Page 56 - Security Today, April 2017

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by using datamaps to organize the information for Manitou to read. A datamap is used to determine which database fields from Mani- tou are to be populated from the available information. Each piece of data is mapped into a specific field, such as date/time, transmitter ID, event code, etc. In the case of email notifications, the datamap organizes the data including the subject, date and time, email body, and attachments into separate database fields to be read by Manitou. Once the datamaps were completed for Interface, the data from the different types of broadband services were then sent into Manitou
and presented as alarm events.
Controlling the Events
In order to control these broadband alarm events both globally and separately from other alarm activity processed in Manitou, Interface set up a UniversalConnector receiver at the administra- tive level, and created a set of unique event categories and unique event codes for each of the new signal types. The event codes were set up with attributes that gave them the same characteristics as traditional opening and closing events. When a service was deter- mined down, or a problem, the associated area would be placed in an “open” state. When the event recovered, the associated area would be placed in a “closed” state.
This allowed for quick reference visibility using area status, as well as bulk reporting, to show areas that were in an “open” state. The event codes were also set up with attributes to give the m the same characteristics as an alarm which could be cancelled or aborted. This allowed for timers to be placed on an event. If the recovery event re- ported in before the timer expired, the event would simply log to the activity log and not drop to a queue, much in the same way a cancel aborts an alarm.
Employing the solution to Interface was a seamless event. The alarms from the various devices and applications were delivered into Manitou just like the traditional burglar and fire alarms that Interface’s dispatchers were already accustomed to handling. “The UniversalCon- nector makes it possible for us to manage multiple products and ser- vices through one event monitoring platform,” Reynolds said.
Setting a Goal
The primary goal was to streamline the process at Interface so that all monitoring could be handled using Manitou. The first result of implementing the UniversalConnector achieved this goal by remov- ing the multiple tools, applications, and screens which dispatchers had previously checked for status updates. With all events coming through the Manitou platform, efficiency immediately increased.
More importantly, the UniversalConnector solution was designed as a future-proof solution which has brought additional revenue op- portunities to Interface. Since it supports multiple formats, monitor- ing any new non-traditional device simply means creating a new data- map. For Interface, this is an important component to their goal of being the single-vendor source for their customers.
“We need as many connections as we can have for all of the unique services we offer,” Reynolds said. “This solution has enabled us to offer additional services to customers and promotes ease of use while providing those services.”
The Interface Security Systems and Bold Technologies relationship is a true partnership, with both parties working to recognize trends within the industry and use available technology to improve and ex- pand service offerings.
Tiffany Coles is the director of corporate outreach at the Bold Group. Tori Martinez is the marketing manager at the Bold Group.
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