With the rapid expansion of the cellular networks and their evolution towards more open standard Internet Protocol (IP)-based technologies, it is little wonder that the nature and scope of modern telemetry applications can become daunting for some. Communication costs (although still comparatively high by international standards) have also come down dramatically in recent years making the previously unaffordable application now commercially viable.
The latest addition to the ever expanding portfolio of wireless subscribers is the common fridge. Beyond Wireless, a South African-based company that specialises in the field of providing GSM-based wireless machine-to-machine (m2m) communication solutions, and which, according to CEO, Ian Lester, is a 'cellular service provider to machines' has developed and deployed a GPRS solution for the remote monitoring of cold storage equipment and temperature controlled environments on an industrial, commercial and even consumer scale.
The solution which Beyond have called 'FridgeFone' harnesses the reach of GSM communication, the power of the Internet and the pervasiveness of the mobile phone to provide owners and operators of cold storage equipment with a cost-effective, stable and secure method of wirelessly and remotely monitoring temperature and power.
FridgeFone wirelessly monitors temperature on up to three different temperature probes (which can be placed in three different cold storage or temperature controlled environments) and transmits detailed temperature statistics every 10 minutes over the cellular network to a secure website on which users are able to see live and historical temperature reports and graphs.
FridgeFone also monitors the refrigerator's power supply and in the event of a power failure it will instantaneously send a series of alerts to predefined person/s via SMS and or e-mail. In the event that the temperature goes outside of a predetermined min/max range, then FridgeFone will again instantaneously send an alert to a predefined person/s via SMS and/or e-mail.
Recipients of the alerts can be requested to acknowledge receipt of the alarm by means of a return SMS using an alarm specific acknowledgment code. FridgeFone can also intelligently escalate the alert to up to three consecutive people should the alert not be cleared (ie, power is not restored or temperature remains outside of the predefined range for a predetermined time) or if the preceding alert recipient/s fail to acknowledge the alert. System features include:
* Wireless realtime temperature and power monitoring and logging over the GSM network (no need for cable reticulations and no dependency on fixed line communications).
* Independent battery backup for continued monitoring even after the main power supply has failed.
* Fully hosted and managed username and password protected website for the viewing and downloading of historical temperature data from anywhere in the world.
* No dependency on proprietary vendor/contractor specific software (all you need is an Internet connection and a cellular phone).
* Automated alarms sent via SMS and/or e-mail in the event of either a power failure and/or temperature being out of range.
* Automated alarm escalation to up to three different recipients if an alarm condition is not cleared within a predetermined time.
* Automated alarm acknowledgement via SMS from technicians required to respond to equipment failures.
* Automated acknowledgement escalation if a technician does NOT acknowledge receipt of alarms.
* Alarm audit trail reports.
* User specific access rights.
* Easy 15 minute installation.
Users of this technology typically include the food, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) which owns and operates a sizable cold storage asset base has recently commenced deployment of the solution which it chose for its comprehensive functionality, ease of use, speed of deployment and general affordability.
For more information contact Ian Lester, Beyond Wireless, 083 222 2298, [email protected], www.beyondwireless.co.za
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