Alerting and warning system

An alerting and warning system for directing an alarm signal to a selectable class and number of radio receivers comprising:

• at least one facility to be monitored for the occurrence of an alarm condition;
• means for transmitting a notification signal indicating the occurrence of an alarm condition at a monitored facility;
• annunciators located at sites to be alerted to alarm conditions;
• radio receiving means associated with said annunciators and responsive to signals of a predetermined code from said means for transmitting to actuate their associated annunciators;
• dispatching means responsive to said notification signal indicating the occurrence of an alarm condition at a monitored facility for transmitting a first signal indicative of a class of receivers to be contacted;
• means for encoding and transmitting radio signals in response to said first signal, said radio signals being encoded to cause the receivers in the class indicated by said first signal to respond and actuate their associated annunciators;
• and
• means for auto dialing at said sites to be alerted, said means for auto dialing being responsive to actuation of said annunciators to send an acknowledgement signal;
• means for receiving said acknowledgement signal and controlling transmission of a repeat notification to those receiving means which failed to acknowledge receipt of said first signal.

A method of actuating alarm signals to alert a selectable class and number of radio receivers comprising the steps of:

• monitoring at least one facility to detect the occurrence of an alarm condition;
• transmitting a notification signal indicating the occurrence of an alarm condition at said monitored facility to a dispatching center;
• encoding information derived from said notification dependent upon characteristics of the occurrence to predetermine a class of potential alarm recipients to be alerted;
• transmitting radio signals containing said encoded information to cause similarly coded radio receivers at sites of said recipients to respond and actuate annunciators at said sites;
• and
• detecting at said sites the actuation of said annunciator and performing an auto dial function in response to said actuation to send an acknowledgement signal indication of said actuation.

A method of actuating alarm signals to alert a selectable class and number of radio receivers comprising the steps of:

• monitoring multiple facilities to detect the occurrence of an alarm condition;
• identifying the nature of an alarm condition occurring at one of said facilities;
• transmitting a notification signal indicating the occurrence of said alarm condition at said facility to a dispatching center;
• encoding information derived from said notification dependent upon the identity of the facility and the nature of the alarm condition to predetermine the class and number of potential alarm recipients to be alerted;
• transmitting radio signals containing said encoded information to cause similarly coded radio receivers at sites of said recipients to respond and actuate annunciators at said sites;
• and
• detecting at said sites the actuation of said annunciation means and performing an auto dial function in response to said actuation to send an acknowledgment of said actuation.