AlphaSense Remote Access Setup & Programming -- Easy!!

This selection allows you to configure Inputs (from sensors, alarm panels, automation equipment, security alarms, etc.) and define messages that will be sent to pagers or other wireless and/or data devices when the input is triggered.

This selection also allows you to configure Matchstrings for AlphaSense models which support serial-port data input. Matchstrings tell AlphaSense what data to "look for" as it scans all data received at the port. When the desired data is found, it "triggers" AlphaSense to either 1) deliver a message that the user has created which is descriptive of that event, or 2) forward an exact copy of the entire line(s) of data which caused the match. For details on these powerful matchstrings, see Matchstrings: How do they work?

For both the Inputs, or the Matchstrings, the user is able to specify choices of the type of message that will be delivered, what "style" it will be (data and/or pager), and which pagers or other wireless data devices it will be sent to. Primary and Secondary delivery instructions may be specified.

This selection provides for the one-time setup, and future changes, of many parameters. These items are grouped together, since they are seldom changed after being set. In fact, AlphaSense firmware is "smart", and knows that a first-time caller into a new product needs to set these items, and diverts directly to this submenu selection at time of first call.

Several special alarm messages are provided by AlphaSense, in addition to the ones created from sensor input, or data matching. These are POWER-FAILURE, POWER-RESTORATION, WELL-CHECK (a periodic self-test and report), and CABLE-DISCONNECT (for serial port models). The user instructs AlphaSense on where, how, and to whom these messages are to be delivered. For the Well-Check message, a time of day, and 12/24 hour interval can be specified.

Setup of technical parameters is also done in this submenu. Factory-supplied defaults are already programmed in, and rarely need to be changed. The user sets the master access number for their paging carrier, number of rings to answer (AlphaSense can share phone lines with other equipment, if appropriate), number of retries to effect message delivery in case of problems, serial port baudrate, parity, wordlength, block delimeter characters (this is rarely changed from default value), dialout speed, system passwords, and other parameters.

The user can define a "SiteName" text. This is text that AlphaSense will add to the beginning of every message it delivers. This can serve to identify the source and location of the message, distinguish between multiple AlphaSense units at a single location, and in general provide an "identity tag" so that it is completely clear to the recipient of an AlphaSense message where the message came from.

This selection provides capability to set the internal real-time clock. It is used to time-stamp data log entries, and append a time stamp to all data calls, both for audit trails and time history tracking. The periodic self-test routine (daily well-check and report) also uses the real-time capability, along with several other internal routines and subsystems.

This selection allows changing of the double-level password protection that is a feature of all AlphaSense models. A special "Direct-Mode" password allows controlled access for interaction with the host system. The main password grants the authorized user complete access and authorization to change any user-configurable parameter. When used to its fullest extent, AlphaSense provides an extremely high level of security and protection.

This selection will place the user calling into AlphaSense into direct contact with the host equipment which is connected to the AlphaSense serial port. Complete full-duplex and bi-directional data paths are available. This capability provides expanded usage, and can eliminate the need for other dial-up modems at the host site. In this way, AlphaSense serves not only as an early-warning/monitor/alerting system, but also providing password-protected, remote dial-up access to the host for maintenance, teleservice, user terminal interaction, -- whatever the host will support.

In an equipment maintenance scenario, for example where AlphaSense is connected to a PBX, factory automation system, access control system, etc., the field technician is alerted by AlphaSense to the technician's Alpha Pager of a condition. The technician can then use their laptop PC, call into AlphaSense, and first, look at the log of data to establish history and gain intelligence on the reported condition. Then using the Direct-Mode, the technician may interact with the host directly, and issue commands to set new host parameters or solve a problem. In cases like these, AlphaSense makes the loop from alert to problem solution complete - and no trip to the site is required.

This selection provides viewing of all captured data which has been received through the AlphaSense serial port. Data is held in the log in order of reception, and is timestamped at time of receipt. As an alternative to user viewing of the log, automated access can be used to periodically download the contents of the data log for off-site reporting and historical record.

The user, whether automated or interactive, is given the option to clear the stored data from the log memory storage upon completion of its viewing or download.

This selection clears all captured data which has been stored in the AlphaSense log memory. The user is asked to confirm their request to avoid erasure of the data by mistake.