Critical asset monitoring with GSM intrusion alerts

Overview

Unattended assets such as telecom shelters, pump houses, solar plants, substations, warehouses, ATMs, DG sets, construction sites and remote machinery are frequent targets of theft and burglary. Losses are rarely limited to the stolen item: downtime, replacement lead time and compromised operations often cost far more.

The Connix Asset Monitor is a compact GSM unit that connects to any security sensor, raises a local alarm through its relay outputs and immediately notifies the owner by SMS and voice call. The owner can also switch the outputs on or off from anywhere by sending an SMS. No internet connection, local network or cloud subscription is needed.

The challenge

• Delayed response. Remote and unmanned sites have no one present to see or respond to an intrusion.
• Connectivity gaps. Wired alarm panels and IP cameras depend on local networks or internet, which are often missing or unreliable at remote sites.
• Local-only alarms. Conventional alarms sound locally but do not tell the owner, so the intruder leaves with the asset.
• Harsh conditions. Dust, heat, moisture, vibration and unstable power supplies disable ordinary electronics.
• Sensor lock-in. Most security systems are built around one sensor type and cannot take what the site already has.

The solution

The unit sits between the sensors installed at the site and the people responsible for it. When a connected sensor triggers, the unit activates its relay outputs to drive a hooter, buzzer or flash light, and sends alerts to the designated mobile numbers by SMS and voice call. Registered numbers can then send an SMS to operate the outputs remotely.

Key features

System block diagram

Figure 1 shows how the unit connects the site's sensors and deterrent devices to the GSM network and the registered mobile numbers.

Operating flow

Figure 2 shows how the unit behaves from power-up through detection, alarm and alerting. SMS commands from registered numbers are accepted at any time, independent of this cycle.

How it works

1. Start-up. On power-up the unit registers on the GSM network over 4G, falling back to 2G if 4G is unavailable.
2. Monitoring. DI1 and DI2 are continuously monitored for a trigger from the connected sensors.
3. Detection. When a sensor triggers, the unit treats it as an event and generates an alarm.
4. Local deterrence. Relay outputs R1 and R2 are switched to operate the hooter, buzzer, flash light or other connected device.
5. Remote alerting. SMS alerts and voice calls are sent to the designated numbers.
6. Remote control. A registered number can send an SMS to switch the outputs on or off, for example to silence the hooter after the site has been checked or to trigger it remotely.

Only registered numbers are accepted for output control, so unknown senders cannot operate the relays.

Typical applications

Benefits

• Faster response. Instant alert to the owner by SMS and voice call, wherever the owner is.
• Active deterrence. Local hooter and flash light can scare intruders away before the asset is lost.
• Sensor flexibility. Works with cameras, motion sensors, door sensors or any trigger-output sensor, so existing sensors can be reused.
• No internet needed. Works on the GSM network alone, with 2G fallback for weak coverage areas.

Technical summary

Specifications and features are subject to change without notice as the product is developed.