ASCOM ALARMLINK User manual

AlarmLink
FROM LOOMING DISASTER TO A MANAGEABLE
SITUATION  DIRECTLY, QUICKLY AND SAFELY

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From looming disaster to a
manageable situation: all authorities
involved in the alarm transmission
process can take advantage of the
combined alarm transmission platform
AlarmLink based on Ascom openTAS
to speed up the emergency response
steps for safeguarding life and limb.

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Advantages of the system for all participants:
Low costs
Scalable investment model “pay as you grow“
Variable service level agreements – SLAs (flexibility, scalability, QoS)
Simplified activation process by using standard networks and self-configuration
Value added services
Open concept for integrating any chosen device with different communication protocols
User portal in the web, event information, actor management, SLA administration
Open interface to the surrounding systems (e.g. ERP)
Security/availability
Platform supports the configuration of the communication equipment and monitors
disturbance free operations
Monitoring and display of system availability
Only participants which are authenticated (for example end-user-terminals) are allowed
to take part within the encoded data exchange.

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Advantages of the system for you as …
SERVICEPROVIDER
With AlarmLink you, as service Provider, are able to offer your customers even more
in the way of efficient services.
Thanks to the web-based platform you, as service Provider, are able to integrate all
business processes (commercial, technical, operational) for the organisations involved.
During the acquisition phase, the platform supports the determination of service levels and
contract data recording. The low initial costs, variety of value added services and security
of the platform are decisive sales arguments.
SYSTEM INTEGRATOR
As a system integrator you can capitalise on the system’s open design to integrate
AlarmLink into your existing third-party products without a problem and offer your custom-
ers an optimised security solution.
TELECOM COMPANY
As a telecom company you can offer AlarmLink as a supplementary service through
your infrastructure.

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Example of a GUI:
ALARM RECEIPT AND RESPONSE SERVICES
AlarmLink supports you in processing emergency calls and enables you to quickly
mobilise the appropriate response.
Thanks to integrated information flows devoid of media disruption your deployment
information is always up to date and the priority message processing facility helps you to
quickly come to the right decision. The video images of the incident in question
additionally provide support for assessing the situation. Depending on events, you summon
the assistance required, either manually or automatically. The incident being dealt with is
logged and comprehensive reporting created. Further useful functions include the ability to
query figures and status reports, alarm verification and filtering, plus the interface to
existing command centres.

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WHAT IS AlarmLink?
As a full service platform AlarmLink based on Ascom openTAS not only incorporates
all the functions of an emergency call centre and provides secure transmission, it also
supports all management duties for responding to and tracking and reporting the aftermath
of an alarm.
The alarm platform comprises 4 elements:
Service presentation level with different views and rights for the service providers or
their customers. The clients can be geographically distributed and connected via IP
networks.
IP-platform with applications, web and database servers that can also be configured
redundantly.
Network services for integrating the various types of subscriber terminals via different
communication networks.
Subscriber terminals communicate over different standard networks and form the
interfaces to the emergency management systems. The connections to the subscriber
terminals are monitored cyclically.

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Technology
AlarmLink service platform architecture comprises the network
services, application support and presentation manager
subsystems.
The Network Services embrace the adapter as network
interface, protocol interpretation mediation and MIT (Management
Information Tree) for management process mapping.
Application Support comprises the application-specific
components that run on an application server.
The Presentation Manager provides information to the logged
on clients and converts data received from application support in
the format required by the client.
Security
In order to be able to use public data networks such as the
internet for transmitting critical alarm messages, protection
measures are mandatory. On the basis of our comprehensive risk
analysis a security concept has been drawn up to provide
countermeasures for combating threats.
The measures implemented guarantee the integrity and
confidentiality of the data. Communication is safeguarded by the
use of the WTLS protocol (Wireless Transport Layer Security) based
on symmetrical 128-bit encryption. The WTLS protocol employs the
SHA-1 Hash algorithm and regularly changes the session key. HMAC
coding is used to guarantee message authenticity.
Standards
A redundant configured system environment facilitates
reliable operations and can be employed for all security classes. The
specified availability satisfies the highest requirements in terms of
the relevant standards.
Complies with EN 50136-1-1 D4, M4, T6, A4, S2a, 13 and prEN
50136-1-5.

AlarmLink
Ascom (Switzerland) Ltd. Ascom Group Ascom (Finland) Oy
Belpstrasse 37 Oak House Ensimmäinen Savu
CH-3000 Bern 14 Shackelford Road FIN-01510 Vantaa | Finland
T+ 41 31 999 21 11 UK-Elstead Surrey GU8 6LB T [phone]
F + 41 31 999 16 82 T + 44 1252 705 705 F [phone]
[email protected] F + 44 1732 448109 www.ascom.com
www.ascom.com [email protected]
www.ascom.com
07.2009 © Ascom (Switzerland) AG
“Leading service providers in Europe already employ AlarmLink successfully as a
service platform. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to know
more.”