Integrated Display Systems (IDS)

System Architecture

The AWI’s FlexIDS is designed to provide an end-to-end information display solution that is flexible, scalable, portable, and highly reliable.  Software components distribute sensor data and other important information across the entire Network.

1. Data enters from a variety of systems.  The data is then parsed, validated and prioritized.

2. A single message is sent out from the Communications Broker to the entire network.

3. All systems receive the data, and any subsystems that have expressed interest in the data receive a copy.

Graphical Interface with Touch-Screen Technology

FlexClient is the graphical user interface (GUI) that controllers use to access and disseminate information.  This is where the information meets the controller.  It enabled operators to view weather data, airport maps, runway maps, sector maps, aircraft display, orders, letters and procedures, as well as nearly any site defined data field.  FlexClient ensures that controllers have the information they need, when they need it.

The FlexClient displays both real-time sensor data and various forms of operational data fed from across the Network.  Every FlexClient has access to this network data.  This creates a powerful and efficient way of distributing weather data, runway conditions, airport configuration, NOTAMs, and FAA reference material directly to the Air Traffic Controllers and NAS managers.

The FlexClient can be configured for a touch-screen, eliminating the need for additional components such as mice, keyboards, and trackballs.  The on-screen keyboard allows users to enter text directly into the system to perform functions such as log-in, database search, or view reference materials.  The FlexIDS solution is also compatible with traditional input devices, accommodating the preferred method of the user.

Through the powerful FlexClient, the user can navigate maps and charts using FlexIDS's pan-and-scan fingertip controls.  Zooming in or out is performed just as easily with a touch or  a click.  With FlexClient controllers can view approach plates and charts on a single page.  The zoom feature provides a level of readability not supported by earlier systems due to pixel limitations or legibility of scanned items.

Complete Customization

FlexBuilder is the tool user to create, customize, and test FlexIDS display pages.  This powerful tool allows administrators to build and customize all aspects of the display pages.  Each and every data item, image, note, or tool can be placed anywhere on the page.  These widgets include functionality for displaying meters and gauges, interface data trend graphs, interface data as text, static text, Adebe PDFs, MS Office documents, and graphics.

For example, to create a new page and place the first of many navigation buttons on it, we first select 'New' from the 'File' menu to create the page.  Then just select a buton widget from our widget suite and add it onto the new page.

You can now use this button to execute a script, display a page, initiate a pop-up menu, display a PDF file, and more.  To move the button somewhere else, simply select it and move it to the desired location.  If its not the right size, you can stretch or shrink the button as needed.

To configure the button's usable action, right click it to view the options and/or define the properties.  Property configuration is also used to refine the appearance.  Properties such as color and font are fully configurable.

Each page can have as many buttons as the administrator decides are necessary.  Once the page is ready to test, simply save it.  It is now available to any user given permission to use it by the administrator.

 With the addition of user-defined fields, custom alerts, and variable themes, FlexBuilder provides customization options that are virtually endless.

Administration

FlexAdmin handles all application administration and configuration for the FlexIDS system.  This one tool is used for fully configuring the entire FlexIDS environment.  This enables system administrators to manage the entire FlexIDS network right from their own workstation.

As part of installation, servers generally require some configuration.  The first of such tasks is in regard to equipment setup.  What ports or sockets are the equipment connected to?  What settings should the port be configured to?  Which systems are the primary or secondary interface processors?  These and other related setting are all easily handled with FlexAdmin.

All aspects of configuration are handled with FlexAdmin, providing a single, consistent user interface.  Through this interface, Telemetry Log configuration can be made unique to each installation site.  System administrators can choose whether data is stored for days, months, or years, as well as what is logged, how it is aged, when it is cleaned up, etc.  FlexAmin makes all of that happen.

Similar to telemetry, the FlexDB allow for configuration.  Large volumes of data are flowing through the FlexIDS system and the database is collecting and providing those values.

Part of the power of the FlexIDS system is not only creating, but controlling access to information traveling through the system.  Correct and efficient management of this requires the ability to define users and groups with their permission and restriction.  Which users can view each page, piece of data, and document, has its foundation in authorizations that are created with FlexAdmin.  Users and groups can all be created, modified, and deleted here, and password requirements can be easily defined.

FlexAdmin if a powerful software module that can modify and control virtually the entire FlexIDS system, but with great power comes the need for adequate protection.  Thus, FlexAdmin access is restricted only to users with the privileges of system administration.  Initial entry into the FlexAdmin tool requires the entry of a valid user name and password.

Monitoring and Reporting

FlexMon is the real-time monitoring and reporting interface for FlexIDS.  It is a complete, Simple Network Monitoring Protocol (SNMP) based monitoring tool that receives alerts and statistical data from FlexIDS hosts and SNMP enabled devices in the FlexIDS system.  These devices consist of Flex IDS interface processors, clients, routers, switches, terminal servers, time servers, and UPS devices.

Administrators can determine the health of the whole FlexIDS environment with a single glance using FlexMon.  If an error should occur, the icon for that component will flash either yellow or red in the FlexMon GUI.  The administrator can then click on the icon to view a pop-up that contains detail information about the error.

Although a FlexIDS administrator will typically only be concerned with monitoring their own FlexIDS environment, FlexMon is capable of monitoring any number of sites within its FledIDS WAN network topology.  This capability allows one user to monitor all connected FlexIDS environments from a single console.  FlexMon can be configured to monitor either individual components, or all components across the network.  The FlexMon configuration utility allows an administrator to pick and choose which components and sites to monitor.

One of the powerful features in the FlexMon suite is the FlexIDS system monitoring utility.  This feature provides the user with the ability to monitor critical system resources on FledIDS system.  These resources include hardware such as CPU, disk drives, memory, and comm ports.  In addition, FlexMon provides the capability to monitor FlexIDS interfaces.  When a problem occurs with an interface, it is indicated by the normally green image turning red.  The user is able to simply select the 'View Raw Data' button associated with the problematic interface, and a pop-up window will appear displaying the incoming data stream for that interface.  Using the Interface Maintenance feature, the user can choose to shutdown or restart the interface.

FlexMon also contains a useful feature that provides the user with capability to monitor and store the raw interface data stream from any interface.  This functionality is useful when an interface is streaming corrupted data into the FlexIDS system.  This raw data can be stored to a disk for further analysis and trouble-shooting.

FlexIDS Software Components

Interface Processor

The Interface Processor handles all of the interfaces assigned to a system.  When a message comes in from one of our outside systems, the Processor parses and makes it ready for distribution of the FlexIDS Network.  It then hands the message off to the Communications Broker for transmission.  The Interface Processor can also pass the raw input data to FlexMon for trouble-shooting.

The Interface Processor handles all data moving to or from any of the external interfaces to FlexIDS.  The processor has no user interface.  It is configured using FlexAdmin and watched over by FlexMon.  When FlexIDS is initialized on a work station, the Interface Processor looks to see if it is configured to run.  If configured as a Primary Interface Processor (PIP), the system immediately begins its processing tasks.  If the configuration calls for a Secondary Interface Processor (SIP), the Interface Processor will remain in standby, in case of a hardware failure on the PIP.

FlexDB

FlexDB is used for distributed data storage on all servers and workstations.  Much like the Interface Processor, FlexDB has no user interface, but is configured and monitored via FlexAdmin and FlexMon.  FlexDB stores all of the data types handled by FlexIDS.  This includes not only dynamic and static display pages and weather products, but also FlexIDS configuration.  Everything from interface configurations to user accounts, resides in FlexDB, and is kept fully redundant on the stations in the Flex network.

A SQL compliant relational database with full transaction support is at the core of FlexDB.  FlexDB has extensive support for memory caching, multi-threading, backup, data recovery and logging.  While many databases need constant costly maintenance, FlexDB is different.  FlexDB is essentially self-maintaining, allowing for a 100% up environment, and no maintenance worries for the administration team.

Communication Broker

The Communication Broker is the core of the FlexIDS real-time technology.  It controls the flow of data between the FlexIDS components and the FlexIDS Network.  Communication Broker sends messages to all connected members of the FlexIDS network at the same time.  Critical updates need only be sent once.  The FlexIDS network is fast, efficient, and flexible.  Large items like images, are automatically compressed before sending, and all items are sent in the most efficient manner, stripping out anything that is not critical for the task.

A key element handled by the Communication Broker is prioritization.  Data goes out in order of priority to ensure important data is sent right away.  IF some data is missed, the Communication Broker re-sends it.

There are three types of data handled by the Communication Broker - dynamic, static, and configuration.

• Dynamic data usually originates at sensors, making its way through the Interface Processor to the FlexNetwork via the Communication Broker.
• Static data often takes the same path as dynamic data, but using a lower transport priority, and with a far lower transmission frequency.
• Configuration data is entered by systems administrators, and is stored redundantly on each FlexDB to maximize up-time of the overall system.

Telemetry Log

The Telemetry Log subsystem handles logging for FlexIDS.  All user activities, including alert acknowledgements, page views, page edits, page uploads, user log-ins, and failed log-ins, can be recorded.  The Telemetry Log can also capture all data flowing to or from the FlexIDS machines.  The Telemetry Log subsystem is always active, and requires no maintenance.  The Telemetry Log has no graphical user interface (GUI), and is configured using FlexAdmin.  An administrative user can use the FlexMon to view the logged files and generate reports from them.

Much like a 'Black Box' in an aircraft, the Telemetry Log is usually ignored until its critical purpose comes inot play.  If there is an incident requiring investigation, or questionable data flowing through the system, the logs are always the place to go to sort out the issue with confident authority.