Most monitoring formats currently used in the security industry can be broken into a common form of a three or four alphanumeric client code, a type (or event) along with an optional zone or user code. In order that the system can employ a generic database to cater for all formats in a consistent manner the Patriot Alarm Monitoring Automation package takes these common elements and performs a conversion function ensuring all signals comply with its simple but comprehensive form.
The Patriot generic format comprises of a alphanumeric client code (1-16 in length), followed by a type or event code between 0 and 65000, followed by either a zone or user code between 0 and 65000. This implies a single client can have up to 65000 types or events, 65000 zones and 65000 users. If the type is a closing (set) or an opening (unset) the second code is taken to be a user code, else it is taken to be a zone.
To ensure additions and amendments to signal types, zones and users in the client database are correctly made; the system manager must have a sound understanding how the conversion function acts on each signal format.
Outlined below is a brief description of how each of the most common type of signals is transformed. It should be pointed out that all types and zones are converted to a decimal format even though they may arrive from the receiver in hexadecimal.
Ademco Fast and Ademco High Speed Expanded
Also see Format Interpreters.