Alerting: and the future
Hybralert – Swissphone’s hybrid alerting system
Alerts indicate an emergency situation and have to be distributed fast and safe. The previous paragraph explained why it is recommended to use local- and end-independent alerting networks like the POCSAG network. It transmits alerts which can be received by all pagers in its surroundings.
Increasing reception possibility
Hybrid alerting is intended to establish safer message delivery and to close reception gaps. It supplements and combines existing alerting systems with additional transmitting technologies. The alerting distribution increases the reception possibility in areas with poor or problematic network coverage.
In the past, alerts were transmitted via sirens or landline telephones. The latter are stationary and do not meet today’s mobility demands. The GSM network is suitable to be combined with a paging network to build up a hybrid alerting solution because of its pervasive nature. Paging can use GSM either as a fall back or for simultaneous alerting. Alerts have to be transmitted primarily via a paging network which offers a higher transmission safety due to its end-independency. Zurich’s insurance company “Gebäudeversicherung Zurich” GVZ, for example, uses two separate paging networks in addition to GSM: their own, private SIKAN and the national TPS network.
Multiple technologies in a single unit
The safe reception of alerts via various networks and technologies in one single unit requires sophisticated solutions. Regardless of the technical complexities, users should be able to use the terminal with ease.
Swissphone developed hybrid alerting with the following in mind:
• Different reception technologies
• influence each other
• The battery life of a GSM operated
• device is shorter
• SMS messages require cost control
• Redundant messages must be • suppressed
