The CRYSTALITE SYSTEM
The core software system. It consists of a number of standard features that are described in the following sub-sections:
  Real Time Data Repository & Command Router
The Real Time Data Repository and Command Router is the software module that receives, stores, and distributes all the data associated with all the external equipment monitored and control by the CRYSTALVISION System. Data is generally received from Equipment Drivers and distributed to UIs as well as the Logging and Trending Database. The Real Time Data Repository is designed for efficiency by minimizing message traffic between software modules as well as computers. The Command Router is designed for speed by allowing for prioritized message queues and other speed improvement algorithms.
  Basic Automation Tools
The enhanced automation tools include a script processor and recorder that execute intelligent, editable scripts that contain a series of commands, queries, and conditional logic. An included rules-based processor is a tool that executes a script when certain device conditions occur. Scripts can also be used to send pages and email alerts as needed. Also included with these tools is a scheduler that executes scripts based on the date and time. The schedule can execute one time events or regularly recurring weekly events. The enhanced automation tools allow the system to be setup with hot button configuration macros or scripts. Hot button scripts can be executed on the Control Nodes or on the User Interface Clients allowing for the launching of third party applications.
  Configuration Manager
The Configuration Manager allows each customer to manage the configuration of the control system. The Configuration Manager provides the ability to expand or modify the number of devices managed by the system. It provides the ability to add and remove equipment without affecting the current system and provides the means to revert to known good configurations. The Configuration Manager also provides reports to extract system configuration by Control Node, communication port, equipment type, etc. The Configuration database and system files are synchronized on a configurable periodic basis so that all critical data is available on each Control Node.
  Remote Access
Remote access is available either through a customer-furnished VPN and/or a standard password-protected PPP dial-up connection.
  User Interface Clients
The User Interface Client is a software application that provides a means for a user to monitor and control the equipment attached to the CRYSTALVISION System. The UI client has a hierarchical graphical interface that is easy to use, intuitive and designed to simplify system monitoring and operations. Every screen can be custom built or modified to fit the specific needs of each customer.
  Device Control Properties
Device Control Properties (OCP) consists of device screens and any associated protocol translation modules which are required to control equipment.
  CrystalLite Control Node
Enterprise RAID Control Node An Enterprise RAID Control Node is a 2 unit rack-mounted system with hot-swappable RAID level I (mirroring) hard drives and dual hot-swappable power supplies (each with its own power entry module). The Control Nodes come with the QNX operating system and the CRYSTALVISION Enterprise System as well as the customer specificconfigurations. Corporate Standard Node A Corporate Standard Node is a 1 unit rack-mounted system with a single hard drive and a single power supply. The Standard Node is typically used for a User Interface Client and comes with either the QNX operating system or the Windows XP Professional operating system.


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The CRYSTALVISION System is a network management and control system designed around content ingest and distribution for robust networks. The management capability gathers information from external devices, communicates that information to people and other systems in a user friendly format and processes the information received. The control capability provides a means to command those external devices or systems, either by user initiated actions or automated actions defined by the management automation capability of the system. The CRYSTALVISION system is comprised of Control Nodes, User Interface Clients and Interface Components.

Control Nodes

The Control Nodes are responsible for the logical interface to external devices and systems as well as management capability and automation. These Nodes use a reliable real-time operating system, QNX, which has been certified for space and medical applications. The Control Nodes provide server services to the User Interface Clients. Each Control node can operate independently.  However, they often share system information in a peer to peer fashion. Each Control node also comes standard with a User Interface Client to allow for a local human interface. The User Interface Clients connect to the Control Nodes via TCP/IP (Ethernet. VPN or dial-up) and provide the graphical presentation of data to operators, engineers and other users. The User Interface Client uses either the Microsoft Windows or QNX operating system.


Resources

Signal Interference