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Communication path integrity supervision in a network system for automatic alarm data communication

  • US 6,040,770 A
  • Filed: 09/04/1998
  • Issued: 03/21/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of communication path integrity supervision for a network system of automatic alarm data communication, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a network of communication paths;

    providing a plurality of automatic alarm data transmitters on the network for transmitting alarm messages;

    providing at least one receiver on the network for receiving the message traffic of the transmitters; and

    ,establishing a protocol between the receiver and the transmitters which achieves supervision of communication path integrity;

    configuring the protocol on the transmitter-side to utilize processing circuitry and software for self-empowering any given transmitter to periodically test its ability to establish communication with the receiver by having a given transmitter;

    generating a message of a next-appointed "check-in" time;

    transmitting such message of a next-appointed "check-in" time to the receiver; and

    ,monitoring the elapse of time so that before the expiration of the "next-appointed check-in time" the given transmitter returns to the above step of generating a message, hence generating a succeeding message of a successor "next-appointed check-in time;

    "configuring the protocol on the receiver-side to utilize processing circuitry and software for organizing the "check-in" message traffic from the transmitters in an appointment schedule by having it, the receiver;

    for each received "check-in" message, scheduling or rescheduling an appointment in the appointment schedule for this transmitting transmitter for a next-appointed "check-in" time corresponding to this received "check-in" message; and

    monitoring concurrently the appointment schedule against the passage of time for any occurrence of an unmet appointment, which signifies problems with integrity.

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