUS? Nein! (= mit Melderbezug)
• SIGNALTYP UND AUSLÖSENDE LINIE = ZUSTAND (Einbruch Terrassentür, unsichere Meldung ⇒ Zugangsberechtigten rufen, Hinweis auf möglichen Fehlalarm)

Kommentar:
Da während der Voralarmzeit nur ein Melder (Terassentür) ausgelöst hat, liegt möglicherweise ein Fehlalarm vor.

II.) Der Kontakt der Kellertür an Meldgruppe 4 hat zuerst ausgelöst. Jetzt läuft die Voralarmzeit. 10 Sekunden später befindet sich der Eindringling im Wohnzimmer. Der Bewegungsmelder der Meldegruppe 2 reagiert. Nach Ablauf der Voralarmzeit wird die Sammelinformation wie folgt übertragen:

• SIGNALTYP: Alarm
• AUSLÖSENDE GRUPPE: 3_HEX (0011_BIN, ⇒ ML 4_DEZ)
• MELDERWERT: AUS₁ AN ₂ AUS₃ AN ₄ AUS₅ ... AUS₁₆

Auswertung in der Software der Alarmempfangsstelle:

• ALLE MELDERWERTER AUS? Nein! (= mit Melderbezug)
• SIGNALTYP UND AUSLÖSENDE GRUPPE = ZUSTAND (Einbruch Kellertür, Wohnzimmer ⇒ Interventionskraft und Zugangsberechtigten rufen/Hinweis auf Mehrfachmeldung)

Kommentar:
Die Information über die Auslösung mehrerer Melder mit gleichem Anlaß reduziert die Wahrscheinlichkeit, daß es sich um einen Fehlalarm handelt. Die Erkennung von echtem Alarm und Fehlalarm ist eine technische Verifikation.

III.) Der Akku im Bewegungsmelder an Meldegruppe 1 ist defekt:

• SIGNALTYP: techn. Alarm
• AUSLÖSENDE GRUPPE: O_HEX (0000_BIN, ⇒ ML 1_DEZ)
• MELDERWERT: AN ₁ AUS₂ AUS₃ AUS₄ AUS₅ ... AUS₁₆

Auswertung in der Software der Alarmempfangsstelle:

• ALLE MELDERWERTE AUS? Nein! (= mit Melderbezug)
• SIGNALTYP UND AUSLÖSENDE LINIE = ZUSTAND (Akku im Bewegungsmelder 1 defekt ⇒ Betreiber oder Techniker rufen)

Kommentar:
Die Anlage ist nicht mehr funktionsfähig! Bei herkömmlicher Meldungsbearbeitung wird diese Information nicht zur Alarmempfangsstelle übertragen.

IV.) Die Alarmzentrale meldet eine Akkustörung:

• SIGNALTYP: techn. Alarm
• AUSLÖSENDE GRUPPE: F_HEX
• MELDERWERT: AUS₁ AUS₂ AUS₃ AUS₄ AUS₅ ... AUS₁₆

Auswertung in der Software der Alarmempfangsstelle:

• ALLE MELDERWERTE AUS? Ja! (= ohne Melderbezug)
• SIGNALTYP = ZUSTAND (Akku in Zentrale defekt ⇒ Betreiber oder Techniker rufen)

Kommentar:
Die Anlage ist bei Netzausfall nicht mehr funktionsfähig! Bei herkömmlicher Meldungsbearbeitung wird diese Information, wenn überhaupt, mittels Meldegruppe zur Alarmempfangsstelle übertragen.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of four different alarm messages. The security area to be monitored is monitored by an externally armed system with an alarm center and several zones connected to the alarm center. The alarm system is in operation. It can send messages to an alarm receiving point. The transmission to the alarm receiving center is based on the Telim transmission protocol.

I.) The glass break detector of the patio door on zone 5 triggered first. The pre-alarm time is now running. Another detector does not respond. After the pre-alarm time, the collective information is transmitted as follows:

• SIGNAL TYPE: Alarm
• RELEASING GROUP: 4 _HEX (0100 _BIN , ⇒ ML 5 _DEC )
• DETECTOR VALUE: OFF ₁ OFF ₂ OFF ₃ OFF ₄ ON ₅ ... OFF ₁₆ (BIN = binary / DEC = decimal)

Evaluation using the software of the alarm receiving center:

• ALL REPORTING VALUES OFF? No! (= with detector reference)
• SIGNAL TYPE AND TRIGGERING LINE = CONDITION (broken-in patio door, unsafe message ⇒ call authorized access, indication of possible false alarm)

Comment:
Since only one detector (patio door) triggered during the pre-alarm time, there may be a false alarm.

II.) The contact of the cellar door to message group 4 triggered first. The pre-alarm time is now running. 10 seconds later, the intruder is in the living room. The motion detector in zone 2 responds. After the pre-alarm time, the collective information is transmitted as follows:

• SIGNAL TYPE: Alarm
• RELEASING GROUP: 3 _HEX (0011 _BIN , ⇒ ML 4 _DEC )
• DETECTOR VALUE: OFF ₁ ON ₂ OFF ₃ ON ₄ OFF ₅ ... OFF ₁₆

Evaluation in the software of the alarm receiving center:

• ALL DETECTOR VALUES OFF? No! (= with detector reference)
• SIGNAL TYPE AND TRIGGERING GROUP = CONDITION (break-in basement door, living room ⇒ call intervention staff and authorized access / reference to multiple reports)

Comment:
The information about the triggering of several detectors with the same cause reduces the likelihood that it is a false alarm. Real alarm and false alarm detection is a technical verification.

III.) The battery in the motion detector at zone 1 is defective:

• SIGNAL TYPE: techn. alarm
• RELEASING GROUP: O _HEX (0000 _BIN , ⇒ ML 1 _DEC )
• DETECTOR VALUE: ON ₁ OFF ₂ OFF ₃ OFF ₄ OFF ₅ ... OFF ₁₆

Evaluation in the software of the alarm receiving center:

• ALL REPORTING VALUES OFF? No! (= with detector reference)
• SIGNAL TYPE AND TRIGGERING LINE = CONDITION (battery in motion detector 1 defective ⇒ call operator or technician)

Comment:
The system is no longer functional! With conventional message processing, this information is not transmitted to the alarm receiving point.

IV.) The alarm center reports a battery failure:

• SIGNAL TYPE: techn. alarm
• RELEASING GROUP: F _HEX
• DETECTOR VALUE: OFF ₁ OFF ₂ OFF ₃ OFF ₄ OFF ₅ ... OFF ₁₆

Evaluation in the software of the alarm receiving center:

• ALL REPORTING VALUES OFF? Yes! (= without detector reference)
• SIGNAL TYPE = CONDITION (battery in control center defective ⇒ call operator or technician)

Comment:
The system is no longer functional in the event of a power failure! In the case of conventional message processing, this information, if any, is transmitted to the alarm receiving point by means of a message group.

The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for Transmission of alarm messages based on the Telim transmission protocol or the VdS 2465 ISDN transmission protocol based. It is the same for other transmission protocols to apply.

Claims (1)

Process for better differentiation in the processing of alarms, in which a security area is monitored with several, but at least two, zones, each zone consisting of several individual zones that are designed to display different alarm reasons / signal types, all of which after triggering at least one zone Individual messages with signal type and triggering alarm group that are received within a freely definable pre-alarm time can be combined to form a collective message in accordance with the order in which they are received, characterized in that in addition to the signal type and triggering alarm group criteria for each detector in the triggered alarm group (s), a criterion called a detector value is recorded , which indicates the activation state ON / OFF of each individual detector for the triggered signal type at the end of a pre-alarm time, that all messages of the triggered message group received during the pre-alarm time pe / s with the criteria signal type, triggering line and detector value are combined in the correct order to form a collective message and transmitted to an alarm receiving center, so that the criteria signal type, triggering alarm group and detector value are evaluated for each triggered alarm group in the alarm receiving center, so that from the totality of the information received From a computational point of view, a statement is made about the status of the triggered alarm group (s) and that the status of the triggered alarm group (s) and the intervention measures ordered according to priorities for this state are displayed.