Efficiency of using the complex of solutions of the Security and Safety group of companies.
This article describes what the economic effect of using the complex of software and hardware solutions of the Security and Safety group of companies can be, and what benefits the consumer of the products will receive.
Usually, when choosing a centralized monitoring station (hereinafter referred to as CMS), «controllers» take into account many factors: what transmission channel to the CMS does the facility equipment use, how many input interfaces does the CMS have, whether there are means of redundant transmission channels, as well as databases of objects on the console, etc. In a word, the CMS and facility equipment are selected based on the parameters listed in the manufacturer's documentation. However, it is also necessary to take into account the convenience of operators in working with the software (hereinafter referred to as SW) of the CMS, the analytical capabilities of the software for the head of the console and for the facility service engineers and, what is important, the benefits of all those additional services that make it possible to implement the solutions of a particular manufacturer. Also, one of the pressing problems at the moment is the optimization of the costs of the control center organization for the implementation of its activities. In this article, I will try to show how this can be done using our solutions.
The Security and Safety Group of Companies is engaged in the development and production of a whole range of solutions for the areas of control panel security of facilities, the use of which will bring enormous economic benefits and convenience in work at all levels of the enterprise. These are reliable facility devices, and the Orlan central monitoring station based on the latest generation Phoenix 4 software, and hardware and software systems (hereinafter referred to as HSS) that help organize and control the control panel. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
The «Lun» series of object devices fully meet all the necessary customer requests. Here are security devices with the ability to connect expanders, and security and fire devices for use with both 4-wire and 2-wire fire detectors, and a GSM/GPRS communicator for connecting objects with already installed devices from third-party manufacturers. All devices can work with both a keyboard and a TouchMemory electronic key reader. Events are transmitted to the central monitoring station via a GPRS channel, via a voice channel of the GSM network, via a telephone line when using the TK-7 communicator. Among these three channels, you can independently assign priorities: which is the main one and which is the backup one. Moreover, the devices can work with two mobile operators (there is an option to install two SIM cards).
One of the frequent tasks is the need to change the configuration of the facility device, add or replace access keys, change the time delays for entry and/or exit. With the facility devices of the «Lun» series, you can forget about the departures of service engineers to the facilities, because these devices support remote configuration changes via a GPRS channel directly from the engineer's workplace. Using this channel also leads to significant savings on communication costs while simultaneously increasing the throughput of the console and the speed of message delivery to the central monitoring station (1-2 seconds).
In addition, it is no secret that false alarms are the scourge of any central monitoring station and one of the main problems that generates considerable additional costs. However, we offer effective and already tested solutions. To combat false «fire» alarms, there is a function both for the facility device and for the central monitoring station. The Lun-9R fire alarm device has the option of «fire on second alarm». If this function is enabled, the device will automatically reset the power supply of the fire detectors after their first alarm, transmitting this information to the central monitoring station. If the loops are triggered even after the power is reset, the device switches to the «Fire» state, turning on the siren and sending the corresponding event to the central monitoring station. In addition, there is the option of remotely resetting the «Fire» state at the facility from the Orlan central monitoring station upon the operator's command. All this leads to a reduction in the actual departures of fire brigades to the facility, and, consequently, the associated costs.
Not long ago, we also launched a fundamentally new device, “Lun-video”, which works with analog video cameras (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. “Lun-video” device
Its main purpose is to reduce the enterprise's costs when responding to alarms of any nature that may have visual confirmation (panic, fire, intrusion, etc.). The image from the object during an alarm is sent to the console directly to the Orlan central monitoring station operator program (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Central monitoring station operator's workstation
At geographically remote sites, the device allows for a visual assessment of the situation, eliminating unnecessary response team visits. However, this device can also be used independently, for example, for panic buttons at bank cash desks. The operator visually assesses the situation in advance and can report a real threat of robbery. It is also possible to obtain images for the purpose of monitoring the site at the request of operators. All this leads to a reduction in the number of response team visits, preserving the lives and health of security guards, and increasing the overall efficiency of security.
To track your own response teams, we offer Alet GPS devices and Phoenix-GPS remote control software (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3. Software «Phoenix — GPS»
The devices are installed on response team vehicles and transmit their location to the central monitoring station. In the event of an alarm at any facility, the central monitoring station operator will be able to send the closest response team to it. The devices can also act as a panic button if it is necessary to quickly transmit a signal for help. The implementation of this complex will reduce response time, control response team departures and optimize their movement around the city. The complex will also eliminate the «left» side work of official vehicles (taxi, taxi). All this leads to a reduction in the cost of maintaining the vehicle fleet.
Let's move on to the review of the Orlan central monitoring station based on the latest generation software «Phoenix 4». This central monitoring station has proven itself as a reliable, easy-to-learn, user-friendly control panel. It allows you to receive signals via the GPRS channel of the GSM network, the voice channel of the GSM network, via a telephone line using autodialer, and the Internet channel. Using the GPRS channel allows you to increase the throughput of the control panel to 5000-6000 objects per pair of receiving modules; significantly reduce communication costs; improve control of communication lines (now test messages can be sent every 5 minutes without compromising security functions); reduce the time of event delivery to the control panel (on average 1-2 seconds). The Orlan central monitoring station is built on a modular architecture, so it is easy to add one or another expansion kit to it.
The main component of the central monitoring station is the software that operators and engineers work with. It is the software that largely determines the success of the entire central monitoring station. What should the console program be like? It would seem to be a simple question, but everyone who works in the field of security will answer it in their own way. For the console operator, the program should be simple and convenient. For engineers, it should have advanced capabilities for analyzing the event archive. For the head of the central monitoring station, it should monitor the operation of facilities in real time, give prompts to operators during work, analyze the quality of installation at facilities. Only by taking into account the requirements of everyone involved in the security of facilities can you build a good console program. The Phoenix 4 software is built taking into account all requirements and meets consumer requests as much as possible. For example, it has an Alarm Analysis function that allows you to identify poor-quality installation at facilities, a function for tracking response teams, their departures to alarms, gas stations, service stations. To monitor the work of facility maintenance engineers, there is the Engineer Requests software. It allows you to monitor their work, identify typical problems at facilities. In fact, the central control center software helps to optimize and control the work of all departments of the private security company: engineers and technicians, installers, and response teams.
And yet, the control panel cannot be considered without a number of extension kits and PACs that allow you to expand functionality and increase the efficiency of use to a completely new level. After all, it is often they who determine the efficiency of the private security company as a whole.
By connecting the Orlan-M (SMS) expansion kit to the main central monitoring station, you can send SMS messages to responsible persons at the facilities, notifying them of events occurring at the facilities. Event types for notification are configurable for each recipient number.
This expansion kit is also required for using the Client-Info hardware and software package. This software and hardware package is designed to inform clients of debts for any services, such as security services, transportation and installation services, installment sales, etc.
Information is provided by sending SMS messages to debtors' mobile phones. In the program, you can create a customer base and, in the event of a debt, specify its amount for each and start sending messages. The program supports message delivery control. The text of the messages for each client is created based on a template, which can also be defined independently. Moreover, for sending messages, it does not matter where the Orlan-M (SMS) module is connected — on the main Orlan central monitoring station or directly on the computer with the Client-Info program.
In addition to manual entry of clients, the program supports integration with the widespread enterprise management system 1C™ version 7.7/8 — by importing clients and their debts.
It is important that in case of joint work of the Client-Info program and the Orlan central control station, a new unique opportunity appears – automatic execution of the function “Prohibition of arming”, which is supported by the Lun series control panels. This function allows, firstly, to stimulate timely payment for security services by clients.
The Phoenix-CPPS expansion kit is, in fact, a remote control to which the necessary events for selected objects are sent. Such a need arises when implementing fire protection, because at present the issue of informing the central fire communication console (CPCS) is acute. This remote control can also be used to inform large corporate clients, because with a certain number of objects, informing by sending SMS messages is no longer effective. Phoenix-CPCS allows you to see the situation at the objects in real time, archives all received messages, stores and displays access roads and graphic diagrams of objects. Editing the remote control database is carried out from the main CPCS by simply exporting data via e-mail.
It is no secret that one of the problems for any central security company is the optimization of engineers' work at the facilities. After all, when connecting new facilities, it is necessary to check the operability of the entire system, the operation of all alarm loops, the passage of all events to the central security station. As a rule, this is done by direct communication by phone with the operator. And where there is a phone, there is always a chance of error, besides, it is very distracting for central security station operators. An effective and reliable solution to these problems is the Phoenix-Technic PAC (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4. PAK «Phoenix-Technic»
It is designed to receive events during routine maintenance and repair work at the facility. All events received from the facility are automatically forwarded to the engineer (technician) servicing the facility. Received events are deciphered and saved in the Phoenix-Technician program database for further analysis. Phoenix-Technician software is designed to work with portable computers (laptops, netbooks), taking into account the specific features of their operation (sleep mode, battery discharge, etc.).
In short, using a whole range of successful solutions from the Security and Safety Group of Companies will allow you to reach a fundamentally new level of work, reduce enterprise costs, increase employee efficiency, and improve the level of service offered to end consumers.
You can always find more detailed information on the Security and Safety company website p-sec.eu, or by asking a question by e-mail klen@p-sec.eu or by phone at +38 (057) 714-91-33. In addition, you can call our technical support service at +38 (067) 546-0-556 or write a letter to support@p-sec.eu and ask any question you are interested in regarding the specifics of using devices, software, systems and ready-made solutions for the successful running of your business.