Uniguard Patrol Validation

System Setup
Button Matching
Reporting

The Uniguard system (www.uniguard.com.au) provides the patrolman with a hand-held baton, usually known as a 'wand' or 'probe', and radio frequency tags (RF tags, or 'buttons') which are attached to the customer premises. When visiting the premises the patrolman touches the wand to record the visit.

At the end of the run the patrolman downloads the wand by placing it in a cradle, and the button records are transported to Smart, either directly or by email, as verification that the patrolman has made their scheduled visits.

Entering button details in SMART

The buttons at the customer premises must be matched to the customer's details in SMART to allow reporting to take place (this is only required the first time the button is installed or scanned).

There are two methods of doing this:

1. Record the button details in Smart before installation (Location Details window, Guards tab).

  • For: Simplest approach, no data entry or matching required.
  • Against: Possible for the button to be installed at the wrong site. 

2. Record the time of button scan when first scanned and use the time to identify the button when the scan is received.

  • For: Likely to be the simplest, most accurate, and easiest approach.
  • Against: Requires patrolman or installer to record the time accurately. Still requires button matching (see below).

Button matching

Unless there is an email delay (or the interface has been setup with non-standard settings), button downloads are available in Smart within 60 seconds of download to the cradle.

When the button number has been previously matched or set up in Smart, site history and missed calls reports are immediately updated.

Button numbers which are not recognised may be matched in the 'Patrol Verification' window (\Operations \Patrols \Patrol Verification).

1. Select a device from the list of devices at top left

  • Devices only appear in this list if they have downloaded scans for buttons which are not recognised.
  • The date and time of the most recent scan is displayed in the list of devices.

2. Highlight the button you wish to match in the list of buttons. Find the matching site in the list below and press the F2 (Match) button at right. The button disappears from the list and all scans for that button have now been matched.

  • If the button download includes the site name you can automatch on site name. Check the Automatch box and specify the number of characters to match. As you highlight the button the closest match will be displayed.
  • Otherwise, enter the first few letters of the site code or site name in the box at right below the list of buttons. Matching sites will be displayed.
  • You can restrict the list of sites by entering a run number in the 'Locations on Run' box. Only sites which have permanent patrols on that run will be displayed.
  • Alternatively you can restrict the list of sites by checking the 'Permanent patrol locations' box. Only those sites which have a permanent patrol will be displayed. 

Button Matching

Recent Matches

This tab shows recently matched buttons so that you can correct your work if you made a mistake. The most recently matched buttons are at the top of the list (click the left-most scroll button at bottom right of the list to go to the top).

Right click a button to delete it from the location and make it unmatched again, or to select a different location for the button.

Missed Calls

This tab allows you to see scheduled patrol calls for a run (or control room / branch / operating unit) and the number of calls that have been made according to the button scans.

A 'call' is defined as one or more button scans within a half hour period, i.e. if several buttons are scanned (or the same button is scanned several times) within 30 minutes of the first scan, this is defined as a single call. (30 minutes is the default setting. Your system may be configured differently.)

For this view to be accurate, all buttons must have been matched.

To print or export the information displayed in this tab, click the Print/Export button.

See details of the scheduled permanent patrols for the location are displayed at lower right. 

Download History

This tab shows when downloads were received by your SMART system. A download occurs when a wand is placed in its cradle and the records in it are transferred to the SMART system by email or by direct copy to the designated directory (see System Setup).  The 'oldest scan' column shows the date and time of the first scan by the wand in this download.

To view downloads by run, most of the buttons in the download must have been matched. SMART determines which run the download came from by looking at the designated run for the patrol sites which have been scanned. If some buttons have not been matched there might not be enough information for SMART to work this out. Press the Check Runs button at right to ensure that run matching is up to date.

Reporting

Incomplete

System Setup

How it works

  • The patrolman scans buttons at the customer site by touching them with the wand.
  • The wand is downloaded by placing it in a cradle which is attached to a PC running the Uniguard software.
  • The Uniguard software encrypts this information and places it in a directory on the SMART server (either directly or via email).
  • The Uniguard/Smart interface on the SMART server automatically decrypts the information and imports it into SMART.
  • SMART matches the button information to the patrol schedule, providing an audit trail and reporting on missed calls.

What you require

From Uniguard (www.uniguard.com.au)

  • Patrol wands and buttons
  • The basic version of the Uniguard software

From Skorpion (www.skorpion.com.au)

  • An enabling code for the Uniguard/Smart interface

From your ISP or system administrator

  • An email address to be used to receive the Uniguard downloads. This is not required if the Uniguard software will be installed on the same network or server as your SMART system.

Setting up

Your Uniguard interface can be installed and configured by SMART support, usually at no extra charge. If you wish to do your own setup, follow these steps:

1. Create an email address, if required. (This is only necessary if wands are downloaded to a PC which is not part of the SMART network.)

2. Install the SMART/Uniguard interface.

  • This is an option in your standard SMART installation or upgrade package - just tick the appropriate box when running the SMART installer.
  • You would normally install this on your SMART database server for maximum reliability and performance. (Once installed, operator access is not required.) However, it can also be installed on any PC on the same network as your SMART server.
  • To configure the interface, start the interface (smu.exe) from Windows Explorer or the command prompt, and go to the Setup tab.
    • Import folder: Any Uniguard download files placed in this folder will be decrypted and read. Any other files placed in this folder will be deleted. Files received by email are automatically placed in this folder.
    • Keep import files: Files which have been processed will be placed in a Processed folder in the Import folder. This allows you to confirm that files have been received and processed, and you can re-process the files by moving them back to the Import folder. You should turn this option off after initial configuration and testing, to avoid storing large numbers of files.
    • Log errors only: If this box is not checked, each incoming file will create an entry in the 'Progress' tab. If it is checked, only errors will appear in the log.
    • Server: Email server, e.g. mail.yourdomain.com.au
    • User: The login name required by your email server. This is usually the full email address which you created for Uniguard use.
    • Password: The password for the email account.
    • Use SSL: Use encrypted email. Do not check this box unless instructed by your system administrator or ISP.
    • Port: Default 110. Do not change unless instructed by your system administrator or ISP.
    • Check Mail Every: Interval between mail check and/or import file processing (default 30 secs). Choosing a shorter interval will make downloads more quickly available in SMART but may impose a greater load on your SMART system or email server.
    • Max Mails: The maximum number of emails to download in one pass. This is usually not relevant unless you are starting or restarting the interface after a long period of downtime.
  • Once the interface has been configured and you have successfully downloaded wand data and imported it into SMART, set the interface to run as a service. This means that it will start automatically when the PC or server is restarted, without the requirement for an operator to log in. To run as a service
    • Close the interface (smu.exe).
    • Restart the interface from the command line with the parameter as shown:
      • c:\smart4\smu.exe /iss
    • Should you wish to remove the service:
      • c:\smart4\smu.exe /rs

3. Configure the Uniguard software

  • If the Uniguard software is running on your SMART network, configure the export directory to match the Import folder set up in the Smart interface (above).
  • Otherwise, configure export to be sent to the email address set up for this purpose (above).
  • Important: Make sure your Uniguard system sends files in the .export format and not the default .import format.
  • For other settings, please consult Uniguard documentation.

 

© Skorpion Pty Ltd 2009