Emergency Phone & Alert System

Challenge

The client needed to modernize its emergency phone product line to remain competitive and meet increasing public safety expectations. Initial requirements included adding microprocessor control, enabling programming over the phone line, and reducing reliance on external power sources. Later challenges involved improving software diagnostics, expanding system reach, and transforming the product into a full-featured emergency broadcast network using existing infrastructure.

Solution

First Generation Microprocessor-Based Phone

Impact ES–Rhode Island designed a microprocessor-based phone with message recording capabilities and a DTMF-based communications protocol. This allowed the phone to be programmed remotely and to control external devices such as security cameras or doors. The phone operated on less than 5mA of current to comply with phone-line power requirements and FCC Part 68 standards. Impact ES–Rhode Island also supported regulatory testing.

Reliance Phone Monitoring Software

Impact ES–Rhode Island developed PC software to log calls and diagnostics into a database. Over time, as needs evolved, the software was upgraded to:

• Remove environmental noise

• Add network access

• Increase simultaneous call capacity

• Enable phone grouping

• Add scheduling and reporting

• Provide email alerts for maintenance

• Align interface design with the All-Campus Alert software

• Migrate from Visual Basic 6.0 to C#

• Include a user manual

Newest Generation Emergency Response System

Impact ES–Rhode Island developed the All-Campus Alert Software, which expanded the existing phone infrastructure to function as a public emergency alert system. A new add-on board was integrated into the phones to store emergency voice recordings and alert sequences, enabling control of lights, sirens, and speakers. The speaker amplifier was enhanced to cover over 300 feet. All communication continued to use the DTMF protocol and remained compliant with FCC Part 68.

A PC management application was also developed, allowing:

• Phone number import and group creation

• Custom alert sequence design (e.g., fire, weather, gunman)

• Broadcast of pre-recorded messages or live announcements

• Alert targeting to all phones or specific groups

• Live broadcasting to up to 20 phones

The intuitive graphical user interface significantly improved usability and was later adopted as the model for the updated Reliance software.

Outcome

The system is now deployed on over 30% of college campuses. It delivers reliable emergency communication, remote programmability, real-time diagnostics, and live broadcasting capabilities—enhancing campus safety using both existing and new technology.