Features
Auto-Discovery & Self-Healing Sites
When a new site is added and connected to the network, the ATLAS system automatically configures the site. The system uses site peer-to-peer or inter-site communication to broadcast relevant adjacent site information to the other sites periodically. Because the system is exceptionally eficient, the broadcast message is particular and identifies the confirmed talkgroups for which the site is looking to connect. Then, the control message exchanged during the call setup indicates the availability to participate in the calls. This auto-discovery occurs each time a new site is deployed on the system, and it follows the Latitude technology protocol of exchanging messages with other sites. As a result, all sites in the system are rapidly aware of all other sites and only track which sites are interested in the same confirmed talkgroup and availability to participate in the call. Because of this communications protocol and information exchange, when a network connection is lost and then reestablished, the system can heal itself automatically. The inter-site communication leverages the power of IP multicast to provide one-to-many and many-to-many communication using a standard IP gateway router. Any site on the ATLAS-enabled IP network that is capable of listening or sending voice packets can participate in the talkgroup. Network packets are simultaneously received and processed by all participating sites.
Distributed Call Control
The site initiating a call is responsible for call setup. Once the call is established, the initiating site encodes voice messages with a standard audio CODEC and uses standard IP multicasting to send real-time transport protocol (RTP) voice packets across the network to the other sites.
No central controller is necessary to initiate a call
A failure at one site does not affect operation & performance of remaining sites
Simulcast Control
Our ATLAS simulcast solution has consolidated the traditional hardware elements of the comparator, prime site controller, and wide-area controller functionality into a software application. The ATLAS simulcast solution replicates this functionality at each site. Where traditional LMR systems may deploy a second instance of comparators and controllers, ATLAS provides redundancy equivalent to the number of sites times two, plus a hot standby controller installed at each site. Critical timing requirements for simulcast call launch are achieved using GPS-acquired time, which has unparalleled accuracy (on the order of nanoseconds).
Testimonial
“We never lost communication with any first responder in the county during two separate tornadoes in 2015. The ATLAS system worked just like it was designed to do. The tower sites were all in the storm-damaged areas and communications stayed up during the storm.”
Randy Miller
Emergency Management Director, Huron County, MI
