The Alarm Solution for Cruise Ships

Callisto Cruise Alarming for Cisco UCC Solutions: Reliable Alarming on Cruise Ships

Cruise Alarming – Integrated Alarming on Cruise Ships

Reliable alarming on a ship is essential. The Callisto Cruise Alarming module processes alarms from various sources (ESPA 4.4.4 via COM ports, ESPA-X clients, Cisco Phones, via the web GUI (manually), REST web services, Safety Monitoring, and Control System (SMCS)) and sends these alarms as push messages to configured groups of phones. A wide variety of alarms on the ship can be distributed with Callisto Cruise, such as elevator, SPA, or fire alarms. Callisto Cruise Alarming is also available as a mobile application.

Cruise Alarming

Secure alerting through a wide range of sources

  • Overview
  • Features
  • Services
  • References

Highlights

Diverse Alarm Sources

Cruise Alarming processes alarms from a wide variety of sources such as ESPA 4.4.4 via COM ports, ESPA-X clients, Cisco Phones, via web GUI (manually), REST web services, and the Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS).

System Alarms

Any system that supports ESPA or REST protocols, such as elevators, SPA alarms, nurse calls, etc., can be easily integrated as an alarm generator/transmitter.

Reliable Notification

All alarm group participants reliably receive the alarms as messages and defined ring tones on the Cruise Alarming Mobile App or (XML-enabled Cisco) phones.

Alarm Groups

Individual alarm groups can be defined for each particular alarm, and the respective subscribers can be alerted with the message on the corresponding terminal.

Smartphone App

The smartphone app Cruise Alarming Mobile was designed and developed for the safe and clear reception of alarm messages on board the ships.

SMCS Integration

The Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS) can transfer an alarm for further processing through a defined Cruise Alarming interface.

Exact Reporting

Each alarm is recorded separately as an active alarm, as well as a processed or deleted alarm, and can be searched for using flexible search criteria.

All Features in Detail

Features from A–Z Description
Alarm button Alarm buttons are typically connected to Cruise Alarming via ESPA interface (4.4.4 or X) and distributed via alarm group message and defined ringtone.
Alarm distribution The alarm distribution takes place in the impact procedure. In addition, repetitions can be configured.
Alarm receiver Text messages and definable ringtones to (XML-enabled) Cisco phones and smartphones, pre-recorded voice messages/announcements are supported as recipient types.
Alarm triggers / sources Cruise Alarming processes alarms from a wide variety of sources such as ESPA 4.4.4 via COM ports, ESPA-X clients, Cisco Phones, via the web GUI (manually), REST web services, and through the Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS).
Alarm types Be it alarms for information, action or for monitoring, alarm buttons, fire alarms, elevator alarms, SPA alarms, nurse call alarms, etc., to individuals or groups, for every use case Cruise Alarming has a solution.
Cisco Phone Services The alarm can be triggered by a phone button using Cisco Phone Services and distributed via alarm group message and defined ringtone.
Configuration The detailed configuration of the Cruise Alarming module is done with administrator rights via the Callisto web interface.
Deployment The Cruise Alarming module is licensed as an optional module and uploaded to the Callisto platform with the Cruise package during the initial installation. Prepared as an appliance image (OVA), the Callisto system can be installed on any virtual machine or physical server.
Elevator alarms Elevator alarms are typically connected to Cruise Alarming via ESPA interface (4.4.4 or X) and distributed through alarm group messages and defined ringtones.
ESPA-Protocol Cruise Alarming processes alarms from ESPA 4.4.4 sources via COM ports or ESPA-X clients.
Fire alarms Fire alarms are typically connected to Cruise Alarming via ESPA interface (4.4.4 or X) and distributed via alarm group message and defined ringtone. The Cruise Alarming Call2SMCS module allows the SMCS to send special events (e.g., fire alarm calls) via ESPA or proprietary protocols, and Callisto calls the alarm recipients and plays a pre-recorded message (e.g., fire warning).
Global number plan (E.164 support) E.164 numbers supported
green-IT Lowest resource requirements in the industry with the highest performance: 2 to 8 CPUs, 2 to 6 GB RAM, 80 GB HD, up to max. 1’000 parallel calls per image.
High Availability Yes
Mobile phones The Callisto Cruise Alarming mobile smartphone application extends the functionality of Module Cruise Alarming by providing secure, unique alarm reception and a clear alarm history for alarm participants. Currently, Android smartphones are supported, iOS on request.
Nurse call alarms Nurse call alarms are typically connected to Cruise Alarming via ESPA interface (4.4.4 or X) and distributed through alarm group messages and defined ringtones.
Provisioning Manually or automatically from Cisco UCM through AXL or Microsoft AD, LDAP/OpenLDAP system, and CSV files. Web services (REST) supported.
Reliability Apart from the stability of the Callisto, the Callisto system can be designed to be highly available.
Reporting Each alarm is recorded separately in Cruise Alarming, as an active alarm, and as a processed or deleted alarm and can be searched using flexible search criteria.
REST interface Cruise Alarming also processes alarms via REST web services.
Scalability Up to 960 parallel calls on one Callisto appliance. Additional instances supported. Unlimited number of alarm sources or alarm participants. Parallel alarms depend on the number of available lines at the alarm time.
Security https, SIPS, Passwort- und PIN-Sicherheit, Appliance-Sicherheit, integrierte Firewall
Smartphone support The Cruise Alarming mobile app for securely receiving text alerts runs on Android smartphones. An iOS app for Apple smartphones is available on request.
Smartphones The Callisto Cruise Alarming mobile application extends the functionality of Module Cruise Alarming by providing secure, unique alarm reception and a clear alarm history for alarm participants. Currently, Android smartphones are supported, iOS on request.
SMCS alarms The Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS) can transfer an alarm to Cruise Alarming for further processing by a defined interface. In the event of an alarm, these are distributed as predefined announcements by Cruise Alarming to the corresponding alarm groups.
With the Cruise Alarming SMCS module, alarm calls are also passed to the SMCS via Callisto. In addition, module Cruise Alarming Call2SMCS allows SMCS to send special events (e.g., fire alarm calls) via ESPA or proprietary protocols, and Callisto calls the alarm recipients and plays a pre-recorded message (e.g., fire warning).
SPA alarms SPA alarms are typically connected to Cruise Alarming via ESPA interface (4.4.4 or X) and distributed via alarm group message and defined ringtone.
Supported phones as alarm receivers Cruise Alarming primarily supports all (XML-enabled) Cisco phones and smartphones with the Cruise Alarming Mobile app for text alerts, or any alternative phone in the UCM environment for receiving SMCS announcements, depending on the use case.
Supported phones as alarm triggers Alarm triggers can be any Cisco phone supported by Cisco Phone Service.
Text messages/alarms Cruise Alarming supports Cisco Phone XML push messages to Cisco phones or via Cruise Alarming mobile app smartphones for text alerting.
Voice Protocols and Codecs Both codecs are supported based on the SIP protocol, G.711 and G.729.
Web-GUI The Callisto web GUI is not only used for alarm configuration and alarm overview but also for manual triggering of alarms.

We Support You in Every Situation

Sales Support

We support you in every step of the resale cycle. Depending on your Partner level, we will guide you through the sales process with your customer.

Installation and Configuration Support

We support you during the installation, configuration, and roll-out process for on-prem, managed service, or cloud projects. A satisfied partner and customer is our daily goal.

Operation and Maintenance Support

We pay attention to the highest quality and stability in each phase of our product development process. Our dedicated support team is immediately available according to defined SLA times if any incident still occurs. More…

Training

We train and support our partners and their customers to learn how to correctly install, manage and use our Callisto products. More…

Tailored Developments

Thanks to the unique Callisto “Open Applications Management” concept, partners and their customers can add customized and tailored applications to the system anytime during runtime with no service interruption. More…

Consulting

Our long-lasting expertise in UCC services and comprehensive industry know-how lead CTModule to deliver the best-in-class consultancy for your projects. More…

You Can Expect Only the Best – Because Quality Matters

Compatible

The Callisto appliance solution has been successfully tested and certified with Cisco UCM V12.5. In addition to that, the Callisto platform is compatible with all popular Cisco PBX systems (UCM, UCME, BE6k/7k, HCS, Webex).

Preferred Solution Partner

CTModule has been working with Cisco Systems since 2004 and is now one of the selected manufacturers worldwide with the Cisco Preferred Solution Partner status.

Swiss Made Software

Since 2007, the “swiss made software” label stands for Swiss values such as quality, reliability and precision - especially in software development. CTModule is one of the first members of this quality label.

Callisto Cruise Alarming – Your best Choice

Versatility

Callisto Cruise Alarming forms the basis for a wide range of applications for reliable alarm distribution with many different alarm sources. One system for all use cases saves massively on operating costs.

Simplicity

Callisto Cruise Alarming is not only very easy to add new alarm sources but also offers simplicity in configuration, operation, and maintenance, enabling a low TCO in the product life cycle.

Unified

Callisto Cruise Alarming guarantees the “unified” approach with other Callisto modules. This creates the advantage of simple, time and cost-saving workflow processes for alerting.

Wide Range of Applications

There are countless alarm sources on a cruise ship that need to be distributed to alarm groups through the most diverse protocols and connectors. The Cruise Alarming module receives alarms from various alarm sources and reliably distributes them to the alarm receivers of the defined alarm groups. Cruise Alarming supports the following alarm sources:

  • Sources like ESPA 4.4.4 via COM ports
  • ESPA-X clients
  • Cisco Phones
  • Web GUI (manual)
  • REST web services and
  • Safety Monitoring and Control Systems (SMCS)

Contact us if you want to connect additional alarm sources.

Automated System Alarms

Various systems on board must be able to send an alarm automatically or at the push of a button. Cruise Alarm supports the process-related integration of automatic or manual alarm transmitters of systems through the comprehensive connection and configuration options. Systems like:

  • Elevator alarms
  • SPA alarms (help button, sauna alarms, etc.)
  • Nurse call systems
  • Fire alarms (fire alarm, fire alarm system, etc.)
  • System or other alarms on the bridge or in the engine room
  • etc.

There is no system whose alarms could not be distributed by Cruise Alarming.

Reliable Alerts and Information

With Callisto, the alarm group participants on the ship are reliably alerted through various alarm sources with text messages and alarm-specific ring tones. The respective alarms and information are transmitted accurately to the Cruise Alarming Mobile App as well as to XML-enabled Cisco phones.

Alarms received from the Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS) are delivered to alarm group subscribers as alarm-specific pre-recorded announcements on all phones in the Cisco PBX environment.

Act in the Right Team

If an alarm sounds on a cruise ship, regardless of the alarm source, it is essential that the right teams and experts must be on the spot to react immediately. In Cruise Alarming, these alarm teams (alarm groups) can be defined for each particular alarm. Alarm participants can, therefore, also be in different alarm groups at the same time. Divers ring tones can be assigned for immediate acoustic differentiation of the individual alarms. The responsible person can decide whether the alarm participants are then alerted through the Cisco phones or the smartphones.

Be Mobile with Your Smartphone

Many alarm participants on a cruise ship are constantly on the move. Therefore, it is essential that they can be reached anywhere. Cruise Alarming Mobile allows mobile alarm participants to receive alarms reliably on their smartphones. The alarms are notified differently depending on the defined ring tone and can be viewed at any time in the alarm group display. The alarms are stored with a timestamp, alarm information text, and the number of read/unread alarms. If configured, the alarms can even break through settings such as “silent,” “vibration,” or “do not disturb” with defined volume.

Using the Mobile Device Management (MDM) system, the Cruise Alarming Mobile App can be easily distributed to the appropriate smartphones with the correct configuration.

SMCS – The Alarm Monitoring Center

The Safety Monitoring and Control System (SMCS) is the most important alarm system on board a ship. It interfaces with all safety systems on board and coordinates their activities. The connection and interaction between the SMCS and Callisto are therefore vital. The SMSC provides Cruise Alarming with the alarm ID of the alarm to be executed, as well as the call number (static or detected from an SMCS text message) and the corresponding ID of the SMCS alarm announcement, whereupon Cruise Alarming calls the corresponding call number and plays the defined alarm announcement.

Example: Fire alarms triggered by a fire detector in a sector or a cabin. Cruise Alarming calls the corresponding cabin, and the guests are informed with an announcement that they must leave the cabin immediately due to a fire alarm.

Alarm Overview

It is crucial to have an overview even after an alarm has occurred. Therefore, in Cruise Alarming, all active alarms and all processed or deleted alarms can be found in two separate tabs. This allows precise searching and tracking of active and processed alarms with the corresponding detailed information.

Technology that inspires

  • Architecture
  • Requirements
  • Compatibility

Callisto architecture – The new simplicity

The Callisto platform provides the following features (without Modules and Applications):

  • all interfaces to the Cisco telephony infrastructure, provisioning (e.g., Kurmi), and 3rd party systems (e.g. (S)PMS, CRM, alarm systems, etc.)
  • Base infrastructure for import, configuration, and administration of modules, collections, and applications
  • Platform management for security, back-up/restore, update/upgrade process, licensing, log and troubleshooting capabilities
  • Dashboard and reporting
  • Single Sign-On (SSO) support
  • User and administrator management, rights management.

After licensing, modules, collections, or customized applications can be uploaded to the Callisto platform and configured in a simple and flexible way.
Callisto, with its available modules and applications, supports the following end devices and clients (depending on the use case):

  • Callisto web and telephone interface
  • Cisco endpoints (XML-enabled with push message support)
  • Cisco Jabber client with Callisto Gadgets (tabs)
  • Cisco Webex App
  • PC with Callisto operator solution and Callisto Gadgets
  • SmartPhones (iOS/Android) with Callisto Gadgets and native applications
  • Tablets (iOS/Android) with Callisto Gadgets and native applications
  • Legacy phones, DECT phones, WLAN phones according to manuals.

The Cisco PBX infrastructure (BExk, UCM, HCS) is connected to the Callisto platform via SIP trunk, AXL, and JTAPI (for COC switch solution) or SFTP (for CDRs).
Further Callisto interfaces are:

  • SIP, Secure SIP (UDP, TCP, TLS)
  • RTP, SRTP, T.38/G.711 (Softfax)
  • Cisco AXL
  • IP Socket connection
  • HTTP(S), (S)FTP
  • (S)LDAP (authentication, phone book)
  • ESPA 4.4.4 / X (Alarming)
  • REST (provisioning)
  • Application interfaces for various services or applications

The Unified Presence Server (CUPS) can be integrated as an external presence source.

Minimal requirements and resource-saving for green IT

The following requirements are needed for a proper use of the Callisto platform with the selected module(s):

Requirements Requisite/Description
Callisto Appliance (virtual Image, OVA)
  • One Callisto appliance for up to approx. 1000 parallel calls on the platform.
  • One platform is sufficient for an unlimited number of users and voicemail boxes
Virtual environment minimal: VMware ESX(i) 6.7
Callisto Appliance “Small”
  • up to 60 parallel calls
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 2 CPUs (ca. 2 GHz)
  • 80 GB hard disk space
  • 1 network connection
Callisto Appliance “Medium”
  • up to 240 parallel calls
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 4 CPUs (ca. 2 GHz)
  • 80 GB hard disk space
  • 1 network connection
Callisto Appliance “Large”
  • up to 240 parallel calls
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 8 CPUs (ca. 2 GHz)
  • 80 GB hard disk space
  • 1 network connection
  • max. 960 parallel calls per appliance
PBX (TVA/PBX) Cisco IP-PBX: CUCM, HCS, Webex (Unified CM), BExk, UCx00, UCME

Compatibility

The following products have been tested for interoperability with the Callisto platform.

Note: Various modules of the Callisto platform may also be compatible with other IP-PBX systems. Contact us if you have a specific project.

Manufacturer System Version
Cisco Systems Inc. Unified Communications Manager 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Unified Communications Manager Business Edition 6000 8.6, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Unified Communications Manager Business Edition 7000 8.6, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Unified Communications Manager Express 7.x, 8.x, 9.x,10.x,11.x, 12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) 8.6, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x ,12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco UCM Cloud —
     
Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Unified Presence Service (CUPS) 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 14.x
     
Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Jabber 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 14.x
Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco Webex Client —
     
Diverse Android for Smartphones and Tablets upon request
Apple Inc. IOS for Smartphones and Tablets upon request
     
CTModule AG COC Operator Console Windows 7.x, 8.x, 10.x, 11.x

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