System integration - Implementation

The AlphaCom exchange is a very powerful tool for both complex audio switching, and as a system integration tool. In many cases the AlphaCom can control everything, call queuing,, CCTV, pagers, remote control outputs like door opening, technical alarm inputs etc.

In other cases the customer wants screen based system integration (e.g. a building management system) as a common user interface, and uses the AlphaCom as a subsystem.

Throughout this document the term “PC” is used when referencing to “the external computer system “.

AlphaCom functionality for security systems

When the customer decides to have an audio system, the AlphaComs potential should be used. This means that door stations should have call (help) buttons, the guard workplace should have a Control Room Master station with queue display and answer possibility etc. The intercom stations will be very natural to use, and will also serve as a backup should the high-tech screen system fail.

The typical built-in AlphaCom features are:

• Call queuing.

A substation push button will dial a Call Request dir.no, which puts the station into a Control Room station’s call queue (sorted on priority and arrival time). The substation gets an (optional) voice message, then ringing and LED flashing while waiting.
Note that Call Requests will arrive into the Control Room station’s queue independent of the use of the station - queuing will not be blocked e.g. by an on-going conversation.

• Conversation set-up.
  

The Control Room master typically establishes out-going connections, either due to a previous Call Request (dial 70+8 to answer first-in-queue), or on own initiative (keypad dialling or DAK key-press). An successful out-going connection will remove a possible Call Request from the called station.

Sometimes substations are set to fixed PRIVATE, so that incoming calls will not connect unless accepted by the person in the room. The Control Room station must then be set to high call priority, in which case it connects directly when answering Call Requests.

• Speech direction control.

The AlphaCom operates normally in voice-switched duplex. Security systems often handle noisy areas, and the guard will often revert to simplex using the M-key while speaking.

• Remote Control.

During connection, the guard can press digit 6 on his station to cause a Remote Control Output related to the other station to pulse for 5 sec., typically opening a door. (Actually any action is possible. e.g. sending a data command to PLC which controls digital I/O etc.)

• Park call in queue.

If the guard needs to use the intercom station to assist the calling substation, it’s possible to dial a code 55(normally on a DAK key labelled PARK), which creates a call queue entry for the station. The Control Room station can then be used for other purposes, then the original call can be re-established by answering the queue again.

• Conversation cancel.

A conversation is cancelled when one of the involved stations presses C-key (or goes on-hook). Substations often have no local cancel key, so they should normally be called back from a guard which then controls the operation.

• Special case: Cancel of queue entry without connection.

In some situations a Call Request can be removed without conversation:

In a prison, when there is a call from the cell, a ward in the corridor will go directly to the cell without using the intercom. He can then cancel the call from a button placed outside the cell (either a DAK key, or a Remote Control Input RCI with a “cancel queue” action.

On a railway platform, a panel with an “Info” call key can have a “forget it” key also

Technical alarms which has no audio related to it can be removed by the input going inactive

The Control Room master also has the possibility to do “remove queue entry” by dialling 70 + 0. It can be a prisoner that does repeated calls just to pass time….

• Special case: Privacy ringing.

In some simple Control Room applications it’s possible to let substations call the Control Room station directly. They should be configured in the AlphaCom so the incoming call is set up in PRIVATE, i.e. the station rings and the guard must accept the call. If a second substation attempts to call, it will queue up in Camp-On-Busy and eventually connect automatically when the Control Room station becomes free. Privacy ringing will terminate after a programmable time, or the guard may reject it by pressing the C-key.

The Mail system

In AlphaCom all stations can receive “mails”.

• Mails are generated by the Call Request feature, CallBack during connection, technical alarms, line error reports etc. All mails will be presented on a display station by dialling 70, then using digits 7 or 9 go scroll forward/backward through the queue. Some mails has a corresponding pre-recorded voice message, and some have an attached Call Back directory number which can be activated by dialling 8 while scrolling.

• The queues can have up to 1000 entries (in which case it’s the guard that’s in trouble, not the system!).

• Mails can be sent to groups of stations, which can be used to implement Control Room parallel servers. The mail sender determines if the mail is removed from all stations in the group if one answers it.