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Basic System Components > Front-end unit

IT Connectivity

Although the front-end unit´s primary function is to evaluate seismic data and to transmit wireless alert messages, this piece of hardware should be equipped with the same IT connectivity we expect of any high-tech instrument today. Therefore, the following I/O-facilities will be available as a standard:

• one standard RS-232 port
• one RS-232/RS 485 port with optical isolation
• one IrDA port

This would leave enough leeway for later connecting auxiliary devices of all kinds for more complex jobs not yet included in today‘s list of specifications.

The question is still open as to whether a simple low-speed phone modem should be completely integrated into the front end (as a plug-in option), or whether it is more adequate to use standard modems (to be placed externally).

Another question is how to make the front-end unit behave like an internet node--being directly accessible through the TCP/IP protocol. It should not be too complicated to find a tiny web server module that could be integrated into our system (as another plug-in option).

Although we do not yet see the need for direct internet access from every front-end unit, we would like to keep this option open for any future developments. At the same time, we certainly would not like to end up with a network that runs into those problems inherent to public communications, as discussed earlier.

As shown under data processing, all messages from the enormous number of front-end units will always be stored in a redundant disc array in the base station. This database server allows access to this data according to the internet protocol.