DE19654859C1 - Method of outputting alarm messages and/or process data to an electronic controller - Google Patents

Abstract

the method involves passing the information from an alarm controller (5) to an authorized person via a modem (6) which passes the alarm messages and/or process data for the authorized person to a mobile telephone network of a network operator (10) in the form of short messages, e.g. in the format of the Short Message Service. The network operator stores the information in a mailbox for access by the authorized person at least until the authorized person has acknowledged receipt of the message. The network operator automatically records the times of reception and transmission of the short messages and the message contents and makes them available for documentation purposes.

Description

The invention relates to a method for outputting alarm messages and / or Process data from an electronic control and a circuit arrangement for Execution of the procedure. The alarm messages and / or process data are transmitted via a modem or a mobile phone to a network operator who has a Short message transmitted to a mobile station defined in the controller. The electronic Control can be influenced via the telephone network and the modem or via a mobile phone will.

A "SAPI3 message (Short Message Service SMS) according to the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communications- Default; Description of the standards in German published application DE 43 40 679 A1) understood; it is irrelevant to the invention whether other standards for the future The composition and transfer of the short message can be used.

Electronic controls with devices for issuing alarm messages and / or process data are known from the patent literature and from the technical literature.

The patent DE 38 12 144 C2 describes a circuit arrangement for output acoustic alarm messages and / or process data for hazard alarm systems.

The published patent application DE 44 30 164 A1 describes an interactive information system that can be controlled with the tone dialing signals of a telephone.

The published patent application DE 43 32 758 A1 relates to the technical solution of a radio terminal for a paging system that, in addition to receiving, also sending short messages after the SMS standard, but not the issue and forwarding of Alert messages and / or process data from a controller. Rather it is so that this device, among other technical possibilities, can be used as a peripheral device is. Devices of this type with multiple functions are, for example, from the companies SIEMENS and Leipoldt radio systems available on the market.

The published patent application DE 43 40 679 A1 describes a speech module for the acoustic Playback of short SMS messages in a mobile station.

The patent specification DE 35 18 737 C2 relates to a method for voice output of messages for a telecommunication device, especially for a telephone device.  

DE 39 43 355 A1 relates to a method and an apparatus for the Allocation of services. It is a device for receiving alarm signals and a control device is provided which is based on this device for receiving Alarm signals responding, attempts being made in succession, in one to establish predetermined sequence connections with telephone subscribers, this step is repeated cyclically until the connection is established or until the process in otherwise ended. The transmitted signals are voice signals or a Sequence of tones in the speech frequency range (analog signals).

The published patent application DE 41 06 023 A1 describes a combined communication and Alarm / notification system with a central alarm module, which is an adaptation module Connection of decentralized optical and / or acoustic indicators and a Has sound signal evaluation module for connecting external announcement devices, the Transmission paths of a digital communication system to others Communication systems for this reporting and alarm system can also be used. It is provided that sensor data in an alarm module on the analog subscriber line connected to a communication system.

The utility model DE 295 18 627 U1 describes a wireless alarm and Communication system for ports and ships, in which when an alarm is activated Alarm module generates a digital data telegram, which is transmitted via a UHF transmitter with high Service is sent. The recipient of the data telegram is a stationary, e.g. B. in one Hafenmeisterbüro installed transceiver station with a connected computer, on which the data telegram is brought to a monitor in plain text. The message will transmitted simultaneously to a mobile receiving device with a display field. The alarm calls can can also be received by other receiving stations, provided that they are on the same station Frequency operated; the alarms are forwarded to the public telephone network intended. The alarm module (e.g. positioned on a ship) can be connected via a serial Interface coupled with a GPS (Global Positioning System) for location determination will.

The published patent application DE 195 29 953 A1 relates to a hand-held mobile radio device that is equipped with one or several alarm sirens is connected, the alarm sirens from a second radio can be triggered and stopped. In the sense of the invention, this takes place after an alarm signal from the handheld radio device to the second radio device. The invention sees furthermore that a suitable sensor (e.g. an acceleration sensor) triggers an alarm,  who actuates an alarm siren and at the same time to send an emergency signal via the Radio connection leads.

The PCT application WO 95/15 051 A1 describes a system for receiving and for Forwarding of emergency calls in an emergency call center to the public telephone network connected. A subscriber whose telephone connection uses a decoder for identification of the connection, dials a predefined emergency number from the emergency call center. In one The control center of the emergency call center uses the data of the connection of the caller (location) with the data stored in a database are combined in a data packet that is sent to a the receiver determined from the database of the host computer is forwarded by radio.

The European patent application EP 06 32 635 A2 relates to an intelligent emergency call system that has wired and wireless emergency transmitters, each one Card readers contain an identity identifier as well as personal and medical Reads emergency call data from a patient chip card. The read emergency data is in one Emergency telegram, for example via a cellular network, to at least one Emergency call receiving device and / or transmitted to a rescue center.

The published patent application DE 44 13 974 A1 relates to an emergency call system for a cordless telephone, consisting of a handset and one with this by a radio connection connected base station, which is connected to the telephone network. After actuation an emergency call button on the handset of the cordless telephone is via a (Wired) telephone line automatically connects to the central office manufactured and transmitted an emergency text that is stored in a memory of the cordless phone Form of language is saved.

The US patent US 52 78 539 describes an alarm and warning system for warning one large number of people facing a hazard using existing ones Communication systems. The warning or alarm is given after a corresponding Information from a local emergency planning committee (similar to one Disaster Protection Agency) triggered, from a database of a host computer Messages are sent to a predetermined group of recipients.

The article "Always available - Concept of a regional call system" (Broecker Jürgen in: Funkschau 24 (1982), pp. 58-60) describes the functioning of the regional radio paging system "Cityfon" from AEG Telefunken. The system is characterized by the fact that one  Telephone set sent a ten digit number information to a portable receiver is, the digit information stored in this and in a display for display can be brought. The system does not provide for coded messages from one fixed transmitter can be forwarded to a receiver. The paging center saves and documents the number sequences sent together with the phone number of the Receiver and the airtime.

The article "Equipped for emergencies" (Kuhlmann, Gerd in: Funkschau 5 (1986) pp. 64-67) describes paging radio systems and property radio systems. Paging Radio systems allow the transmission of spoken calls and the transmission of Digit information on a display of a mobile receiver. The called party can also call in reply once to the connection, which lasts a maximum of 30 seconds. For real estate Speech radio systems, the response time is unlimited. Both types of system can be operated with one Telephone exchange can be connected. The calls can be made by both people generated, as well as automatically programmed by alarm controls. The usage of mobile phones as senders and receivers of alarm messages and / or Process data is not provided.

The article "Strategy of the targeted alarm" (Halbländer, Stefan, J. in: net 47 (1993) Heft 10, S. 464) describes the services "Cityruf" and "Euromessage" with which up to 80 characters of plain text can be transferred to a display of a mobile receiving device. The data can come from an alarm control and via a modem into the public telephone network be fed. The received messages can be called by the recipient the central station of the alarm system. The system described does not allow the receiver to use the same device with which it is connected Has received an alarm message, can confirm receipt. Furthermore, of this Device cannot be remotely operated on the system connected to the alarm control.

All known methods for issuing and forwarding alarm messages and / or process data from an electronic control over the telephone network common that the alarm messages and / or process data the intended Only reach the recipient if he or she is at the specified telephone number is indirectly achieved through call forwarding. As a rule, a Connection via a speech synthesizer integrated in the control acoustic message issued. Whether the report is from the authorized person or from someone Call recording device is not guaranteed. Also there it is only a record in the log of the alarm notification  Control, which provides proof of proper alarming, especially for Clarification of liability issues, can not be managed.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for issuing alarming messages and / or to create process data which ensures that the alarm messages exclusively by the designated and authorized person, or by one of the authorized person authorized third person to be received and that about the receipt of the alarm message a usable protocol outside of Control is saved, which can be output if necessary. Another object of the invention is specify a circuit arrangement for performing the method.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of claims 1 and 6, respectively. The output of the alarm messages and / or process data takes place via the telephone network or via a mobile radio network Network operator who issues a message according to the SAPI3 standard (short message in the frame of the Short Message Service) to the mobile phone for receiving the Alert message forwarded to authorized person. When dealing responsibly with the Service password of the mobile phone can be assumed that no unauthorized person answers a call. Is the participant provided in the controller temporary not reachable, the network operator keeps the message in the subscriber's mailbox for as long until the subscriber is actually reached and retrieves the message. The currently available maximum time during which the network operator holds the message in the mailbox is 48 Hours. All processes of receiving and forwarding messages are within can be acknowledged during this time and are logged by the network operator. Furthermore, they are for possibly necessary reconstructions of the alarm messages and times and / or Process data available. It is state of the art in the GSM network that all network operators Possibility of providing individual proof with date, time and recipient identification. In addition, some network operators offer the option of free acknowledgment a text message by acknowledgment via short message - similar to one "Registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt". This means that there are only extensive ones in the GSM network Possibilities to prove the correct alarm.

The invention is illustrated by the figure. In Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit arrangement of the invention is shown. A controller ( 1 ), for example a programmable logic controller (PLC), which controls and monitors a stationary or mobile system ( 3 ) via control and signal lines ( 2 , 2 ', ...), is connected to a by means of a data bus ( 4 ) Alarm control ( 5 ) connected. The alarm controller ( 5 ) contains an electronic data memory ( 15 ), a program memory ( 16 ), which is preferably designed as an EPROM, and optionally a voice synthesizer ( 17 ). A display ( 8 ) and a keyboard ( 9 ) are connected to the alarm control or are permanently integrated therein, with the aid of which names, telephone numbers and alarm messages and / or process data can be edited and are stored in the data memory ( 15 ). The alarm controller contains a serial modem interface ( 13 ) to a wired or radio-transmitting modem ( 6 ), which is connected to the telephone network ( 20 ) and via a mobile phone ( 7 ) and to the mobile network of a network operator equipped with transmitting and receiving stations ( 11 , 14 ) ( 10 ) is connected.

A simple alarm message is typically sent and forwarded in such a way that when the specified limit values of the operating variables of the system ( 3 ) are exceeded, an electrical contact is triggered, which is electrically connected to a switching input of the alarm control ( 5 ), so that the alarm control ( 5 ) a message is triggered. The sending and forwarding of alarm messages together with process data is typically carried out according to the following procedure: If operating parameters occur in the system ( 3 ) which are outside of defined limit values, for example in a programmable logic controller ( 1 ), one is transmitted via the data bus ( 4 ) Coded message sent to the alarm control ( 5 ). Work logs and logbooks that have to be created in a certain time frame can also be transferred via modem. In the alarm program stored in the program memory ( 16 ), an alarm plan is stored for each message from the controller ( 1 ), according to which certain persons receive a defined alarm message via fixed telephone or mobile phone numbers. All data on telephone numbers, names and message contents are stored in the data memory ( 15 ), the content of which can be edited using the keyboard ( 9 ) and the display ( 8 ). In addition, quantified process data from the system can be integrated into the message. The alarm plan does not provide voice output; call forwarding is possible. If a voice synthesizer ( 17 ) is integrated in the alarm controller ( 5 ), the person authorized to receive the alarm message can first be notified via the telephone network ( 20 ), with the alarm message being output as an analog voice signal from a voice synthesizer ( 17 ) the telephone set of the authorized person or as a FAX protocol to a FAX device ( 21 ) or as any protocol selected to the modem ( 23 ) and the PC ( 24 ) of the authorized person. The authorized person can use the technical possibilities of call forwarding in the telephone network to forward the call to a telephone set where he is currently located. Within a period specified in the alarm control, the authorized person must confirm receipt of the alarm message by selecting the alarm control via the telephone or mobile network, otherwise the alarm control will send a short message in SAPI3 format to the network operator via the telephone or mobile network ( 10 ) who logs the time of receipt and saves the short message in the mailbox of the authorized person until this has been reached and has confirmed receipt of the short message. This ensures that even if the authorized person is temporarily unavailable, the alarm message is not lost and the content of the message, the time of receipt and the time of receipt of the message by the authorized person are logged by the network operator and are available for later reconstruction of the alarm process .

In addition to the functions described, the alarm control ( 5 ) contains a program function by means of which the system ( 3 ) can be transmitted directly via a PC, for example that of the authorized person ( 24 ), and the modem ( 6 ) or via a control ( 1 ) in the sense of a Remote maintenance can be affected. This makes it possible to remedy malfunctions in the system ( 3 ) or to prevent major damage to the system or harmful effects of the system by changing the operating parameters stored in the programmable logic controller of the system.

The alarming method according to the invention and the one proposed for implementation Circuit can be used for all systems that are controlled by a controller, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) can be controlled. In particular come for this unmanned automatic machines and systems, as well as mobile systems in question, monitoring by an authorized person is required. Application examples for the latter case are mobile patient monitoring systems (pacemakers, Insulin pumps or similar) or vehicles for security transportation. In the case of Vehicle monitoring is possible through the use of a satellite navigation system with the alarm message the current location of the vehicle as a short message to to transmit authorized person.

Fig. 1: Block diagram of the circuit according to the invention for implementing the method

Reference list

1

control

2nd

,

2nd

'' Signal and control lines to the system

3rd

mobile or stationary system

4th

Data bus for alarm control

5

Alarm control

6

modem

7

Mobile phone

8th

Display

9

keyboard

10th

Network operator

11

Sending and receiving station

12th

Authorized person's mobile phone

13

serial modem interface

14

Sending and receiving station

15

electronic data storage

16

Program memory (EPROM)

17th

Speech synthesizer

20th

Telephone network

21

Authorized Person's FAX machine

22

Authorized person's telephone set

23

Authorized person's modem

24th

PC of the authorized person

Claims (6)

1. Method for outputting alarm messages and / or process data from an alarm controller ( 5 ) and for forwarding the alarm messages and / or process data to an authorized person via a modem ( 6 ), which the alarm messages and / or process data for the authorized person to Mobile network of a network operator ( 10 ) forwards the authorized person, the alarm messages and / or process data being transmitted as short messages (for example in the format of the Short Message Service SMS) via a telecommunications network to the network operator ( 10 ) and the network operator for the short message in a mailbox for the person authorized to receive the alarm messages and or process data stores at least until the authorized person has confirmed receipt of the alarm message and the network operator ( 10 ) the times of receipt and forwarding of the short message to the authorized person and de n The content of the message is automatically logged and made available for documentation purposes. 2. A method for outputting alarm messages and / or process data from an alarm controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the short messages from text blocks stored in a memory ( 15 ) of the alarm controller ( 5 ) and from current process data of a system transmitted by a programmable logic controller are composed. 3. A method for outputting alarm messages and / or process data from an alarm control according to one of claims 1-2, characterized in that in addition to the short message (SMS), the forwarding of alarm messages and / or process data to a telephone set ( 22 ), a FAX Device ( 21 ) or to a modem ( 23 ) and a PC ( 24 ) of the authorized person is provided, a voice synthesizer ( 17 ) being provided for the voice output of the alarm messages and / or process data in the alarm controller ( 5 ). 4. A method for outputting alarm messages and / or process data from an alarm control according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the alarm messages and / or process data from the alarm control ( 5 ) are forwarded to a network operator ( 10 ), the worldwide telecommunications services guaranteed. 5. A method for outputting alarm messages and / or process data from an alarm control according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the alarm messages and / or process data to the network operator ( 10 ) are optionally transmitted via the wired telephone network or via a radio network. 6. Circuit arrangement for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the alarm controller ( 5 ) a data bus ( 4 ) to a system controller ( 1 ) and a serial interface ( 13 ) to a modem ( 6 ), and has a keyboard ( 9 ) and a display ( 8 ), the keyboard ( 9 ) and the display ( 8 ) being used to edit alarm messages and / or process data as well as telephone numbers and names of the authorized persons.