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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION These and other aspects and objects are provided according to the invention in a communication path integrity supervision system in a network system for automatic alarm data communication.
In accordance with one format of the invention, the integrity supervision system comprises the following.
There is a "check-in message" receiving center which is provided with computer memory for storing check-in schedules.
There is a network of diverse communication paths linked to the center.
And there are also a plurality of remote, automatic alarm-data communicators that are communicative with the center over the diverse paths.
Each remote communicator is given means for generating and sending successive "next promised check-in" messages, on schedule as promised.
The center responds to the reception of each such message by updating the memory, scheduling or rescheduling the next promised check-in for that remote communicator.
The center is further configured with alerting means for alerting instances when any remote communicator fails to meet its scheduled or rescheduled next promised check-in.
These remote communicators are characteristic of a protected-premise alarm panel and are combined with circuitry including alarm-event sensors for generating data responsive to detection of alarm events.
Each remote communicator includes means for encoding the "next promised check-in" message with a time factor that corresponds to the timeliness of the reception due for the next promised check-in for that communicator.
Underlying the communication between the center and the remote communicators is a protocol shared by them as regards the time factor.
That is, the protocol recognizes both (i) a set of values signifying intervals of time as well as (ii) a null factor signifying that the sending communicator wishes to check or sign off from the system.
Hence the alerting means will no longer apply or act on failures to timely respond in reference to that particular communicator.
The alerting means responds to instances when any remote communicator fails to meet its scheduled or rescheduled next promised check-in, by producing an alert signal, which may be acted on by an attendant of the message receiving station The diverse communication paths can be alternatively any of the following:--eg