AtHoc IWSAlerts Unified Notification™Integration with Emergency Communication Systems:Outdoor Public Address, Giant Voice, and Aural Warning, Indoor PA, VOIP, IP Speakers, Paging

and Fire Panels, Mobile Radios, LMR, AM Radio Broadcast and EAS, LED Signs, TVs, Video

Distribution Systems, Strobe Lights, Alphanumeric Pagers, Weather Feeds, Sensor Switches,

Push-Buttons, CAP, IPAWS, EDIS, and more…

White Paper

AtHoc IWSAlerts™ is a commercial-off-the-shelf

(COTS) solution that transforms an organization’s

IP network into a comprehensive 2-way mass

notification and emergency communications

system. AtHoc IWSAlerts integrates with other

alerting channels such as Public Address, Giant

Voice outdoor sirens, fire panels, Land-Mobile

Radios, video distribution systems, telephony, on-

premises alphanumeric paging transmitters and

text-messaging systems, among other classic

EMNS tools.

The AtHoc solution provides a single, unified console

for managing, triggering, tracking, and controlling the

emergency notification process across all delivery

devices. This document details AtHoc IWSAlerts

activation and integration with indoor and outdoor

speaker and siren systems.

Introduction

2

White Paper

AtHoc IWSAlerts provides a Unified Notification™

management system, allowing operators to alert

personnel from a single web-based console,

including integration with and activation of local

speaker and siren systems.

Depending on the emergency mass communication

tool brand and model, the following capabilities may

be available:

1. Alert messages can be delivered using one

or more of the following:

a. Dynamic text display, text-to-speech

audio

b. Playing audio files from the

IWSAlerts library

c. Triggering system-generated tones

and system-stored recordings

2. Alert messages can be delivered to all

points in the system simultaneously, or to

specific zones or individual system points

3. Message activation can be tracked and

reported, including delivery errors

Other features and benefits:

• Single unified activation: AtHoc IWSAlerts

can activate the speaker/siren system

along with other devices as part of

the same alert, assisting in the streamlining

of operations and reduction in alert

activation time in emergency situations

• Simplified alert activation: Simplified

activation across communication systems

and delivery devices

• Consistent messaging: Operators can

choose to have each emergency alerting

device use the same message as other

alerting devices or have a separate message

as determined by the scenario or

permitted operator

• Remote web-enabled activation: Web-

enablement and remote activation of

speaker/siren systems, allowing sirens to be

activated from any network connected

computer, providing activation redundancy

• Scheduled automatic alerting: AtHoc

IWSAlerts supports scheduled automatic

siren activation; e.g. weekly test alert

• Permission-based activation: AtHoc

IWSAlerts permission management system

can limit device activation to only

authorized operators

The integration of AtHoc IWSAlerts with the siren

system will not interfere with the activation

of the system using your existing activation

console. You can still use the existing OEM device

activation procedures, as needed.

Solution Overview and Benefits

Integration Overview

3

White Paper

AtHoc uses common IP-based APIs to connect with

many networked devices. IWSAlerts can connect to

your mass communication system directly over the

IP network if your system:

1. supports the appropriate APIs (interface

requirements are available from AtHoc), and

2. is certified and connected to the IP network

AtHoc is working with many leading notification

device vendors to ensure that product integrations

are developed, tested, and certified.

Application Programming Interfaces (API)

AtHoc IWSAlerts supports both IP-based and non-IP based mass notification devices.

If your existing EMNS system is not IP-enabled,

AtHoc has developed an innovative technology:

the AtHoc IP Integration Module (IIM). The AtHoc

IIM allows legacy or traditional non-IP based

devices to be triggered via the AtHoc IWSAlerts

Unified Notification management web console.

The “IP-aware” IIM is connected to the organization’s

IP network. It interoperates with AtHoc IWSAlerts

using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to

communicate with the notification devices using

any of the following interfaces:

• Serial interface (USB, RS-232, RS-422,

or RS-485)

• Digital Inputs and Outputs, Relay

Dry Contacts

• Microphone or Line-level Analog Audio Out

• DTMF, FSK and other Audio

Encoding/Decoding

• Telephonic Modem

The IIM typically connects and activates an EMNS

Central Control Unit (CCU) using its native interfaces.

Two IIM boxes can be used, each interfacing to a

separate CCU, for live failover redundancy.

The AtHoc IP Integration Module is a fully

functional Intel® system configured to perform like

an appliance rather than as a PC or Server and

has no moving internal parts.

The IIM is accredited through DIACAP / DIARMF,

and NIST 800-53, and is on the DISA APL as part

of the AtHoc IWSAlerts™ product.

IIMs have been successfully deployed at many

customer locations, supporting integrations

with manufacturers such as American Signal,

ATI, Bogen, Cooper, Federal Signal, Monroe

Electronics, Motorola, Siemens, Simplex-Grinnell,

Whelen and many others.

AtHoc IP Integration Module (IIM)

Outdoor Public Address, Giant Voice and Aural Warning SystemsAtHoc IWSAlerts integrates with High Power

Siren Systems (HPSS), also known as Giant

Voice, Outdoor Public Address or Aural Warning

Systems, utilizing either a software API or IIM. The

IIM interfaces with various manufacturers’ Central

Control Units (CCUs) through several modalities,

dependent on the specific system.

Once integrated, operators can disseminate

emergency alerts to the siren system from the AtHoc

IWSAlerts management console. Alert messages

can be delivered using text-to-speech, audio files

from the IWSAlerts library, or system-generated

recordings or tones. The operator can target all

poles in the system simultaneously or by specific

areas or individual poles (poles and zones have to

be pre-defined in the GV system).

AtHoc supports integration to various HPSS

manufacturers, such as ADT, American Signal

Corporation (ASC), Acoustic Technologies, Inc. (ATI),

CentrAlert, Cooper Notification, Federal Signal, and

Whelen, among others.

4

White Paper

Supported Integrations

Features ADT American Signal ATI CentrAlertCooper WAVES

Federal Signal

Whelen

CCU ModelClear

WarningCSC-960 React4000 V4.7

WAVES 7.3.4

SS2000+E-969, E-2010

Requires IIM

Activate Pre-Defined Scenarios/Keys

Play WAV Files

Text-To-Speech

Zone/Pole Targeting - (Preconfigured)

Zone/Pole Targeting - (Dynamic)

Alert Scheduling

Allows Direct Activation from CCU

*For additional details on the above supported capabilities and limitations, or for a manufacturer that is not represented in this table, please consult with your AtHoc representative.

Indoor PA, VOIP, IP Speakers, Paging, and Fire PanelsAtHoc IWSAlerts integrates with Indoor Public Address

Systems (PA), Voice over IP (VoIP) Telephones and IP

Speakers, also known as Overhead Paging, Indoor

Voice or Little Voice, utilizing either a software API or

IIM. The IIM interfaces with various manufacturers’

PA Head-ends and Fire Panels through several

modalities, dependent on the specific system. VoIP

APIs can support handset visual displays as well as

audio broadcast through speakerphone.

Once integrated, operators can disseminate

emergency alerts to the PA, Fire Panel or VoIP

system from the AtHoc IWSAlerts management

console. Alert messages can be delivered using

text-to-speech, audio files from the IWSAlerts

library, or system-generated recordings or tones.

The operator can target all speakers in the system

simultaneously or by specific areas or individual end

points (end points and zones have to be pre-defined

in the PA system).

AtHoc supports integration to various PA, Fire

Panel and VoIP manufacturers*, such as Avaya,

Benbria, Bogen, Cisco, Honeywell, Siemens, and

SimplexGrinnell among others.

*For additional details on the supported capabilities and limitations of integration with a particular manufacturer, or for a manufacturer that is not represented in this list, please consult with your AtHoc representative.

Mobile Radios, LMR, AM Radio Broadcast and EASAtHoc IWSAlerts integrates with Land and

Marine Mobile Radios and Travelers’ Information

Station (TIS) / Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) AM

Transmitters, utilizing either a software API or IIM.

The IIM interfaces with various manufacturers’ CAD

Consoles, transmitters or an intermediary “donor”

radio through several modalities, including EAS FSK

or DTMF encoding and decoding, dependent on the

specific system.

Once integrated, operators can disseminate

emergency alerts to the radio broadcast system from

the AtHoc IWSAlerts management console. Alert

messages can be transmitted using text-to-speech

or audio files from the IWSAlerts library, can have

message pre- and post-tones and message looping.

AtHoc supports integration to various radio broadcast

equipment manufacturers*, such as BlackMax,

Harris, Information Station Specialists, Motorola and

TFT, among others.

LED Signs, TVs, Video Distribution Systems, Strobe Lights and Alphanumeric PagersAtHoc IWSAlerts integrates with Video Distribution

Systems, LED signs, TVs and Strobe Lights, utilizing

either a software API or IIM. The IIM interfaces with

various manufacturers’ visual devices using text

messages and text-based slides, dependent on the

specific system.

Once integrated, operators can disseminate

emergency alerts to the visual display devices

from the AtHoc IWSAlerts management console.

AtHoc supports integration to various visual alerting

equipment manufacturers*, such as AlertUs, Beta-

Brite, Monroe Electronics, Pro-Lite, and Zetron,

among others.

Weather Feeds, Weather Sensors, Push-Buttons, CAP GatewaysAtHoc IWSAlerts can receive data feeds and digital

activation signals, utilizing either a software API or

IIM. The IIM interfaces with various manufacturers’

equipment through several modalities, dependent on

the specific system.

Once integrated, feeds and digital signals can

automatically trigger pre-defined alerts in the AtHoc

IWSAlerts management console. Alert messages

can be delivered using any or all of the native

IWSAlerts devices as well as any or all of the Unified

Notification™ devices listed in this sheet with content

customized to the specific feed or activation signal.

AtHoc supports integration to various sensing

and activation devices, such as physical push-

buttons, explosive limit sensors, and weather

feeds such as Accuweather.

CAP and IPAWSAtHoc supports interoperability through the use of

the Organization for the Advancement of Structured

Information Standards (OASIS) Common Alerting

Protocol (CAP) and the US Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert

and Warning System (IPAWS) standards. AtHoc

integrates through software API natively to most

manufacturers’ equipment that use these standards.

And more…

5

White Paper

White Paper

BlackBerry is securing a connected world, delivering innovative

solutions across the entire mobile ecosystem and beyond. We

secure the world’s most sensitive data across all end points –

from cars to smartphones – making the mobile-first enterprise

vision a reality. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo,

Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe,

Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The

Company trades under the ticker symbols “BB” on the Toronto

Stock Exchange and “BBRY” on the NASDAQ. For more

information, visit www.blackberry.com.

About BlackBerry

© 2016 BlackBerry Limited. All rights reserved. Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY, EMBLEM Design, BBM and BES are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Content: 07/16 | Rev. 27JULY2016

In the chance that you have a device of a type not previously detailed, please consult with your

AtHoc representative. AtHoc’s dedicated engineering staff looks forward to adding alerting

modalities to our comprehensive list.

Sample IP Integration Module Block Diagram