WaveWare API-8 Alarm Monitoring - Manual (Page 11)

RS-232 Input Port
API-8/232 is equipped with an RS232 interface port to monitor an ASCII data string generated
by a host system (Fire Panel, Card Access System, Building Management Control System etc..).
The interface is designed to connect to a serial printer port and events that are directed to the port
will be paged to a user definable alphanumeric pager or group of pagers.
API-8/232 can be configured to send all data that appears on the host system serial port.
Alternately, the user can define, via the use of keywords or phrases that appear in the event
strings, the type of events that are to be paged and those to be ignored and discarded.
Keyword Strings
Keyword Strings are used to identify events generated by the host system that are to be
processed and paged. API-8/232 can identify eight separate event types by identifying one or
two Key Strings that are present in the text strings created by the host system. Any event string
that is generated by the host system is compared to the user defined Keyword Strings. If the Key
Strings that are programmed appear in the event string, that event string is paged. Key String
searches are case sensitive (case must match). If two Key Strings are used to identify a specific
type of event, both preprogrammed Key Strings must be found in order for the event to be paged.
If a Key String does not appear anywhere in an event string, that event is discarded and is not
paged.
Each event type defined via the use of keyword strings can be directed to a different pager or
group of pagers. For example all events that contain the Keyword String “Alarm” can be paged
to security and all events that contain the Keyword String “System Trouble” can be paged to
maintenance personnel.
Message Packing
API-8/232 can be user configured to ignore more than 2 consecutive spaces in a data string.
Where there are large gaps in an ASCII event string due to the existence of consecutive spaces,
excess spaces will be removed by the interface, paging only the important event text. This
feature will ensure that event strings appear on the pager(s) in an easy to read format.
Character Masks
In addition, up to 20 characters may be "masked" so that they will be discarded from any data
string that is received by API-8/232. This allows for the elimination of characters that are
intended to serve a purpose on an event printer (ie. divide rows of printed text) but only serve to
clutter messages received on the pager(s).
Communication Parameters
RS232 Input communications parameters are user selectable to match the port settings of the
host system.
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Message Handling