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DSX Access Systems, Inc. |
DSX-Soft I/O
DSX Soft I/O Integration Software
DSX now has the ability to integrate with various
different external devices through serial data streams. This integration allows
other systems such as intercom, HVAC, fire alarm, etc.., to interact with the
DSX network of controllers through a serial data link between the systems.
What Can It Do?
The DSX Soft I/O product will allow you to integrate
different systems together within the WinDSX
software. Now you can use one software package to monitor and control multiple
building systems. You can even program action/reaction linking events between
diverse systems.
The DSX Soft I/O can be thought of as a universal
translator. It can speak to multiple
systems simultaneously and control interaction between those systems based on
logic that you define.
The applications are only limited to your imagination.
You could integrate an intercom system with the security and CCTV so that when
an intercom station is pressed the WinDSX system
annunciates it, and instructs the CCTV system to pan the camera to the proper
position and display it on screen.
You could also program a high temperature alarm from the
HVAC system to automatically display the appropriate camera at the security
desk. The applications are limitless.
How Does It Work?
The DSX Soft I/O program provides a virtual list of
inputs and outputs that can be used to accept information IN to the DSX panel
network from other systems or send information OUT of the DSX network to other
systems.
The DSX Soft I/O program is typically run on a dedicated
PC that takes the place of control panels on the DSX RS-485 network. Basically
the Soft I/O program talks to the Master Controller just like a Slave control
panel would. The Soft I/O program can represent multiple control panels
simultaneously. Each control panel that the Soft I/O program represents is
capable of 8 Soft Outputs and 16 Soft Inputs.
Within the Soft I/O program you define Soft Inputs and
Soft Outputs. Soft Inputs are defined to accept data from other systems and
then reflect that data into the DSX control panel network. Soft Outputs are
defined to transmit data to other systems in response to commands from the DSX
control panel network.
Soft Inputs
You define inputs in the Soft I/O program to represent
the state of something that you want to monitor. These Soft Inputs defined in
the Soft I/O program will function exactly the same
within the WinDSX software as a hard input that is on
a DSX control panel. They can cause alarms, troubles, and status change events
to occur by time zone. They can also serve as the stimulus for linking events
to occur. Basically anything that you could do with an input that exists on a
control panel you can do with a Soft Input.
When you define a Soft Input you will assign it to a comm port. This tells the Soft I/O program which comm port it will listen to for the command strings that
will affect the status of the input. You
will also define the command strings that the program will listen for on the comm port. There are up to three command strings defined
for each input. They are:
Input Abnormal: The command string that will cause the Soft Input
to change to the abnormal state. If the input is armed when this command string
is received it will cause an alarm event within the WinDSX
software. (The equivalent of opening a
door while the input is armed)
Input
Input Trouble: The command string that will cause the Soft Input to
change to the trouble state. (The equivalent of opening/closing or tampering
with an input on a 4 state supervised input)
Soft Outputs
You define outputs in the Soft I/O program to represent
the state of something that you want to control. These Soft Outputs defined in
the Soft I/O program will function exactly the same within the WinDSX software as a hard outputs
that are on a DSX control panel. They can be programmed to open/secure by time zone.
They can serve as the stimulus for linking events to occur or respond to
linking events from other stimulus. Basically anything that you could do with
an output that exists on a control panel you can do with a Soft Output.
When you define a Soft Output you will assign it to a comm port. This tells the Soft I/O program to which comm port it transmits the command strings assigned to the
output. You will also define the command strings that the program will transmit
out the comm port. There are two command strings
defined for each output. They are:
Output Open: The command string that will be
transmitted when this output is changed to the open state. The output may change states
in response to a manual override, time zone change, or linking event.
Output Secure: The command string that will be
transmitted when this output is changed to the secure state. The output may change states
in response to a manual override, time zone change, or linking event.
Soft I/O Connections
Below is a diagram that shows a typical system. There is
a Comm Server PC that communicates to a Master
Controller. The Master Controller communicates to all Slave Controllers and to
a PC running the Soft I/O software. The DSX-1035 Quadraplexor
is used as a means of getting the Soft I/O PC onto the RS-485 Controller Network
via a serial port connection. The Soft I/O PC uses a separate serial port to
communicate with the other system.
Questions and Answers about Soft I/O
1.
If the Soft I/O PC is turned off, is there an indication? Yes, if the
Master Controller cannot communicate with Soft I/O the WinDSX
system will receive Device Communication Loss alarms and will show the Devices
that Soft I/O represents as offline.
2.
Can more than one copy of Soft I/O be used on the same PC? Yes, though
each would have to be purchased and registered separately they could be used to
communicate with different DSX Controller Networks. For unidirectional Linking
between two DSX Locations a single copy of Soft I/O would be used. For
bi-directional Linking between two DSX Locations two copies of Soft I/O would
have to be used.
3.
Can Soft I/O communicate with more than one other system? Yes, a single
copy of Soft I/O will communicate with multiple other systems to receive input,
and to multiple other systems to transmit output and with a single DSX
Controller Network all at the same time.
Applications for Soft I/O
There are many applications possible once you understand
the mechanics of Soft I/O. Below are some possible applications to help stretch
your imagination.
Intercom, CCTV, and Access Control
Interface between Intercom and CCTV switcher. Let’s say
for example that we have an Intercom system that has an RS-232 output. It can
send a separate ASCII string for calls placed at each intercom station. We also
have an Access Control System to control all entry points and a CCTV system
with cameras at each door.
The goal is to have all three systems integrated so as
to improve the overall performance of the entire system. If done correctly when
a call is placed at the Intercom Station the CCTV system will start real time
recording at that door and place the appropriate camera on the main monitor for
the security officer to see. The security officer can then momentarily unlock
the door for that one visitor.
The Intercom system has a unique RS-232 ASCII command
structure and so does the CCTV system. However the command protocols do not
align. The solution is WinDSX and Soft I/O. The
RS-232 output of the Intercom System is connected to Soft I/O that represents
four devices on the DSX Controller Network. This allows for 64 distinct input
points and 32 distinct output points. When a call is placed a unique ASCII
string comes into Soft I/O. The virtual input that string is mapped to is
linked to a virtual output also on Soft I/O which then sends the appropriate
ASCII commands to the CCTV system. This instructs the switcher to pull up a
particular camera and view it on a certain monitor. (The CCTV could even be
integrated to WinDSX so that the video is displayed
on the WinDSX PC.)
The security officer can now see and speak to the
visitor and decide to grant them access through WinDSX.
The call being placed as well as the door being unlocked is all recorded into
History on the WinDSX system for future retrieval.
Linking between DSX Locations
Another possible application is Linking
between DSX Locations. For example we have a large facility that is split into
multiple Locations. We have the need to have an input(s) on one Location link
to outputs on another Location. This could be done with a single copy of Soft
I/O. We would utilize the ASCII output at the Comm
Server to output commands on a particular serial port when inputs at one
location go to an abnormal state or into alarm. That ASCII output serial port
on the Comm Server would be connected to a serial
port on the Soft I/O PC. Those ASCII strings would be mapped to virtual inputs
that would then link to any output(s) on any controller in that Location. This
provides for a unidirectional linking scheme from one Location to another.
To achieve a bi-directional linking scheme between two
DSX Locations would require two copies of Soft I/O running on the same or
different PCs. Each would be connected to their respective DSX Controller
Networks. The two would also have a serial port connection between them. Inputs on one DSX system link to outputs on Soft I/O. Soft
I/O in turn sends an ASCII string to the other Soft I/O that maps it to a
virtual input. That input can then link to any other input or output in that
Location. With two copies of Soft I/O and two serial ports the two Locations
can link back and forth between the inputs and outputs in both systems.
Elevator Control
A great application for Soft I/O is Elevator Control. To
perform floor select elevator control currently requires a single relay output
for each call button and floor select button to be secured. When a card is read
(depending on the linking level assigned to it) a code to output link occurs.
This link turns on the appropriate output thus enabling the proper floor select
button in the cab the card was read. This usually requires a great number of
relay outputs and physical wiring between the Access Control System and the
Elevator Control System.
Soft I/O allows the linking that is normally done with
relay outputs to be performed with virtual outputs. Each one sending a unique
RS-232 ASCII output to the elevator control system. This eliminates all of the
relay outputs and hard wiring between the two systems.
Of
course the Elevator Control System must be able to communicate and be
controlled this way. It is also necessary for the Elevator Company to provide
the communications port (RS-232, RS-495, or TCP/IP). They must also provide the
ASCII Command structure necessary to communicate with their elevators.