You can be notified about any unit activity that you consider significant. It can be speeding, location, sensors values, etc. A notification can be delivered by e-mail or SMS, shown online in a popup window or replied by some other means.
To create, edit and view notifications, open the Notifications panel, choosing a corresponding name in
the top panel or clicking on the necessary item in the main menu customizer.
How to Create a Notification
All the steps needed to create notifications are described in detail below. Attention! To create a notification, the access flag Use unit in jobs, notifications, routes, retranslators
is required. However, sometimes it is not enough — if a notification concerns an action, you need to
have rights to perform those actions, and only then the notification will trigger.
Notification Type
Speed
Define the minimum and/or maximum speed values. If a unit goes out of this range, the notification will
trigger. In addition, you can activate sensor value control — in this case, the notification will trigger only
if both conditions are met.
Geofence
In case of this choice, in the following window you select geofences or groups of geofences to control
and control type: control entries to or exits from geofences. Those geofences should be created in
advance and belong to the same resource with the notification.
In addition, you can adjust speed limitations and/or sensor value range inside (outside) chosen
geofences. Then the notification will trigger when all conditions are met.
Alarm (SOS)
For this type of notification, no specific settings are needed.
Digital input
Specify the number of digital input and select control type: trigger on input activation or deactivation.
Parameter in a message
Four control types are provided: value range, text mask, parameter availability, and parameter lack.
Only real parameters, i.e., sent by device itself can be considered whereas virtual parameters such as
speed, altitude, sats (satellites) etc. cannot be controlled by this type of notification.
To control Value range, specify parameter name, define minimum and maximum values for it, and select
whether to trigger in the specified range or out of it. If you need to get notifications for all parameters
except 0, set 0 as min and as max value and choose trigger type 'Out of specified range'.
To control text, enter parameter name and Text mask using wildcard symbols (? and *).
For Parameter availability and Parameter lack, it is enough to indicate parameter name. These two last
mentioned options can be interpreted as parameter appearance and disappearance if on the last page
of the dialog you set the option 'Generate notification only when state changed'.
For in and out
parameters it is possible only to control parameter availability/lack.
Sensor value
With this notification type, you can control either sensor getting some undesirable value (Value range)
or abrupt significant change in sensor value (Value leap). To specify sensors to be controlled by the
notification, choose sensor type on the dropdown list or set the name mask using wildcard symbols (*
and ?). You can as well do both. If there will be found two or more sensors meeting these conditions
(same type or name mask or both), their values can be summed or regarded separately — select the
corresponding option. Then enter minimum and maximum values and select control type: trigger in the
specified range or out of it. If you control value leap, then enter delta. Notification triggers when delta is
exceeded. Note that an indicated delta is compared to the module of values' delta.
Connection loss
Choose control type:
Indicate loss time: how long (in minutes) the connection/coordinates loss should continue before a notification triggers.
Idling
For this type of control, indicate speed and time. Speed should be more than 0 to exclude possible
equipment errors. Indicate also time allowed for staying. If this time exceeded, this will be considered as an idle, and the notification will trigger.
Note that maximum allowed time of idling corresponds to 98
hours and 59 minutes.
In addition, you can activate sensor value control — in this case the notification will trigger only if both
conditions are met. It is convenient to control idles with engine on, for example.
SMS
You can receive a notification when a certain SMS message comes. To define, which SMS messages you
are interested in, enter a mask for message text. This feature can be useful, for example, when a device
sends SMS of a certain content in case of malfunction.
Interposition of units
This type of notification allows you to control approaching of units to each other and moving away from
each other. Select control type (approaching or moving away) and specify radius in meters — if this
distance between units is insufficient or exceeded, then the notification will trigger. Choose units which
position will be estimated regarding the units that were chosen for the notification itself. In addition,
you can narrow trigger case adjusting speed limitations or sensor value range (like in geofence control).
Note that units interposition is checked by the system using their latest messages only.
Address
This type of notification is like geofence control. You can control entrance/exit or being in or out of a
location. Enter some address parameters (e.g., city, street, and house) and then select the most
appropriate option from found addresses. Additionally, adjust the radius of controllable area.
Excess of messages
With this notification, you can be warned if a unit exceeds the limit of messages you have set. Either
usual data messages or only SMS messages can be under control of this type of notification. Indicate the
limit of messages and set the reset interval. The example below assumes that the notification will trigger
if unit sends 3 or more SMS messages in an hour's time.
Fuel filling
This notification type allows you to control fuel fillings, and provides with an information on the amount of fuel filled. Upon notification creating you can indicate sensor masks in order to use this particular sensor for fuel filling detection. Besides, checking the corresponding flag you can control location of filling in relation to the chosen geofences (inside/outside geofence). These geofences should be created in advance, and belong to the same resource as the notification itself. Moreover, there is an 'Ignore recalculated data' option. Enabling this option allows receiving notifications for a new (current) fillings. If the option is disabled, then upon receiving a historic message (from the black box, or after importing messages, etc.) the number of events will be recalculated, and you will receive messages on the old (not current) fillings.
Note that notification triggers for every fuel level sensor individually, therefore the 'Merge same
name sensors (fuel level)' option is ignored in this case.
Route progress
For this type of notification, select statuses to control: round start, round finish, arrival to check point,
check point skip, departure from check point, etc. Additionally, you can specify name masks for routes,
schedule and/or round.
Driver
Choose control type: driver assignment or driver reset. To control both activities, two notifications of
different types will be required. Using this notification, you can control all drivers (*) or just some of
them — input driver's name (or code) mask.
Maintenance
First, you choose trigger type: notify when service term approaches or notify when service term is
expired. Then indicate the interval before or after the term for the notification to trigger. This interval
can be in days, kilometers, engine hours, or together. You can control either all intervals existing in the
Service Intervals tab in unit properties or just several intervals. To specify target intervals, enter a name
mask using wildcard symbols like asterisk (*) and question sign (?). Then indicate how much mileage, or
time, or how many engine hours should be left or expired to make the notification trigger.
Notification about maintenance triggers only once — when a critical point is met (mileage, engine
hours or time) about any maintenance interval. Then information about service work done should be
delivered through event registrar or through unit properties dialog. Only after that, the notification
starts working again.
Notifications' triggering peculiarities:
Note. As each notification belongs to some resource, it takes its measurement units from this
resource. If the American or imperial measurement system is set for the resource, then speed is shown in miles per hour (mph), radius in feet (ft), and mileage in miles (mi). Otherwise (in case of metric
system), it will be kilometers per hour, meters and kilometers, correspondingly.
Notification Action/Type
Notification action is the way system will react when a notification triggers.
Notify by e-mail
You can indicate one or more e-mail addresses to send a notification to. When all fields are filled,
additional slots appear automatically. You can also check the option Attach image from triggered
message if the device used takes pictures.
Notify by SMS
Key in one or more telephone numbers in the international format, for example, +375293293294. When
all slots to enter phones are filled, additional slots appear automatically.
Note that if the flag 'Can send SMS' is not chosen in a user properties, then the corresponding
notification delivery method becomes unavailable.
Display online notification in a popup window
A notification can be displayed in a popup window. It can be silent or accompanied by a specific sound. If
no URL is given for the sound, the standard tune will be used. Otherwise, enter sound URL to use a
custom tune. Recommended file size is up to 0.5 MB.
There is a possibility to inform on a notification triggering by blinking a minimap. To enable this option,
indicate the 'Blink minimap' flag in this section.
Attention! Different browsers can have restrictions regarding formats of audio files:
To highlight a notification, you can set an individual color to it. This color will be applied to the background of the triggered notification so that you could easily notice it.
Send mobile notification
In this case upon notification triggering mobile notification is sent to a user or multiple users of an
application. Choose the necessary application in the left field. Then the system checks the possession of
the necessary rights towards users: 'View detailed item properties', 'Act as given user'. Current user as
well as creator of a resource to which a notification belongs are checked for the possession of these
rights. Afterwards based on this check a list of users is formed in the right field. Here you can indicate a
single user or multiple users (choosing the corresponding flags) or all the users (holding
Send a request
You can transfer a notice on the triggered notification to external systems. Choosing this measure is necessary to indicate server address as well as HTTP request method ('POST' or 'GET').
Register event for unit
In this case notification text is stored in unit history. Then a report on these events can be generated.
Register as violation
Upon checking this option the notification will be registered not only as event but also as violation, and one more report type will be available to you. For further information, see reports on Events and Violations.
Execute a command
For this action, choose a command to be executed over unit(s). The list consists of all commands
configured in the properties of selected units. So, different commands on the list may be supported by
different units. Support status is seen with special indicators:
For some commands, you should set additional parameters like input/output number, online report interval, etc.
Change access to units
Choose users whose access rights will be modified when trigger conditions occur. Specify access that will
be applied to those users after the notification triggers. This feature can be used, for instance, in the
following situation.
Set counter value
Counter values can be changed (or zeroed) when notification triggers. Select one or more counters (mileage counter, engine hours counter, traffic counter) and set new values for them.
Store counter value as parameter
Current values of mileage or engine hours counters can be stored as parameters in unit data messages (odometer or engine hours correspondingly). These parameters can be used to create sensors on their basis (for example, engine hours sensor) and to get initial/final mileage in reports. For more precise calculations, it is recommended to store counters while the unit is parked, for example, once a day at night time.
Register unit status
A new status can be set for unit when a notification triggers. For instance, when unit enters a geofence, private state can automatically switch to business.
Modify unit groups
You can change the contents of unit groups when a notification triggers — add triggered unit to a group
or remove it from a group. On the left, there is a list of all available unit groups. Move necessary groups
to the right to Add to group or Remove from group sections.
Send a report by e-mail
Enter e-mail address(es) to send a report to if the notification triggers. Select report template, object, file format(s), and other parameters to get a needed report. Sometimes it is convenient to choose Triggered unit option — then the report will be generated for the same unit that the notification has triggered for.
Create a round
Creating a new round for unit can be chosen as an action undertaken after the notification triggers. For example, when one round is finished, a new round can be assigned, or when unit leaves its garage (as a geofence), a round is automatically created for it.
Reset driver
This feature can be used, for example, to reset driver automatically when the unit returns to the depot. This action can be completed successfully only if you have enough rights for the resource where the driver under question belongs — 'Create, edit, delete drivers'. Note that driver resetting can take place only within the resource to which a notification belongs.
Reset trailer
Like the “reset driver”, but related to trailers. This action can be completed successfully only if you have enough rights for the resource where the trailer under question belongs — 'Create, edit, delete trailers'. Moreover, the same as for driver resetting, trailers should belong to the same resource in order the action to be executed correctly.
Notification Text
Text can be set for such actions as notify by SMS or e-mail, register an event in unit history, or display popup window online.
The text of a notification can be written in any language, contain any characters, words and phrases, and be of any size. Large messages are acceptable for e-mail notifications. Of course, for SMS notifications it is better to form more compact messages.
To be more informative, a notification should contain special parameters (tags) which are substituted
with real values in an incoming notification.
Example:
The text «'%UNIT%' violated speed limitations. At '%POS_TIME%' it moved %SPEED% near '%LOCATION%'» can be transformed to «'Rover-119' violated speed limitations. At '2000-01-01 12:01:37' it moved 136 km/h near 'KU 8, Thurnau, DE'».
Measurement units (kilometers or miles) used to decipher parameters depend on resource settings
where the notification belongs. Date and time format are taken from the creator of this resource.
Below is the list of parameters applicable to most types of notifications:
There are also parameters which make sense only with certain types of notifications:
Notification Parameters
Here you set general parameters for a notification as well as define the specific character of its
operation. The set of parameters can vary depending on notification type.
Notifications Management
On the list of notifications, you can get the following information shown the table below:
Hover the mouse cursor over a notification to see detailed information in the tooltip: control type, parameters, actions, life time, max triggers, text, and resource (if available).
The following actions can be executed over notifications:
enable/disable notification,
enable/disable all notifications at once,
edit a notification settings,
create a new notification using this one as the basis,
delete a notification.
If you have just view access to the resource where a notification is located, you cannot edit or delete it, and some buttons look different:
you cannot change notification state,
view notification properties (editing not available),
impossible to delete the notification.
Using the dynamic filter, you can save your time when looking for a certain notification on the list. Enter
notification name or its part into the search box above the list and estimate the results.
The other way to filter notifications can be used if you have access to more than one resource. Then, on
the dropdown list, choose resource name to display only the notifications that belong to this resource.
Note that if you have just view rights to a resource, you cannot edit or delete these notifications.
Online Notification
Online notifications can be received only by users logged in to the system on the moment of notification triggering. Moreover, received online notifications are not stored in the system after logging out.
Online notifications will pop up in a separate window and can be accompanied by a special sound (see User Settings). If special parameters are not specified in notification properties, the standard audio signal is used. However, you can assign your own sounds, for each notification individually.
As more notifications come, they are stored in the same window.
Received notifications are displayed in the online notifications window. A button-indicator of the
number of newly received (unread) notifications is situated in the right part of the bottom panel. You
can hide/show online notifications clicking this button. Moreover, several unread online notifications is
shown on the browser tab.
Newly received notifications are added to the list on the top. An online notification's caption is taken from notification's name provided during its creation and highlighted in blue. To expand or collapse a notification, use the switch button +/– or click on the header of the notification in a place with no text.
Records in this window can have different background (if this was set in action parameters). Colorful backgrounds can be applied to highlight most important messages or visually separate notifications of various types from each other. Background becomes lighter after the notification has been read. If clicking on a notification, the map is centered on the place where the event happened.
If clicking on unit's name, the map is centered on the latest unit position. At that, the unit is added to the work list of the Monitoring panel with the flag 'Show on map'.
To delete a notification, click on a red cross against it. It is possible also to delete all notifications or delete all read notifications (Delete all or Delete read). The window is closed automatically when you delete all notifications. If the online notifications' window is closed by clicking on the grey cross in the upper right corner, then the window ceases to appear automatically upon receiving new notifications until the 'Automatically display popup events' flag is activated.
The notification window can be hidden or shown, resized or dragged over the screen. To resize the
window, click on its right or bottom edge and drag in the necessary direction. To hide the window, click
on the Online Notifications icon on the bottom of the screen (or use the standard little cross in the
upper right-hand corner of the window).
Note. Any user who has any access to a resource will get all online notifications created in this
resource.
Note. Online notifications can also be viewed in mini-maps.