Product profile: Zone Multi Sensor Control Platform (MSCP)

design approach thus allows users to choose for themselves the individual systems and components they want or consider best, and then combine these systems and components to provide an integrated and complementary security solution.

Redundancy and control

* MSCP has been designed to use the new IPv6 standard, the next-generation, 128-bit Internet addressing scheme. MSCP also runs on current IPv4 networks.

* Most systems are designed as servers and clients — the server being the device which communicates to any security device and the client being the operator’s interface to view information collected and held on the server. This architecture may be suitable for e-mail and video systems, but the management layer requires another level of redundancy. This can be achieved by having redundant hardware servers, or server clusters, but these solutions are expensive and typically require professional IT staff to implement a change over in the event of a server failure. MSCP does not require a dedicated hardware server to control communications or field devices: All management layer redundancy is delivered by the MSCP system software. Any operator workstation belonging to the management layer can automatically become the system controller — without the need to call on IT staff to facilitate a server changeover. What we have here is a truly massive redundancy: The system, based on peer-to-peer technology, uses “floating server” rather than the traditional client/server architecture. This is important — and especially important in an emergency: If a server fails in a traditional system, then all sensors, cameras, and other devices connected to that server will not be able to deliver alarms, video, and other information to the control platform or receiving system unless a redundant server or multiples have been deployed.

* With MSCP, only COTS PC platforms are used (rather than client/servers) and they become peers in the network. The floating server is continually updating each PC’s database at very high speed. Each PC is assigned a position of hierarchy so that should a machine fail, the next designated machine in the network, regardless of geographic position, takes its place in operating the failed machine’s sensors in a matter of milliseconds. This is a capability which is passed down the hierarchal chain. This also means that there is no need for technicians to maintain the system in the field. If a machine fails, it can be replaced on the network by a non technician, so no expert IT knowledge