Notification Engine
The software component managing alert generation, delivery, and escalation in RTLS systems. Evaluates conditions, determines appropriate recipients, selects delivery channels (SMS, email, push), and handles escalation for unacknowledged alerts. Includes features like alert filtering, priority management, and delivery confirmation.
Software component generating and delivering alerts based on RTLS events, rules, and conditions. Notification engine functions include: (1) Rule evaluation - continuously monitoring RTLS data streams against configured rules (geofence violations, dwell time thresholds, proximity events, anomaly detection). (2) Event triggering - identifying when conditions meet alert criteria. (3) Recipient determination - identifying who should receive alerts based on rules. (4) Delivery - transmitting alerts via configured channels (email, SMS, push notifications, on-screen popups, integration to external systems like SCADA or MES). (5) Escalation - managing alert lifecycle including reminders, escalation to additional recipients, and resolution tracking. (6) Logging - recording all alerts for audit and analysis. Notification engine configuration requires: rule definitions, recipient assignments, delivery preferences, escalation procedures, and quiet periods for non-urgent alerts during off-hours. Alert fatigue is a critical concern - excessive notifications reduce effectiveness as recipients become desensitized. Best practices: (1) Actionable alerts only - every alert should have clear response procedure. (2) Appropriate filtering - tune thresholds to minimize false positives (target <5% false alarms). (3) Aggregation - batch similar events rather than individual alerts. (4) Recipient targeting - alert only personnel who can respond. (5) Channel matching - urgent safety alerts via SMS/push, informational via email. Performance requirements: low latency (safety alerts within 1-3 seconds), high reliability (>99.9% delivery success), and scalability for bursts of simultaneous events. Notification analytics track alert frequency, response times, resolution times, and false alarm rates for continuous improvement.