Microsoft MS-DOS is the operating system software and
provides the basic housekeeping instructions for the computer
hardware. The commands for formatting new diskettes for
use and making backup diskettes, as well as other essential
commands, are contained in MS-DOS. Microsoft Windows is
the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and provides the primary
interface behnreen the user and the computer. Windows
is designed to be used with a pointing device, usuall~
a mouse, which is used to make screen selections.
The SCADAbase Station™ CTU uses Microsoft MS-DOS
and Microsoft Windows software systems,and the CTU can
run other MS-DOS or Windows compatible software packages.
The PC Anywhere Remote Communication Software allows the
CTU to accept modem phone calls from another remote computer,
and will allow the remote computer to perform remote control
and remote file transfers.
The BigMouth Software and custom speech files allow the
CTU to support both callin and callout functions.
The DataHoppper System Software provides the control
programs that handle the CTU operator interface.
All of the software packages mentioned are loaded onto
the computer hard disk drive before the CTU is installed
at its permanent location. The only time floppy disks
are used is to perform a backup of the data files, or
to install other software packages.
The SCADAbase Station™ CTU provides the operator
interface to the total system and serves as its command
center. It is used to command displays and printouts,
and to store all incoming alarm messages and status messages
for later retrieval and analysis. Also the CTU can be
used to initiate communications with the RTU(s) to obtain
status data, to program set points remotely, or to alter
the state of output control points.
For permanent records, the CTU data can be printed out
on a printer which can reproduce the entire ASCII character
set as well as dot addressable graphics.
The SCADAbase Station™ CTU is the control station
workhorse of the DataHopper System. In a live system,
it serves three major roles: 1) as a system console; (2)
as a data storage site to collect status and alarm data
from all RTUs in the field network; and (3) as an action
station to alert key support personnel that an alarm has
been triggered at some RTU, that an RTU has failed to
respond to a command, or that an RTU's main power has
failed.
Once programmed, the SCADAbase Station™ CTU selves
as a general purpose computer to carry out its multitude
of functions. This includes programming to automatically
poll all the RTUs under its command for status data, on
any schedule. Incoming messages to the CTU are stored
on the CTUs hard disk, along with complete identification
of the originating RTU.
An incoming message that is interpreted as an alarm,
loss of primary power, or failure of an RTU to respond
to a polling request, initiates a unique automatic telephone
callout system contained in the CTU. This system can dial
up to ten preassigned telephone numbers and report the
alarm conditions to a key support person in an electronically
stored human voice. When the call is acknowledged, the
CTU discontinues further callouts until a new callout
condition occurs.
The screens in the SCADAbase Station™give you
total control over each item in your suppervisory control
and data acquisition telemetry system.
