Cloud Alarm Notification Delivery via Persistent Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing alarm notification systems require large-scale infrastructure and high costs due to the need for call centers to inform users of alarms, and they lack robust mechanisms to ensure that users receive and view critical alarms, especially in a timely and auditable manner.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based alarm notification system that uses a hosted platform to process and distribute alarms to users' devices, employing persistent connections, push notifications, SMS, and email to ensure delivery and includes a repeat timer and audit trail to confirm receipt and viewing of alarms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a call center based system is used to notify users of alarms, then users can be informed of alarms, but large scale infrastructure and high costs are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm notification reliabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to self-notify themselves of alarms through automated push notifications to their mobile devices, eliminating the need for call center operators to manually contact users. The mobile device receives direct notifications from the alarm system, allowing users to independently receive and respond to alarm alerts without human intermediary services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The notification function is extracted from the call center infrastructure and transferred to the user's mobile device. Instead of using a centralized call center to deliver notifications, the system extracts the notification delivery capability and places it directly on the user's personal device, thereby eliminating the need for large-scale call center infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional notification systems are used, then users can be contacted, but there is no robust mechanism to ensure users receive and view critical alarms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification delivery reliabilityVSAvoidconfirmation of alarm viewing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where users must actively acknowledge receipt of alarm notifications by pressing a button or interacting with the mobile device. This acknowledgment is transmitted back to the alarm system, providing confirmation that the user has received and viewed the critical alarm information. The feedback loop ensures reliable delivery and viewing confirmation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by sending the alarm notification to the user's mobile device before requiring acknowledgment. The notification is delivered in advance, and the system then waits for the user's confirmation action. This preliminary delivery followed by confirmation ensures that the alarm information reaches the user first, and then verification of viewing occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple notification channels are used to ensure delivery, then reliability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnotification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device serves multiple functions: it receives push notifications, provides acknowledgment capability, stores alarm information, and communicates with the alarm system. By making the mobile device universal and multi-functional, the system achieves reliable alarm delivery through a single device rather than requiring multiple separate notification channels and systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2959466B1Alarm notification system
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 VDT DIRECT
  • EP2959466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2959466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2959466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An alarm notification system comprising: a central server; the central server configured to monitor the status of one or more remote alarms, and in the event of the status of a first remote alarm changing, generating an alert to send to a first remote device; the central server further configured to determine if the first remote device is connected to the alarm notification system by a persistent connection, and in the event that the first remote device is connect via persistent connection sending an alarm notification message via the persistent connection; and in the event that the first remote device is not connected via a persistent connection sending an alarm notification message via a push notification service.