Message Paging Task

The FactoryLink Message Paging task allows the user to configure a system capable of sending messages to alpha-numeric pagers and awaiting the acknowledgement of the messages' reception. The task monitors user-defined tags and conditions to determine when to initiate message transfers. A message transfer consists of the task constructing the message to be sent, dialing a paging system provider and depositing the constructed message in a specified account to be delivered to the alpha-numeric pager of the designated person.

The pager service provider must support the Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP). TAP is the industrial standard protocol for the input of paging requests. The task places calls to the provider through the use of a Hayes Smartmodem or compatible telephone modem. Once a message has been deposited at the pager system provider, it is time-stamped and queued for acknowledgement.

The queued outstanding message must be acknowledged within a configurable time period to prevent the same message from being resent to another pager or personnel. The Message Paging task provides means to acknowledge these outstanding messages by either automatic, tag input, call-in or a combination of tag input and call-in functionality. With automatic acknowledgement, after the message has been successfully deposited within a personnel's account at the pager system provider, the task considers the message acknowledged.

For call-in message acknowledgement operations, the task uses a Rhetorex RSDP 400 or 9400 Series computer telephony voice board. This board can detect and answer in-coming calls, play prerecorded voice files to prompt the caller to enter the necessary information to acknowledge any outstanding pager message and accept the caller input via touch-tone key depressions. The third choice of acknowledgement allows a real-time database element to be designated to accept input through the keyboard/mouse, FLLAN, Web-client or via an external device (ie PLC) data read.

The FactoryLink Message Paging taskis responsible for the following data transactions:

• Detecting a condition to send a message.
• Constructing and sending the message to an individual's pager account.
• Resending the message to another individual's pager account if the message is not acknowledged.
• Handling message acknowledgement through automatic, call-in, tag input or combination of the last two.
• Loading a new list of personnel to page.
• Message acknowledgement information posting to real-time database elements.
• Announcing any error that may occur for the above two transactions.

The FactoryLink Message Paging taskprovides the following configuration tables:

• Send Message List for specifying the real-time database elements to be monitored and to indicate the status of the sent message, criteria for sending the message, the message string and any associated auxiliary real-time database elements use to format the message and the ID number used for acknowledgement of the message.
• Call List to configure the personnel names, personnel ID numbers (PIN), pager system account IDs and which pager system to call and deposit the message to page the personnel.
• Pager Modem Setup for specifying the telephone modem's control and communication parameters and the telephone number of each pager system.
• Message Acknowledgement Setup to configure the type of message acknowledgement and the associated parameters for the acknowledgement type.
• Task Information for specifying real-time database elements to report any task error and message acknowledgement information.

Specifications

• FactoryLink System: Windows NTI and Windows 95
• Pager System Provider Protocol Supported: Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP)
• Max. Number of Pager System Providers Supported: Limited only by available memory
• Max. Number of Personnel Pager Accounts Supported: Limited by Pager System or by available memory
• Max. Number of Definable Tags per Read/Write Table: Limited only by available memory
• Pager Modem Support: One (1) Hayes Smartmodem or compatible 9600 or faster baud rate
• Message Sending Criteria: Change only, greater than, less than, equal and a combination of the last three
• Message Formatting: Static and/or variable formatting using up to 4 auxiliary real-time database elements
• Message Acknowledgement Types: Automatic, Tag Input, Call-in or combination of Tag Input and Call-in
• Computer Telephony Voice Board Supported: Rhetorex RSDP 400 or 9400 Series (optional usage)
• FactoryLink Data Types Supported: Digital, Analog, Float, Long Analog and Message
• Message Acknowledgement Information Posting to Real-Time Database Elements
• Task Error Code and Message announcing via Real-Time Database Elements

Required Hardware

One (1) Hayes Smartmodem or compatible telephone modem for pager system provider dial up operations.
One (1) Rhetorex RSDP 400/9400 Series telephony voice board and device driver (Required only for Call-in Message Acknowledgement Usage).

Ordering Information for Message Paging Task

Part No: FLK-MSPGxxx
(Note: Replace "xxx" with the appropriate platform preface). Software package includes 3-1/2" diskette and User's manual.

Pricing (U.S.Dollars): List: $850.00 (PC Platforms)

PRICE EFFECTIVE 08/01/00

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Rev. 09/01/07