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

A method of communication path integrity supervision for a system of automatic alarm data communication of the type having a communications network, a plurality of automatic alarm data transmitters on the network for transmitting alarm messages including check-in messages, at least one receiver on the network for receiving the message traffic of the transmitters, a check-in protocol shared by the receiver and transmitters which establishes a time interval for the scheduling of each next-due check-in message, wherein said receiver is provided with a computer-implemented process for organizing the check-in message traffic from the transmitters in an appointment schedule by:

• for each received check-in message, scheduling or rescheduling an appointment in the appointment schedule for this transmitting transmitter for a next-due check-in based upon the check-in protocol's time interval;
• and
• monitoring the appointment schedule for any occurrence of an unmet appointment, which signifies problems with integrity;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• providing any transmitter participating in said method with a process for self-empowering the transmitter to periodically test its ability to establish communication with the receiver by:
• generating a check-in message;
• transmitting such check-in message over the network;
• and,
• before expiration of a next-due check-in message as determined according to the check-in protocol's time interval, returning to the above step of generating a message, hence generating a succeeding check-in message;
• and thereby the receiver may correspond the occurrence of any unmet appointment with problems with integrity;
• whereby said method liberates the receiver from having to poll the participating transmitters by address for response in order to test each's ability to get through with communications.

A method of communication path integrity supervision for a system of automatic alarm data communication of the type having a communications network, a plurality of automatic alarm data transmitters on the network for transmitting alarm messages including check-in messages, at least one receiver on the network for receiving the message traffic of the transmitters, a check-in protocol shared by the receiver and transmitters which establishes a time interval for the scheduling of each next-due check-in message, wherein any transmitter participating in said method is provided with a process for self-empowering the transmitter to periodically test its ability to establish communication with the receiver by:

• generating a check-in message;
• transmitting such check-in message over the network;
• and,
• before expiration of a next-due check-in message as determined according to the check-in protocol's time interval, returning to the above step of generating a message, hence generating a succeeding check-in message;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• providing the receiver with a computer-implemented process for organizing the check-in message traffic from the transmitters in an appointment schedule by:
• for each received check-in message, scheduling or rescheduling an appointment in the appointment schedule for this transmitting transmitter for a next-due check-in based upon the check-in protocol's time interval;
• and
• monitoring the appointment schedule for any occurrence of an unmet appointment, which signifies problems with integrity, whereby the receiver may correspond the occurrence of any unmet appointment with problems with integrity;
• and
• whereby said method liberates the receiver from having to poll the participating transmitters by address for response in order to test each's ability to get through with communications.