LevelMonitor

		Frequently Asked Questions				Nederlands
	1. - Do I need special software to use LevelMonitor? 2. - How many times a day is the data being collected from remote site? 3. - Does my customer or supplier have access to LevelMonitor to watch over my inventory or stock? 4. - Can I change the suppliers on the system when another vendor is chosen? 5. - Is the collected inventory data confidential? 6. - Can I use the instruments output(s) locally? 7. - How about the availability and reliability of the LevelMonitor web-site? 8. - What are the rates of LevelMonitor? 9. - Can the collected data be used for further automation, such as integration in MIS or ERP-systems? 1. - Do I need special software to use LevelMonitor? No, as long as you have a computer with Internet access and a typical web-browser like Internet Explorer or Netscape, you can have access to the LevelMonitor web-portal. 2. - How many times a day is the data being collected from a site? LevelMonitor is capable of sampling at any specified time period. Generally, based on our experience, once or twice per 24-hours is sufficient. If this sampling frequency is not appropriate for your vessels, we can easily increase it. Daily updates implementing GSM communications will preferably be collected at night to save communication costs. 3. - Does my customer or supplier have access to LevelMonitor to watch over my inventory or stock? Yes, each LevelMonitor subscription has two usernames and passwords for web-site access. Optional surcharged, you can have as many usernames as you desire. This will mean that this extra user only has access rights for this specific location. 4. - Can I change the suppliers on the system when another vendor is chosen? Yes, each LevelMonitor subscriber can decide who has access to the LevelMonitor web-site, as long as it does not conflict with our general conditions. Access changes can be made relatively easily, but the subscriber will be charged for these changes. 5. - Is the collected inventory data confidential? Yes, it absolutely is. Access to the LevelMonitor website to see your data can only be achieved by an username and password for those individuals who you have given access. Furthermore, we maintain security for your data. 6. - Can I use the instruments output(s) locally? Yes, most locally installed instruments have an inherent display to view the level or the content of the vessel and/or silo. In addition you can implement the instruments analogue output(s), 0(4) - 20 mA, and its relay contact(s), if available. 7. - How about the availability and reliability of the LevelMonitor web-site? The whole LevelMonitor software platform is being hosted and serviced by RAM Mobile Data in Maarssen, The Netherlands. They also do the management and maintenance for the required hardware and infrastructure to achieve such kind of service. This structure avoids each customers and users have to invest in software or infrastructure and its consequently administration and maintenance. Hosting of hard- and software applications are services which requires scaleable, ordered and well maintained infrastructures and knowledge from (mobile) applications till acces to the different (mobile)telecommunication networks. Moreover, these diciplines have to be integrated prosperous. The knowledge to get this done is present at RAM Mobile Data. The last few years RAM Mobile Data has grown to an interchange for (mobile) data communication, where several different (mobile)networks come together and daily enormous amounts of (mobile) data traffic comes across. The communication between the LevelMonitor software platform and the customers and users is through an internet connection. Therefore RAM Mobile Data has at his disposal a redundant internet connection with the fiberglass-ring of MCI in Utrecht in the center of Holland. The security of this connection, in example due to hackers and viruses, is being guaranteed through several checkpoint firewalls. Additionally, the complete network and application can be guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The control center is the basis for the Navigator Center where all connections, network- gateways and middleware platforms come together. Besides the daily back-up of the (application)data on the different systems, the system management and monitoring tool "RoboMon" is being used: if there any malfunctioning occurs, the Navigator Center will receive an alarm. Dependent on the Service Level which has been choosen by each customer, a pre-defined action will be undertaken. As a result of all above, RAM Mobile Data can guarantee the availibility of the system up to 99%(!) per month. 8. - What are the rates of LevelMonitor? If you would like to use the LevelMonitor service, you will need a one-year subscription for each location. Normally each location consists of about 1 to 4 vessels or silos. The subscription rates are correlated with the way of communication between location and the LevelMonitor web-server and the number of times the data from the location has to be extracted by the system. These rates are always including the communication costs, so no unpleasant surprises afterwards. Each LevelMonitor subscription gives you two usernames and passwords for web-site access. Extra usernames and passwords are possible and each will be additionally charged. Moreover, LevelMonitor has the capability to send alarm messages, based on the collected data and the preconfigured set points by the user. Alarms will be sent as a SMS (Short Message Service), as an e-mail and/or to a pager. All alarms will be charged afterwards per transmitted alarm message. If you would like to know more about the rates of LevelMonitor, please send an e-mail to , and we will get in contact with you as soon as possible. 9. - Can the collected data be used for further automation, such as integration in a MIS or ERP-system? Yes, LevelMonitor gives you the opportunity to integrate the available data into your existing automation, like ERP (e.g. SAP) or route plan systems. The data can be sent to you e.g. in CSV or XML -format, but there are also other possibilities. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please send an e-mail to , and we will contact you as soon as possible.