TERA Product Description

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Trilogy Emergency RelieApplication (TERA) v2.4

Product Description


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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Trilogy Emergency Response Application (TERA) v2.4 |Product Description

Content1. Introduction 3

2. Overview 4

3. Architecture 5

4. Deployment diagram 7

5. System qualities 8

5.1 Last call position integration 8

5.2 Multi telco operator 8

5.3 Web service layer integration 8

5.4 Optional out-list 8

6. Integration layers 8

6.1 NGO center integration layer 8

6.2 Telco integration layer 8

7. Operations 9

8. Reporting 9

8.1 Outgoing report 9

8.2 Incoming report 9

9. Administration 10

10. Security 11

11. Alarms 12


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In times of disaster and crisis, communicating with those aected is vital. It allows the Red Cross andRed Crescent to provide communities with lie-saving and lie changing inormation. It helps the Red Cross

and Red Crescent to manage the demand on its services and ensure a greater quality o aid delivery. It gives

those aected a voice and makes the Red Cross and Red Crescent accountable or the services it delivers.

Perhaps most important o all is, it gives hope. Mobile telephony is one o the most eective, direct and

timely methods o communication.

However mobile communication with disaster aected communities can be very difcult. Oten the mobilecommunication networks themselves will have been damaged and be congested because o the surge in

demand as survivors attempt to locate amily and riends.

The TERA system is a communications system that is specifcally designed to meet this challenge. The

TERA is based on SMS (short text messages) technology which enables messages to be sent using the mini-

mum network capacity allowing messages to be orwarded within the community. The system manages

outgoing and incoming SMS between the Red Cross and Red Crescent and disaster aected people. It helps

to save lives, to improve conditions or survivors and to efciently manage the overall aid eort.

Outgoing messages are used or a number o reasons:

Todeliverood,hurricaneandothernaturaldisasterwarnings;

Todelivertargetedinformationaboutwheretondmedicalhelp,cleanwater,foodandshelter;

Toprovideinformationtoaffectedpeopleonspecicaidservicesbeingprovided;

Togivedetailedadviceonarangeofissuesincludinghygiene,avoidingfraud,caringfortheinjuredor

sick;

TocommunicatedirectlywithaffectedpeopleonhowtheRedCrossandRedCrescentcanprovidebet-

ter services.

Incoming messages are used :

TohelpaffectedpeopletoprovidetheRedCrossandRedCrescentwithinformationoftheirneedsand

locations;

ToallowtheRedCrossandRedCrescenttoplanresponsesbasedonaffectedpopulationsfeedback.

1. Introduction


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The TERA is an SMS based communications system which has been designed to meet the needs otheRedCrossandRedCrescentwhilst,atthesametime,minimisingtheuseofthehostmobileoperators

network. The TERA detects active mobile phones on the network and the Cell Site that they are connected

to. This means that messages can be sent to people in specifc areas. Localised inormation can be sent

without spamming the entire country. It also means that any build-up o undelivered messages is avoided

and that the overall number o messages sent is reduced.

The TERA also manages incoming SMS using a key word recognition unction. This allows responses to beautomatically sent to subscribers to assist in the management o a high number o requests. This allows

responses to be automatically sent or a wide range o common enquiries, helping the aid team to handle

high numbers o messages.

The TERA was originally designed in response to the Haiti earthquake and the needs which subsequently

emerged rom communication with aected populations. The TERA has been in continuous use in Haiti

since 2010 providing support or several million disaster aected people.

The TERA v2.4 goes urther and allows more than one user to interact with multiple mobile telecommu-

nication networks at the same time via a web link. This means that regional centres with trained sta can

support messaging across several countries. When deployed in advance o any disaster, this provides im-

mediate support.

Aware o the key advantages o such an approach, the International Federation o Red Cross and Red Cres-

cent Societies has committed to deploying the TERA system across its National Society network.

2. Overview


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Client NGO CenterIt can control multiple TELCO Satellites

TELCO SatelliteDeployed in the operator premises

Web base clientFireox, Internet Explorer

WS WS UI

Security Security

SMS gateway

TERA CORETERA CORE

Confguration Confguration

Reporting module

Reporting module

Operations module

Data integration

Services module

Batch

scheduling

SMS

delivery

Figure 3.1 Architecture

The TERA is composed of three main modules: Client, NGO Center and one or more TELCO Satellites.

The Client translates user requests into a XML syntax language that is understandable by the NGO Center.

The NGO Center is the bridge module and provides the link between multiple Clients and multiple TELCO

Satellites.

Web Based Client: compatible with Fireox or Internet Explorer.

Both NGO Center and Telco modules contain a web-service layer that manages the interaction with the

Web-based Client and Telco modules. A security layer is also provided with both modules. The exchange

o inormation between modules is via an SSL channel.

The Reporting Module, contained within the NGO Center, reports on all (aggregated) incoming and outgo-

ing SMS via the TERA, rom and to all the mobile operator modules. The Reporting Module contained in the

mobile operator (Telco) Satellite reports on the SMS that were sent or received rom that specifc mobile

operator.

3. Architecture


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An Operations Module within the NGO Center allows users to create, modiy or delete various defned ac-

tions such as:

Operation: Inormation on the Telco Operators that are connected to the system.

ORG: Inormation on the aid agency such as name, description. Subdivision: For each ORG level, separate entities can be defned including Aid Centers, Group, Key-

words and Answers.

Aid Center: Represents the local centres established by the aid agency and the personnel groups as-

sociated with each one.

Group: Lists o personnel that have a common role such as: Doctors, First-Line team and Volunteers.

Personnel: Are the NGO or aid agency sta. Please note that each NGO sta member must be also a

subscriber o at least one o the Telco Operators that are associated with the system.

Keyword: Predefned words that any subscriber might send to the system.

Answer: Predefned sentences that can be associated to one or more keyword.

Report: Integrated statistics regarding incoming and outgoing SMS rom and via the TERA.

A Services Module is provided inside the NGO Center which allows the user to send early-alert warning and

Cell-Site SMS to the subscriber.

The Data Integration Component retrieves subscriber inormation, including their geo-position, rom the

last call or message sent or received by the subscriber.

The Batch Scheduling component, contained within the Telco Module, determines the time at which each

SMSwillbesent.ThedeliverydateandtimeoftheSMScanbereadilyadjusted.

TheSMSDeliverycomponentinteractswiththeSMSGatewaytosendmessagestotheTelcosSMSC.TheSMS Gateway interacts with the SMSC via SMPP protocol v3.4.


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As shown in Figure 4.1, the Telco Satellite module needs to be deployed inside each participating mobilenetwork. This module includes an embedded SMS Gateway that connects to the SMSC via SMPP protocol.

Alternatively the system can use an existing SMS Gateway i preerred.

The mobile operator controls the delivery o Cell Site geo-positions rom the Telco module to the ORG mod-

ule. I the mobile operator chooses not to deliver this inormation, cell sites will not be displayed on the

map. This ensures that no inormation on cell sites is visible to aid agency users, however it also means

that the polygon eature, used to send messages to specifc locations, will not work.

4. Deployment

diagram


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5.1. Last call position integrationTheTERAnotesthelastinteractionofthemobilesubscriberwiththeTelcooperator;thisinteractiongives

thegeographicalpositionofthesubscriber;enablingthesendingofmessagestosubscribersinspecic

locations.

5.2. Multi telco operatorThe system supports multiple mobile operators.

5.3. Web service layer integrationViatheTERAsWSintegrationlayer,itispossibleforanyotherWSfriendlysystemtointeractwithit.It

also means that the TERA system can be remotely managed, allowing aid agencies to implement regional

control centres.

5.4. Optional out-list

Subscribers can individually decide to opt in or opt out o the service.

5. Key system

features

Most o the TERA modules are accessible via XML interace:

6.1. NGO center integration layerAnyuser-requestcanbetranslatedintoXMLcommandsthatarepassedtotheNGOCenter;viathisfea -

ture it is possible to integrate the TERA with other systems.

6.2. Telco integration layer

Telco Satellites are accessible via SOAP interaces, thereore it possible to attach to it other telco-relatedsystems.

6. Integrationlayers


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Targeted messaging: SMS messaging to subscribers based on their geo-position according their last-call.

SMS delivery to groups: SMSmessagingtoNGOspersonnelgroup.

Early warning alerts: Through this tool it is possible to send immediate emergency alert messages.

Keywords and auto reply: Availability to set up predefned answers or specifc keyword inputs.

Optional out list: Unsubscribe option or the user in order to not receive any messages rom the TERA.

7. Operations

8.1 Outgoing reportProvides statistics regarding SMS sent to subscribers via the TERA.

8.2 Incoming reportProvides statistics regarding SMS received rom subscribers.

8. Reporting


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9. AdministrationFigure 9.1 Architecture

As shown on the Deployment Diagram (Figure 9.1), each Telco Satellite can be used to work with more

than one NGO at the same time. And each NGO contains Subdivisions, Aid Centers and personnel groups,

respectively.


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Dierent user accounts can be confgured on the system. There are three types o accounts:

Root: Allows user to confgure all entities

Administrator: Allows user to confgure all entities related to a specifc subdivision

User: Allows use o unctions but no confguration o entities.

As shown in Figure 10.1, all communication between the NGO Center and TELCO Satellites is secured using

SSL encryption and user/password constraints. Mobile operators can also opt to hide Cell Site inormationrom aid agency users.

10. Security


TELECOM premises

External network TELECOM network

TERA NGO module

Send SMS to range

Send SMS to phonenumber

Send SMS to Cell Site

(optional)

Secure communicationbase on SSL certifcates

Translated into Lat/Long + Radius

Translated into phone number list

(Personnel)

Translated into Cell Site List

(i enabled)

Send early warning

Send to group

Send SMS to polygon

(optional)

TERA Telco module

Key points on the TERA security:

Secure communications (SSL) is used between NGO

and TELCO TERA modules.

Access to Cell Site lists is optional (disabled by deault

to keep confdentiality). It can be enabled on TERA TEL-

CO Module i require. This is under TELECOM control.

Subscriber-site confdential inormation is nevertranserred to the NGO module. It is kept on Telcomodule under TELECOM control.

Send SMS to polygon is optional, depending on the Cell

Site List accessibility eature confgured on the TELE-

COM module.

Send SMS to polygon is optional, depending on the Cell

Site List accessibility eature confgured on the TELE-COM module.

Detailed inormation remains in TELCO module. Only

summary inormation regarding the number o delivery/

received messages is transerred to the NGO module.

Considering that all delicate data (detailed) is stored

into the TELECOM module (under TELECOM NET-

WORK). The TELECOM has ull control o its confden-

tial inormation.


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11. AlarmsAs shown in Figure 11.1, the TERA is deployed with an alarm system called,

TRUMP. This alarm system can send email alerts i anything stops the TERA

module rom operating normally.

Figure 11.1 Alarm system integration

How we work

Strategy 2020 voices the collective determination ofthe IFRC tomove forward intacklingthemajorchallenges that conront humanity in the next decade. Inormed by the needs and vulnerabilities o the

diverse communities with whom we work, as well as the basic rights and reedoms to which all areentitled, this strategy seeks to beneft all who look to Red Cross Red Crescent to help to build a morehumane, dignifed, and peaceul world.

Over the next ten years, the collective ocus o the IFRC will be on achieving the ollowing strategic aims:

1. Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery rom disasters and crises

2. Enable healthy and sae living

3. Promote social inclusion and a culture o non-violence and peace

Contact information

For urther inormation,please contact:

Will Rogers,Global BenefciaryCommunicationCoordinatorEmail: will rogers@irc org

TERA Product Description

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