autocaller - amazon s3manual.pdf · • set the automated calling schedule for the stations or...

AutoCaller Station Network Management

&

Data Collection Software

User Manual

Revision 2 20-June-2008 700-AutoCaller Manual

CONTACT:

FTS FOREST TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, LTD. 1065 Henry Eng Place Victoria, B.C., V9B 6B2 CANADA PH: (250) 478-5561 or 1-800-548-4264 FAX: (250) 478-8579 or 1-800-905-7004

ON THE INTERNET:

Web Page: www.ftsinc.com E-mail: [email protected] Technical Support: [email protected]

Revision 2 20-June-2008 700-AutoCaller Manual

REVISION HISTORY

Revision # Date Description

1 Sep. 21, 2007 Original issue.

2 June 20, 2008 Update for AutoCaller Version 2.1.0.0.

3 July 25, 2008 Update for AutoCaller Version 2.2.0.0.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 9 General ................................................................................................................................................... 9 AutoCaller Setup Application............................................................................................................. 10 AutoCaller Database ......................................................................................................................... 11 AutoCaller Calling Service................................................................................................................. 11 Station License Count........................................................................................................................... 11

Part One: Quick Start Guide 13 General Overview ................................................................................................................................. 15 Calling Service Computer ..................................................................................................................... 16

Installing the AutoCaller System Software ................................................................................. 16 Stopping & Starting the Calling Service................................................................................. 16

Using the AutoCaller Setup Application ..................................................................................... 17 Activating the Station License ............................................................................................... 17 Configuring the Modems & COM Ports ................................................................................. 17 Defining a Station .................................................................................................................. 17 Manually Calling a Station ..................................................................................................... 17 Defining a Station Group ....................................................................................................... 18 Manually Calling a Station Group.......................................................................................... 18 Setting a Call Schedule ......................................................................................................... 18 Automated Station Data CSV File Exports............................................................................ 19 Monitoring Calls..................................................................................................................... 19 Viewing Station Data ............................................................................................................. 19 AutoCaller Database Information....................................................................................... 19

Remote User Computer........................................................................................................................ 20 Installing & Using the AutoCaller Setup Application................................................................... 20

Connecting to the AutoCaller Database............................................................................. 20 Using the Remote Computer’s COM Ports ........................................................................... 20 Manually Calling a Station ..................................................................................................... 21 Viewing Station Data ............................................................................................................. 21

Part Two: AutoCaller Setup Application 23 General Overview: Main Menu ............................................................................................................. 25 Drop-Down Menu Items........................................................................................................................ 25

Stations.......................................................................................................................................... 26 Station Setup......................................................................................................................... 26 Group Setup .......................................................................................................................... 26 Computer Port Setup............................................................................................................. 26

Data ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Collect Data........................................................................................................................... 27 Show Call Status ................................................................................................................... 27 Show Info Call Results .......................................................................................................... 27 View Data .............................................................................................................................. 28 Switch to another Database .................................................................................................. 28 Compact Database................................................................................................................ 28 Export .................................................................................................................................... 28 Data Transfer ........................................................................................................................ 29

Window.......................................................................................................................................... 30 Help ............................................................................................................................................... 31

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User Manual...........................................................................................................................31 About......................................................................................................................................31

STATIONS> Station Setup Menu 32 Modify/Add Station ................................................................................................................................32

New Station....................................................................................................................................33 Delete Station.................................................................................................................................33 Copy Station...................................................................................................................................33

Configuration Tabs................................................................................................................................33 Main Tab ........................................................................................................................................33

Data Logger Serial # ..............................................................................................................33 Data Time Offset....................................................................................................................34 Field Names...........................................................................................................................34 Field Units ..............................................................................................................................34 Field Hints ..............................................................................................................................34 Add Field................................................................................................................................35 Delete Field............................................................................................................................35

Communication Tab.......................................................................................................................36 Site Specific Communication Methods ..................................................................................37 Add/Modify/Delete Communication Method...........................................................................37

FTS Telemetry 37 GSnet Telemetry 38 GOES Telemetry 38

Calculations Tab ............................................................................................................................39 Formula Calculations .............................................................................................................39

Language Syntax 40 Syntax Examples 42

Attach/Notes Tab ...........................................................................................................................45 Attachments ...........................................................................................................................46

Attach 46 Delete 46

Notes......................................................................................................................................46 Schedule Tab.................................................................................................................................47

Enable Scheduled Data Collection ........................................................................................48 Call Settings...........................................................................................................................48

Use Fixed Schedule 48 Other Times 48 Comm. Type 48

Data Output Options ..............................................................................................................48 Save to CSV File 48

DLP Tab.........................................................................................................................................49

STATIONS> Group Setup Menu 51 Group Manager .....................................................................................................................................51

New Group.....................................................................................................................................52 Delete Group..................................................................................................................................52 Group Tab......................................................................................................................................52 Schedule Tab.................................................................................................................................53

STATIONS> Computer Port Setup Menu 55 Computer Port Setup.............................................................................................................................55

Serial Port Setup ............................................................................................................................56 Com # ....................................................................................................................................56 Active .....................................................................................................................................56 Modem ...................................................................................................................................56

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Description ............................................................................................................................ 56 TM4000 Init............................................................................................................................ 56 TM Ultra Init ........................................................................................................................... 56 Dial Prefix .............................................................................................................................. 57 Dial Command....................................................................................................................... 57 Hangup Method..................................................................................................................... 57 Hangup String ....................................................................................................................... 57

DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu 58 Station/Group Calling............................................................................................................................ 58 Call Station/Call Group ......................................................................................................................... 59

Retries ........................................................................................................................................... 59 Communication Method ................................................................................................................ 59

Standard Calls ...................................................................................................................................... 59 Collect New Data........................................................................................................................... 59

From Last Time in Data File to Current Time........................................................................ 59 Latest Amount ....................................................................................................................... 60

Collect Date Range ....................................................................................................................... 60 Get Current Conditions.................................................................................................................. 60 Get Logger Information ................................................................................................................. 60 Get Logger Audit Log .................................................................................................................... 60 Set Logger Time............................................................................................................................ 60 Get And Send Data Logger Program ............................................................................................ 61 RMX Radio Modem ....................................................................................................................... 63

RMX- Get Neighbours ........................................................................................................... 63 RMX- Get Radio Quality Log................................................................................................. 63 RMX- Get Information ........................................................................................................... 63 RMX- Get Audit Log .............................................................................................................. 63

Globalstar Satellite Modem ........................................................................................................... 65 GS1- Get Configuration......................................................................................................... 65 GS1- Get Call Log ................................................................................................................. 65 GS1- Get Audit Log ............................................................................................................... 65 GS1- Clear Call Log .............................................................................................................. 65 GS1- Clear Audit Log ............................................................................................................ 65

DATA> Show Call Status Menu 67 Call Status............................................................................................................................................. 67 Current Status Tab ............................................................................................................................... 68

Fields ............................................................................................................................................. 68 Reference.............................................................................................................................. 68 Request Date/Time ............................................................................................................... 68 Group/Station ........................................................................................................................ 68 Comm Type........................................................................................................................... 68 Call Type ............................................................................................................................... 68 Call Details ............................................................................................................................ 68 Call Status ............................................................................................................................. 69 Call Progress......................................................................................................................... 69 Bytes ..................................................................................................................................... 69 Port Status............................................................................................................................. 69 Data Status............................................................................................................................ 69 Error Details .......................................................................................................................... 69

History Tab............................................................................................................................................ 70 Call Information Filters................................................................................................................... 70

Call Date Range Filter ........................................................................................................... 70 Station Name Filter................................................................................................................ 70

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Group Name Filter .................................................................................................................70 Source Filter...........................................................................................................................70 Call Details Filter....................................................................................................................70 Error Details Filter ..................................................................................................................70

Fields..............................................................................................................................................71 Track # ...................................................................................................................................71 Source....................................................................................................................................71 Request Date/Time................................................................................................................71 Call Start Date/Time...............................................................................................................71 Call End Date/Time................................................................................................................71 Group Name ..........................................................................................................................71 Station Name .........................................................................................................................71 Comm Type ...........................................................................................................................71 Call Type................................................................................................................................71 Call Details.............................................................................................................................71 Call Status..............................................................................................................................72 Call Progress .........................................................................................................................72 Bytes ......................................................................................................................................72 Port Status .............................................................................................................................72 Data Status ............................................................................................................................72 Error Details ...........................................................................................................................72 Actual Port Used ....................................................................................................................72 Max Attempts .........................................................................................................................72 Attempt #................................................................................................................................72

DATA> Show Info Call Results Menu 73 General..................................................................................................................................................73

Clear...............................................................................................................................................73

DATA> View Data Menu 74 General..................................................................................................................................................74 Data Viewing .........................................................................................................................................75

View Range Selection ....................................................................................................................75 Range ....................................................................................................................................75 Float .......................................................................................................................................75

Times in View.................................................................................................................................75 Data Filter.......................................................................................................................................76

Field .......................................................................................................................................76 Operator.................................................................................................................................76 Value......................................................................................................................................76 Clear Filter Icon......................................................................................................................76

Sort Data ........................................................................................................................................76 Print Preview ..................................................................................................................................76 Print Data .......................................................................................................................................76 Show Gaps.....................................................................................................................................76 Print Data .......................................................................................................................................77

DATA> Switch to Another Database Menu 79 General..................................................................................................................................................79

DATA> Export Menu 81 Manage Existing Export Templates ...............................................................................................81 Export Template Screen ................................................................................................................82 Schedule Tab.................................................................................................................................85

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Use Fixed Schedule 85 Other Times 85

DATA> Data Transfer Menu 87

HELP> About Menu 91 General ................................................................................................................................................. 91 User Manual ......................................................................................................................................... 91 About..................................................................................................................................................... 91

Modify License............................................................................................................................... 91

Appendix 1: FTS Telemetry Details 93 Description............................................................................................................................................ 94 DataLogger Type .................................................................................................................................. 94

Use Saved Sensor Sets ................................................................................................................ 94 Use Saved Sensor Sets ................................................................................................................ 94

Choose Allowed COM Ports ................................................................................................................. 94 Telemetry Options ................................................................................................................................ 96

Direct Connection .......................................................................................................................... 96 Phone Modem ............................................................................................................................... 96

Modem Type ......................................................................................................................... 96 Telephone Number 96

IP Modem .............................................................................................................................. 97 DNS 97 IP Address 97 Port Number 97

Radio Modem ................................................................................................................................ 97 Baud Rate...................................................................................................................................... 97 Telemetry Path .............................................................................................................................. 98

Add RM.................................................................................................................................. 98 Remove RM .......................................................................................................................... 98 Edit RM Address ................................................................................................................... 98 Enable Telemetry Devices .................................................................................................... 98

Appendix 2: GSnet Telemetry Details 100 Description.......................................................................................................................................... 101 Station Information Fields ................................................................................................................... 101

Area Code ................................................................................................................................... 101 Telephone Number...................................................................................................................... 101 Datalogger ................................................................................................................................... 101 Use Saved Sensor Sets .............................................................................................................. 101 Data Overlap ............................................................................................................................... 101

GSnet Host Service Information Fields............................................................................................... 102 Use Global GSnet Host ............................................................................................................... 102 Use GSnet Host Settings Below.................................................................................................. 102 Edit Global Settings ..................................................................................................................... 103

IP Address........................................................................................................................... 103 Port Number ........................................................................................................................ 103 Working Folder .................................................................................................................... 103 Max. Wait for Server............................................................................................................ 103

Appendix 3: GOES Telemetry Details 104 NESDIS ID.......................................................................................................................................... 106

First Tx......................................................................................................................................... 106

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Interval .........................................................................................................................................107 Baud Rate ....................................................................................................................................107 Baud Rate ....................................................................................................................................107 Baud Rate ....................................................................................................................................107 Baud Rate ....................................................................................................................................107 Available Database Fields............................................................................................................108 Selected Ordered Message Fields...............................................................................................108

Save Data On The Hour......................................................................................................................109 Global Settings ....................................................................................................................................109

User ID.........................................................................................................................................109 Password .....................................................................................................................................109 IP Address....................................................................................................................................110 Port...............................................................................................................................................110

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Introduction General

FTS Forest Technology Systems Ltd AutoCaller is data collection software package that automatically or manually retrieves data from a network of FTS remote monitoring stations and then stores the collected data in a central database. To ensure timely data retrieval, the AutoCaller dynamically handles simultaneous station calls and is capable of collecting data via multiple modem, Internet, and direct data logger connections. A centralized ODBC compliant database eliminates the need for users to individually collect data thus minimizing station calling charges. Once the calling schedule for a remote monitoring station or group of stations is defined, the AutoCaller will autonomously (no login required) poll the stations at the predetermined time to retrieve the latest data available and then save this data into the central database. Figure 1 shows the components which comprise an AutoCaller system.

Figure 1: AutoCaller System Diagram

The 3 main components of the AutoCaller System are:

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1) the Setup Application is the user interface which allows users to define and monitor the network, call the stations manually, set the calling schedule, and also view station data stored in the database;

2) the ODBC Database which stores station data, communication information, schedule information, and call history; and

3) the Calling Service which performs and manages scheduled station calls.

The AutoCaller components in Figure 1 can all be installed on a single computer or on separate networked computers. In addition, the AutoCaller Setup Application can be installed on multiple computers in a network environment which all link to the central AutoCaller Database .

AutoCaller Setup Application

The AutoCaller Setup Application is the user interface to the AutoCaller Database . The Setup Application allows the user to define stations in the database and also allows the user to enter how (telemetry method) and when (schedule information) station data is collected. The AutoCaller Calling Service then uses the information in the database to automatically collect data from the stations.

Primary functions of the Setup Application are:

• set the station license information for the AutoCaller Calling Service

• specify the database used by the Calling Service

• define the computer calling ports (i.e., what modems are on which ports)

• define the stations in the network and how to connect to those stations

• define station groups

• set the automated calling schedule for the stations or station groups

• monitor the progress of the station calls initiated by the calling service

Secondary functions of the Setup Application are:

• perform manual calls for ‘Data logger Information’ & ‘Current Conditions’

• perform manual calls for telemetry specifics / network diagnostics (i.e., RMX radio modem neighbor information)

• manually collect data from individual stations or station groups

• view and print station data

The Setup Application interacts directly with the AutoCaller Database . This means that the Calling Service does not need to be running for the Setup Application to operate: the Calling Service is only required for automated data collection (unattended, scheduled calling).

The Setup Application can be installed on other computers so remote users can monitor the progress of the station calls initiated by the Calling Service as well as view the station data collected by the Calling Service. Remote users can also initiate station calls using their computer’s hardware (modems and COM ports) and have the data saved to the AutoCaller Database .

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AutoCaller Database

The AutoCaller Database is the heart of the AutoCaller system as both the Calling Service and Setup Application interact with the database. The database stores station data retrieved by the Calling Service (scheduled calls) or Setup Application (manual calls). The database also stores several other pieces of information vital to the proper operation of the system, such as each station’s call schedule (when to call) and telemetry information (how to call) as provided by the Setup Application, as well as call history information.

FTS supplies a Microsoft Access database with the AutoCaller installation disk; however, AutoCaller is capable of working with several ODBC compliant databases.

Contact FTS if you would like to use the AutoCaller with a database other than the supplied Microsoft Access database.

AutoCaller Calling Service

The AutoCaller Calling Service automatically contacts the remote stations and retrieves each station’s data. The Calling Service does not require a user to log onto the computer, as a Windows service, the Calling Service starts as soon as the computer is powered on. Station calls are determined by the schedule information stored in the AutoCaller Database . When the Calling Service starts-up, the Calling Service queries the database and internally creates a time-ordered calling list for the current day. The Calling Service then uses this list to systematically retrieve the latest data from each station at the appropriate time. To ensure that the call list is up-to-date, the Calling Service periodically (approximately every 10 minutes) queries the database to refresh the calling list.

The Calling Service is multi-port / multi-call capable and will queue and perform calls based on available modems. This is often the case when several stations or groups of stations are scheduled to be called at the same time. Calls are dynamically assigned to available modems as determined by the calling list. As station calls complete, data from the specific call is automatically saved into the AutoCaller Database independent of other ongoing station calls.

Station License Count

Station License Count specifies the number of stations the Calling Service can automatically call (retrieve data on a scheduled basis). Using the AutoCaller Setup Application , the user can configure any number of stations, can manually collect data into the AutoCaller Database from all of those stations, and can schedule the stations to be automatically called by the Calling Service; however, the Calling Service will only collect data from the licensed number of stations specified by the ‘Station License Count’. Scheduled stations that exceed the License Count will not be called (i.e. if a user schedules 25 stations to be called but only has a station license of 20 then 5 stations will not be called). The user must ensure that a large enough Station License has been purchased in order to automatically call the entire network of stations.

Station License Count can be changed using the Modify License button on the HELP> ABOUT menu screen of the AutoCaller Setup Application .

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Part One: Quick Start Guide

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Quick Start Guide General Overview

This Quick Start Guide is intended to give an overview on how to use the AutoCaller system to perform high-level tasks. For more detailed information on each task or action, see Part Two of this manual.

The Quick Start Guide is broken into the following two sections:

• a section for the Calling Service Computer - The Calling Service Computer is the computer which automatically

retrieves data from the remote monitoring stations.

• a section for a Remote User Computer - The Remote User Computer is any computer on which the user is

only running the AutoCaller Setup Application to view the station data collected by the Calling Service and/or monitor the progress of the automated station calls.

While the AutoCaller system can operate entirely from the Calling Service Computer , one or more Remote User Computers may simultaneously run the AutoCaller Setup Application . Also, in addition to viewing station data and monitoring automated station call progress, a user on a Remote User Computer may make manual calls to the remote monitoring stations as long as the Remote User Computer is itself equipped with the appropriate hardware (i.e. COM port and modem).

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Calling Service Computer

The Calling Service Computer is the computer which is running the AutoCaller Calling Service and has the hardware (COM ports and modems) used to call the network of remote monitoring stations.

Installing the AutoCaller System Software

FTS provides an AutoCaller compact disc (CD) with a self-launching installation application (choose the Typical Installation icon during the installation process for the Calling Service Computer). The person installing the software must be logged onto the Calling Service Computer with administrative rights to ensure proper AutoCaller software installation. As part of the Calling Service Computer installation process, the AutoCaller CD will install the following components and associated files into the C:\FTS\AutoCaller directory on the Calling Service Computer.

• AutoCaller Setup Application

• AutoCaller Database

• AutoCaller Calling Service

• FTSExporter Calling Service

After installation is completed, the user must run the Setup Application, activate the Station License, and then restart the Calling Service in order to allow the Calling Service to automatically collect data from the user’s stations. The AutoCaller Calling Service will automatically start each time the computer is rebooted (no user logon required).

Stopping & Starting the Calling Service

Two methods are available to stop and to start the AutoCaller Calling Service .

To Stop the Calling Service the user can either:

• By right clicking AutoCaller Tray Icon located at the bottom right of the Windows screen and then clicking the “Stop AutoCaller Service” menu item or

• use the Windows Task Manager to ‘End Process’ the AutoCaller Calling Service (AutoCallerSVC.exe) or

• use the Windows Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Services control to stop the AutoCaller Calling Service (AutoCallSVC).

To Start the Calling Service the user can either:

• By right clicking AutoCaller Tray Icon located at the bottom right of the Windows screen and then clicking the “Start AutoCaller Service” menu item or

• reboot (restart or power cycle) the Calling Service Computer or

• use the Windows Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Services control to restart the AutoCaller Calling Service (AutoCallSVC).

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Using the AutoCaller Setup Application

The Setup Application is the user interface for the AutoCaller system. To start the Setup Application simply run the application as you would any other Windows program.

This Quick Start Guide includes information on some of the common tasks performed in the Setup Application. Part Two of this manual includes detailed information about the menu options in the Setup Application (see Part Two: AutoCaller Setup Application) .

Some common tasks performed in the Setup Application are described below. The order of the following tasks is indicative of the steps a user would normally follow when using the Setup Application.

Activating the Station License

To Activate the Station License for the AutoCaller Calling Service choose the ‘Modify License’ button on the Setup Application HELP> ABOUT menu. At the prompt, enter the 16 character alpha-numeric code to activate the purchased station license.

After activating or updating the station license code, the user must restart the Calling Service in order for the new license to take effect (see the Stopping & Starting the Calling Service section on the previous page).

Refer to the HELP> about Menu section of the manual for more details on activating the Station License.

Configuring the Modems & COM Ports

The STATIONS> COMPUTER PORT SETUP menu allows the user to configure the AutoCaller to the computer’s COM ports and modems. The COMPUTER PORT SETUP menu allows the user to define which COM ports are to be used as well as the specifics for each modem connected to a COM port. The COMPUTER PORT SETUP is specific to the computer that is running the AutoCaller Setup Application as port setup information is stored locally on each computer. Port setup information is not stored in the AutoCaller Database .

Refer to the STATIONS> Computer Port Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on setting-up the COM ports and modems.

Defining a Station

After configuring the computer’s modems and COM ports, the STATIONS> STATION SETUP menu allows the user to define the stations in the monitoring network. This includes adding a remote station to or deleting a remote station from the AutoCaller Database . The STATION SETUP menu is also used to define:

• the specifics of the data logger at the remote site

• how the station’s data can be retrieved (the communication method), and

• when the station’s data is to be collected (the calling schedule).

Refer to the STATIONS> Station Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on station configuration.

Manually Calling a Station

A manual call to retrieve data or information can be performed once a station has been defined in the AutoCaller Database . The DATA> COLLECT DATA & TELEMETRY CALLS menu screen allows the user to select which information is to be retrieved from the station.

Prior to defining a call schedule and enabling the Calling Service or adding a station to a Station Group, a user should collect some station data (i.e., ‘get latest hour’ or ‘get latest day’) to ensure the

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defined communication method is correct and functional. This also provides “seed” data for the Calling Service.

Refer to the DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu section of the manual for more details on retrieving data from the remote stations.

Defining a Station Group

The STATIONS> GROUP SETUP menu allows the user to define a group of stations which can be called with a single call request (either a manual call or a scheduled call). A Station Group can comprise several stations with differing telemetry. The GROUP SETUP menu allows the user to create and delete groups, add or remove stations from various groups, as well as schedule group calls.

When stations are called as a group, the group call uses the default communication method for each station (defined in the station setup) as the communication method for that individual station. Stations can be added into multiple groups and will be called based on the calling schedule for each of the groups as well as the calling schedule for the individual station.

Refer to the STATIONS> Group Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on station group configuration.

Manually Calling a Station Group

A manual call to retrieve data from a Station Group can be performed once the group has been defined in the AutoCaller Database . Similar to a manual station call, the DATA> COLLECT DATA & TELEMETRY CALLS menu is used to select which information is to be retrieved from the Station Group.

Prior to defining a Station Group call schedule and enabling the Calling Service, a user should manually collect some data (i.e., ‘get latest hour’ or ‘get latest day’) for the Station Group to ensure the correct default communication method is set for each station. This also provides “seed” data for the Calling Service.

Refer to the DATA> Collect Data&Telemetry Menu section of the manual for more details on retrieving data from the remote stations.

Setting a Call Schedule

A Call Schedule is used by the Calling Service to automatically collect station data at the appointed times. Call schedules are configured under the Schedule tab in the STATION SETUP menu and GROUP SETUP menu for stations and Station Groups respectively. Call schedules can be set to contact the station at periodic intervals throughout the day as well as at other non-periodic times (i.e., every hour between 7:05 am and 5:05 pm and also at 10:20 pm).

When stations are called as a group, the Calling Service uses the default communication method for each station (defined in the station setup) as the communication method for that individual station; however, when stations are individually scheduled, the user can specify the communication method. Data retrieved from both types of calls would be written to the same station database.

After a call schedule for a particular station is entered, the call schedule information is saved to the AutoCaller Database . Automated data retrieval as per the station’s call schedule will begin after the next update between the AutoCaller Calling Service and the AutoCaller Database (a maximum of 10 minutes).

Refer to the Schedule subsection of the STATIONS> Station Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on defining call schedules.

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Automated Station Data CSV And XML File Exports

Data retrieved by the Calling Service can be automatically exported into a CSV (comma separated variable) or to an XML (Extensible Markup Language). This data output option is available under the Data> Export Menu. The user has the option of specifying the file name of the CSV or XML file and whether the data in the file is overwritten or appended on subsequent data calls. There is also a handy method of creating and saving export definitions(Templates) for re-use and scheduling purposes.

Refer to the Data> Export Menu section of the manual for more details on exporting data.

Monitoring Calls

The DATA> SHOW CALL STATUS menu is used to monitor active and historical station calls. Both manual calls from the Setup Application and automatic scheduled calls from the Calling Service are displayed on the Call Status screen.

Refer to the DATA> Show Call Status Menu section of the manual for more call status details.

Viewing Station Data

The DATA> VIEW DATA menu is used to view retrieved station data that is stored in the database. The View Data screen allows the user to select a specific station and then filter and selectively view that station’s data. The View Data screen also allows the user to print the selected station data.

Refer to the DATA> View Data Menu section of the manual for more details on viewing data.

AutoCaller Database Information

The main blue title bar of the AutoCaller Setup Application shows the path to the currently connected database (typically AutoCaller Setup c:\FTS\AutoCaller\FTSData.mdb). This is the database that is currently being used by the Setup Application. The DATA> SWITCH TO ANOTHER DATABASE menu is used to connect the AutoCaller Setup Application to a different database.

Important - Note: If the user connects the Setup Application to a different database and the Setup Application is running on the same computer as the Calling Service then the Calling Service will also use the newly selected database.

The DATA> SWITCH TO ANOTHER DATABASE menu is intended to be used to select between a local database and the main AutoCaller Database when running the Setup Application on a Remote User Computer.

Refer to the DATA> Switch to Another Database Menu section of the manual for more details on database selection with the AutoCaller Setup Application .

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Remote User Computer

A Remote User Computer is any computer on which the Setup Application is installed and monitoring the Calling Service computer. The Setup Application on a Remote User computer can perform all of the same tasks as the Setup Application on the Calling Service computer except for the following 2 items:

1) The Setup Application on a Remote User Computer cannot configure the Calling Service Computer’s COM ports, and

2) The Setup Application on a Remote User Computer can only use its own hardware to make manual station or group calls. The Setup Application cannot make a manual calls using the Calling Service Computer’s COM ports and modems.

If the Remote User computer has at least one COM port and modem, then the user can (using the Remote User Computer’s Setup Application) define a communication method so that the Remote User computer can make calls to the remote stations. The exception to this is GOES type communication and IP modem communication types. The data collected by the Setup Application on the Remote User computer can be stored either in the main AutoCaller Database used by the Calling Service computer or in a local database on the Remote User computer.

Installing & Using the AutoCaller Setup Application

As part of the Remote User computer installation process (choose only the Setup Application from the Custom menu on the installation disk during the installation process), the AutoCaller CD will install the following components and associated files into the C:\FTS\AutoCaller directory on the Remote User computer:

• AutoCaller Setup Application

• AutoCaller Database

The database installed on the Remote User computer is for local use only. This local database is not required if the user simply wants to monitor the Calling Service calls and view the data stored in the main AutoCaller Database . The local database can be used to setup test stations which the user can manually call without ‘polluting’ the main AutoCaller Database .

Connecting to the AutoCaller Database

The main blue title bar of the AutoCaller Setup Application shows the path to the currently connected database. Use the DATA> SWITCH TO ANOTHER DATABASE menu and then browse to the main AutoCaller Database used by the Calling Service. After the correct database has been selected, the Setup Application will reinitialize itself with the information from the new database. The user will then be able to monitor the Calling Service calls and view the collected data.

Refer to the DATA> Switch to Another Database Menu section of the manual for more details on database selection.

Using the Remote Computer’s COM Ports

Whether the Remote User computer is connected to the same database as the Calling Service or connected to its own local database, the user can configure the Remote Computers COM ports and modems via the STATIONS> COMPUTER PORT SETUP menu. The COMPUTER PORT SETUP menu acts locally to each computer on which the AutoCaller Setup Application is installed. This is because each individual computer can only control and access its own COM port hardware.


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Manually Calling a Station

Once the Remote User computer’s local COM ports are configured, the user can use the local ports to manually call a station.

If the Remote User computer’s Setup Application is connected to its own local database, then the user must define a station in the local database before a call can be made. The station definition and calling process is the same on the Remote User computer as on the Calling Service computer (refer to the previous Calling Service Computer section of the manual).

If the Remote User computer’s Setup Application is connected to the main database (the same database as the Calling Service), then the user must define a new communication method for the desired station before a manual call can be made by the Remote User computer. Under the Communication Tab of the STATIONS> STATION SETUP menu, add a new communication method specifying the telemetry particulars of the station and which of the local ports are to be used when making the call. Once the new communication method is defined for the Remote User computer, the user can make a station call (using the newly defined method) and the retrieved data will be stored in the main database.

Refer to the DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu section of the manual for more details on retrieving data from the remote stations.

Viewing Station Data

The DATA> VIEW DATA menu is used to view retrieved station data that is stored in the currently selected database. The View Data screen allows the user to select a specific station and then filter, sort, and selectively view that station’s data, similar to the Calling Service computer. The View Data screen also allows the user to print the selected station data.


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Part Two: AutoCaller Setup

Application

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AutoCaller Setup Application General Overview: Main Menu

The FTS AutoCaller system user interface, known as the AutoCaller Setup Application , is a Windows application. The Setup Application does not require a Station License and may be installed on multiple computers. The Setup Application will allow the user to create any number of stations; however; automatic station data collection by the AutoCaller Calling Service will be limited to the number of licensed stations.

The main menus of the Setup Application are outlined below with the relevant details for each menu provided in subsequent sections.

Drop-Down Menu Items

The main screen of the Setup Application is very simple as there is only 4 drop-down menu headings for the user to choose from: Stations; Data; Window; and Help (see Figure 2). The title bar of the main screen shows the name and path of the database to which the Setup Application is connected (e.g., in Figure 2 the database is on the ‘C’ drive in the c:\FTS\AutoCaller directory and is named “FTSData.mdb”).

Figure 2: Setup Application Main Screen

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Stations

The submenus under the Stations menu are used to configure the AutoCaller system for proper station calling (see Figure 3). Options include: Station Setup, for defining the stations; Group Setup, for defining the station groups; and, Computer Port Setup, for configuring the computer ports.

Figure 3: Setup Application Stations Menu

Station Setup

The Station Setup option is used to define a station in the AutoCaller system. Through this menu, stations can be added to or deleted from the database, have their telemetry details defined (how to call), have their automated calling schedule defined (when to call), and have station details and notes recorded.

Refer to the STATIONS> Station Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on station configuration.

Group Setup

The Group Setup option is used to define a Station Group in the AutoCaller system. Through this menu, Station Groups can be created or deleted from the database. Stations can then be added into one or several groups and each group can have their automated calling schedule defined.

Refer to the STATIONS> Group Setup Menu section of the manual for more details on station group configuration.

Computer Port Setup

The Computer Port Setup option is used to allow the user to define which COM ports are available on the computer and also define the specifics for each COM port’s modem.

The Computer Port Setup menu only applies to the computer that is running the Setup Application. That is, if the Setup Application is running on Remote User Computer #1, the Setup Application on Remote User Computer #1 can only configure Remote User Computer #1’s COM ports. The Setup Application on Remote User Computer #1 cannot configure the COM ports on any other Remote User Computer or the Calling Service Computer even if the Setup Application on Remote User Computer #1 is connected to another computer’s database.


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Data

The Data menu is divided into two sections (see Figure 4). The upper section sub-menus allow the user to manually initiate station or group calls, monitor calls (both manual and scheduled), and view results from diagnostic calls. The lower section sub-menus allow the user to select the appropriate database and view the data from a selected station.

Figure 4: Setup Application Data Menu

Collect Data & Telemetry Calls

The Collect Data & Telemetry Calls option is used to initiate manual calls. Through this option the user can choose what information to retrieve or send (data, diagnostic information, send/receive DLP,set Time ) and whether to call an individual station or a station group. Manual data collection can be used to get ‘current conditions’ at a station or to backfill missing data while diagnostic information can be used for network troubleshooting.

Refer to the DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu section of the manual for more details on retrieving data.

Show Call Status

The Show Call Status option opens the Call Status window which is used to monitor all call activity to the stations in the database. Recent manual calls from the Setup Application and automatic scheduled calls from the Calling Service are displayed in the Current Status tab of the Call Status window while the History tab enables the user to filter and view the status of past calls.

Refer to the DATA> Show Call Status Menu section of the manual for more call status details.

Show Info Call Results

The Show Info Call Results option opens the Information Call Results window which is used to display information returned by manual calls initiated within the Setup Application. The information shown on the Information Call Results window is generally diagnostic information and is not saved in the AutoCaller Database . With a manual data call, the Information Call Results window will indicate what data was written to the database (the retrieved station data will not be displayed in the Information Call Results window).

Refer to the DATA> Show Info Call Results Menu section of the manual for more call status details.

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View Data

The DATA> VIEW DATA menu option opens the currently-selected database and displays stored data for a particular station in a tabular format. The data screen allows the user to select a station and then customize the screen to display and print only specific data fields within a specific time range. Multiple customized data screens can be opened within the Setup Application.


Switch to another Database

The Switch to another Database option opens a Windows browsing dialog box to allow the user to connect the Setup Application to an alternate database. This option enables a user on a Remote User Computer to switch between monitoring the main AutoCaller Database and a local database. The local database could be used for manual test calling of non-permanent stations (stations which you do not want to appear in main AutoCaller Database ).

Important - Note: If the user connects the Setup Application to a different database and the Setup Application is running on the same computer as the Calling Service then the Calling Service will also use the newly selected database.


Refer to the DATA> Switch to Another Database Menu section of the manual for more details on database selection.

Compact Database

If your AutoCaller is connected to a Microsoft Access database (.MDB) you may need to occasionally compact your database. Clicking this option present you with a confirmation warning and then will begin will begin this process

Important - Note: Make sure that the AutoCaller service is stopped and that no remote users are actively connected to your database prior to performing this operation.

Export

The Data > Export option will allow you to export your station or group of stations to CSV or XML files. Furthermore, these exports can be performed on an un-attended scheduled basis using the FTSExporter service

Refer to the DATA> Export Menu section of the manual for more details on exporting your data.

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Data Transfer

The Data > Data Transfer option will allow you to create self contained compacted files which contain one or more stations. These files can then be sent to other AutoCaller users and the from these fields can then be integrated into the target user’s database.

Refer to the DATA> Data Transfer section of the manual for more details on creating and using data transfer files.

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Window

The Window menu includes the standard menu options used to arrange and control application windows inside the application (see Figure 5). Through this menu the user can cascade, tile or minimize the Setup Application’s call status, information call results, and multiple data screens.

Figure 5: Setup Application Window Menu

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Help

The Help menu allows the user access to an online user manual and access to version number, serial number, and license information about the AutoCaller system (see Figure 6).

Figure 6: Setup Application Help Menu

User Manual

The HELP> USER MANUAL menu option opens a PDF copy of the AutoCaller Station Network Management & Data Collection Software User Guide to allow the user to access software details.

About

The HELP> ABOUT menu option opens the About window which displays version number, serial number, and license information about the AutoCaller system. Also, the Modify License button on the About window allows the user to activate or change the number of stations that the Calling Service is automatically able to call by entering an appropriate license key.

Refer to the HELP> About Menu section of the manual for more details on the help menu and on station license modification.

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STATIONS> Station Setup Menu Modify/Add Station

Users can define their remote monitoring stations through the STATIONS> Station Setup menu in the AutoCaller Setup Application . When the user selects the Station Setup menu, the Modify/Add Station window opens (see Figure 7) and allows the user to add a new station or modify or delete an existing station. The name of the currently selected station is displayed in the Station Name drop-down menu selection box. All stations that have been configured in the AutoCaller Database will appear in this Station Name drop-down list. The Navigate Through Stations buttons on the bottom of this window provides the ability to single-step forward and backward through the station list. Selecting one of the four configuration tabs below the Station Name (Description, Communication, Attach/Notes, Schedule) allows the user to change individual station details.

Figure 7: Stations> Station Setup Menu

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New Station

To Add a New Station to the AutoCaller system, click the New Station button on the Modify/Add Station window then enter a name for the new station. After a station has been added, the user can input the station’s site details (data logger and telemetry), relevant notes, and desired call schedule. Once named, a station cannot be renamed due to the internal configuration of the database.

Delete Station

To delete a station from the AutoCaller system, navigate to the station you wish to delete and then press the Delete Station button. As a precaution you will be prompted to confirm the deletion before the station is removed from the database as the Delete Station button removes all station information from the database. Historical station data is not available once the station has been deleted.

Copy Station

To copy a station from the AutoCaller system, navigate to the station you wish to copy and then press the Copy Station button. You will then be presented with a dialog(see figure 7.1) from which you can enter the new station name as well, you can choose whether to copy Telemetry, Schedule and/or station data as well as the basic station set-up.

Figure 7.1

Configuration Tabs

Main Tab

The Main configuration tab (shown in Figure 7) details the specifics of the remote station data logger. If desired, enter the serial number of the data logger to enable serial number checking of the data being retrieved. A time offset which is applied to the retrieved data before the data is saved in the database may also be entered. Once data has been collected from the station, the names of the data fields being collected in the data logger are displayed in the Field name box. The user can then add notes or comments to each of the various field names.

Data Logger Serial #

The Data Logger Serial Number box is a feature designed to allow the user to ensure that data being saved to the database is being collected from the correct data logger (i.e., eliminate the possibility of having incorrect telemetry information like a wrong phone number). The functionality of this feature is as follows:

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1) If the Data Logger Serial Number box is left blank then the serial number checking is ignored and all data collected from the logger is saved into the database.

2) If the user has entered a serial number then all data collected from the logger is checked to ensure that the serial number of the collected data matches the reference serial number entered in the Data Logger Serial Number box. If the serial numbers match then the data is saved. If there is a serial number mismatch then:

• if the call was placed manually through the Setup Application, the user is prompted whether or not to save or discard the collected data, or

• if the call was placed automatically by the Calling Service, then the data will be automatically discarded.

In both of the above scenarios, when data is saved, the serial number of the data logger will always be saved in the StnLoggerSN (Station Logger Serial Number) field in the database along with the data. This allows the user to track which data logger supplied the data.

Important - Note:

If serial number checking is enabled and then the station data logger is replaced, the serial number of the newly installed data logger must be entered in the Data Logger Serial # box before station data from the newly installed data logger will be saved in the database.

Data Time Offset

The Data Time Offset box allows the user to enter a time offset that will be applied to the data collected from a remote station before the data is saved in the database. The feature is intended to allow the remote station to operate on a time reference different than that of the AutoCaller Database . For example, on a remote station equipped with GOES telemetry (an FTS G5 Transmitter) the data logger is synchronized to UTC time via the G5’s GPS reference while the data in the database can be referenced to the user’s local time. Some typical Data Time Offset values are shown below.

Remote Data logger Time

AutoCaller Database Time Data Time Offset Value

UTC PST -8:00 hours

UTC MST -7:00 hours

UTC CST -6:00 hours

UTC EST -5:00 hours

Field Names

Once data has been collected from the remote data logger, the Field Names display box will contain the names of the data fields being used in the data logger.

Field Units

Once data has been collected from the remote data logger, the Field Units display box will contain the units of the data fields being used in the data logger. Units for user-defined fields can be manually entered. Field units will be displayed on the Data View Screen in the column headings under the appropriate Field Name.

Field Hints

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The user can enter notes or comments for each of the data fields displayed in the Field Names box. The entered comments will appear on the Data View Screen when the cursor hovers over the Field Name heading.

To enter a hint for a particular field:

1) select the field name for which you wish to enter a hint (once selected the field name will be highlighted in blue); and

2) enter the desired information in the Field Hints box.

Add Field

The Add Field control allows the user to add a new field to the station’s database. The added field can then be used by another application which acts on the AutoCaller Database .

Delete Field

The Delete Field control allows the user to delete a field from the station’s database. Note that deleting a field will also cause the data for that field to be deleted from the database. If the deleted field is a field used by the data logger, then the next time data is retrieved from the data logger, the field will reappear in the Field Names list; however, the data previously collected for that field will remain deleted and only newly collected data will appear in the database.

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Communication Tab

The Communication configuration tab (shown in Figure 8) allows the user to enter the specifics of each telemetry device connected to the remote station data logger. Through this configuration tab, the user can add, modify, or delete communication methods. A communication method is a defined way of contacting a remote station using a specific computer and its attached devices (i.e. COM ports, modems etc.) and a specific remote telemetry device (i.e. direct connection or telephone modem, radio modem, satellite modem, etc.). Multiple communication methods may be defined for a remote station.

Figure 8: Station Setup Menu> Communication Tab

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Site Specific Communication Methods

Often there is more than one way to contact a remote station, so a station may have multiple communication methods. For example:

1) a station may have more than one telemetry device, or 2) the station may have a single telemetry device which has more than one mode

of operation, or

3) there may be several Remote User Computers, in addition to the Calling Service Computer, which manually collect data from the remote stations (each Remote User Computer would normally require its own communication method).

Each of the above examples would have their own communication method defined as a Site Specific Communication Method.

Although there can be several communication methods defined for one station, there can only be one default communication method (Default checkbox selected). The default communication method is used by the Calling Service to automatically call the station when the station is called as part of a station group.

Add/Modify Communication Method

Communication methods may be added, modified, or deleted by clicking the Add/Modify Communication Method button (or by right-clicking in the communication methods white space) and then selecting the desired action (Add New, Modify, or Delete). You can also highlight the communication method and click the Delete button.

For a new communication method, the user can add either an FTS, GSNet, or GOES Telemetry type. After selecting the desired telemetry type, the user will be prompted to give the method a descriptive name. This is the name that will appear in the list of communication method choices for manual or scheduled calls. When naming a communication method, a good practice is to begin the name of the communication method with the name of the computer on which the communication method can be used (e.g., “MyComputerName – Telephone Modem”). This allows remote users to easily identify the communication method they defined for use with their computer and modem.

When modifying a communication method, the selected communication method will be opened for the user to make the appropriate changes. After completing the required alterations the user should click the OK button to save the changes and close the communication method.

When deleting a communication method, the user is prompted for confirmation.

FTS Telemetry

The FTS Telemetry type encompasses all connections to the data logger where the data logger immediately replies to an incoming data request. FTS Telemetry supports the following connections to the remote data logger:

• direct cable connections;

• TM-4000 and TM Ultra telephone modem connections;

• RM-4000 and RMX radio modem connections;

• MSAT and Globalstar satellite modem connections;

• IP (internet protocol) Modem connections such as digital cellular modems;

Refer to Appendix 1: FTS Telemetry for the specific settings for the various telemetry devices.

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GSNet Telemetry

GSNet Telemetry is only applicable to those users who use FTS Globalstar Satellite modems (FTS models: GS-4000, Globalstar, or Globalstar-QD) as the telemetry device at their remote stations. GSNet Telemetry allows the user to retrieve their station’s data through an Internet connection (Globalstar Direct Internet mode) instead of a telephone connection (Globalstar Asynchronous mode).

Globalstar Direct Internet mode works as follows:

1) When the user wishes to retrieve station data, the GSNet Telemetry module (FTS GSNet service is required) sends a coded SMS e-mail message addressed to the remote modem instead of using a conventional telephone modem to achieve the connection to the remote site.

2) The e-mailed message is processed by the Globalstar SMS server which delivers the message when a satellite signal path is available to the remote modem. If the message cannot be immediately delivered, the SMS server periodically tries to resend the message until it is successfully delivered to the remote modem.

3) When there is satellite coverage and the SMS message is delivered to the remote FTS Globalstar Satellite modem, the FTS modem decodes the received SMS message.

4) The FTS Globalstar Satellite modem then collects the requested information from the connected data logger and prepares the data for transmission back to the GSNet Telemetry module.

Note that up to this step no Globalstar airtime charges have been incurred. Globalstar does not charge airtime for delivering an SMS message.

5) Once the data is ready to be transmitted, the FTS Globalstar Satellite modem creates a connection to the Internet through the Globalstar gateway. Airtime charges are now being incurred.

6) Once the Internet connection is established, the FTS Globalstar Satellite modem sends the requested data over the Internet to the AutoCaller GSNet Telemetry module.

7) After all the data has been successfully transmitted, the Internet connection is terminated. Airtime charges stop being accrued on termination of the internet connection.

8) The call is completed.

Direct Internet mode’s main advantage over the standard asynchronous telephone modem connection is that Globalstar satellite constellation ‘gaps’ are effectively eliminated as the SMS message is only delivered when satellite signal is available. There are also cost advantages when using Direct Internet mode because of how Globalstar bills for airtime usage – essentially data requests (SMS messages) are free and the user only pays for the Internet reply.

Refer to Appendix 2: GSNet Telemetry Details for the specifics on the GSNet Telemetry settings.

GOES Telemetry

GOES Telemetry (GOESTelem) is only applicable to those users who are using GOES Satellite Transmitters as the telemetry device at their remote stations. GOES Telemetry allows the user to retrieve their station’s data from the GOES ground station at Wallops Island via an Internet connection to NOAA’s (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) LRGS (Local Readout Ground Station). The currently supported GOES data formats are: BLM, Time Ordered and Water Surveys Canada.

Refer to Appendix 3: GOES Telemetry Details for GOES Telemetry details.

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Calculations Tab

The Calculations tab allows the user to build custom calculations. To build a calculation/formula, click the Set-up Custom/Formula Calculations button. This will bring up the Calculation Set-up screen.

From the calculation set-up screen click the New button to create a new formula calculation. To modify an existing formula either double click on the existing calculation or select it with a single click and click the Modify button. Starting a new calculation will bring up the calculation type selection screen (currently only “Formula Calculation” is available).

The order of execution (what order the calculations are done in) can be changed using the Move Up and Move Down buttons. First select the calculation you wish to move by clicking on it, then click either Move Up or Move Down to move the calculation up or down in the list. Calculations are performed from the top down.

Formula Calculations

Every data file may contain fields whose values result from calculations. This may be as simple as calculating Discharge from Stage, or a range of calculations that record intermediate values for use in other calculations.

- 40 -

The program will automatically perform calculations for those data fields that require it immediately after calling for data or after importing data. However, some calculation fields may require values that are not derived from the datalogger. In this case, the calculations must be initiated after editing the required data.

To build your own calculation/formula, click the Set-up Custom/Formula Calculations button then press the New button. Select Formula Calculation from the calculation type form.

To modify an existing formula calculation either double click on the existing calculation or select it and click the Modify button.

Once you have written a formula program, and are ready to save it and move on, just close the Setup Custom Formula Type Calculation dialog. The formula is automatically saved.

Note : If date ranges for two formulas overlap the second calculation will overwrite the results of the initial calculation.

If the referenced data has been changed, the results of the calculation will change and the new values will overwrite the old values the next time calculations are refreshed (i.e. clicking the Refresh button on a graphing screen).

Language Syntax: Variable types:

x,y : numeric - (integer, float) a,b : boolean (1 or 0) s,t,v : string

d : DateTimeString (StampString)

Type conversion: ¡¡

boolean (1/0): Logic(x) numeric: Numeric(s) string: String(x) char: Char(x) integer: Ascii(s) all types: Eval(f) // where f string is formula in [...] string : NumBase(x,base) // base from <2..16> integer: BaseNum(s,base) // base from <2..16

Math operations:

numeric (integer): x Div y, x Mod y

Math functions:

Abs(x), Frac(x), Trunc(x), Heaviside(x) or H(x), Sign(x), Sqrt(x), Ln(x), Exp(x), Cos(x), CTg(x), Ch(x), CTh(x), Sin(x), Sh(x), Tg(x), Th(x), ArcSin(x), ArcCos(x), ArcTg(x), ArcCtg(x), MaxVal(x [,y, ...]), MinVal(x [,y, ...]),

- 41 -

SumVal(x [,y,...]), AvgVal(x [,y, ...])

String operations:

s || t , s Like t, // (%,_) s Wildcard t // (*,?) "ABC" //string literals must be surrounded by double quotes

String functions:

integer: Length(s), Pos(t,s) // Note: String indexing starts from 1 string: Trim(s), TrimLeft(s), TrimRight(s), Upper(s), Lower(s), Copy(s,x,[y]), CopyTo(s,x,[y]), Delete(s,x,[y]) Insert(s,t,x), Replace(s,t,v,[1/0=ReplaceAll,[1/0=IgnoreCase]] ), IFF(a,s,t); //IF a>=1 then Result:=s else Result:=t numeric: Eval(s)

Date and Time functions:

integer: Year(s), Month(s), Day(s), WeekDay(s), string: Trim(s), TrimLeft(s), TrimRight(s), Upper(s), Lower(s), numeric: StrToStamp(d) string: StampToStr(x), StampToDateStr(x), StampToTimeStr(x)

Date and Time functions:

integer: Year(s), Month(s), Day(s), WeekDay(s), Hour(s), Minute(s), Sec(s), numeric: StrToStamp(d) string: StampToStr(x), StampToDateStr(x), StampToTimeStr(x)

Interpreter, key words & syntax:

IF ... THEN { ... } [ELSE { ...}] WHILE ... DO { ... } PROCEDURE <ProcedureName> { ... } EXEC <ProcedureName> BREAK CONTINUE EXIT BEEP END. //program end /* note */

Note: all variables are global variables

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Statistical

@AVG(FieldName, Days, Hours, Minutes, seconds) @SUM(FieldName, Days, Hours, Minutes, seconds) @MIN(FieldName, Days, Hours, Minutes, seconds) @MAX(FieldName, Days, Hours, Minutes, seconds *** These functions are database intensive and may cause the calculation to run slower.

Note: all variables are global variables

Syntax Examples

Simple Stage Calculation:

if Stage>=0 then

{

Discharge := (6*Stage^1.538)*0.03;

}

else

{

Discharge := 0;

}

end.

Calculate Discharge From Stage(Multi-case):

if Stage>0 then

{

Discharge := 0.75530059 + (0.18399245*Ln(Stage)) +

(0.029399358*Ln(Stage)^2) +

(0.00060295268*Ln(Stage)^3);

Discharge := Discharge + (0.0025560321*Ln(Stage)^4) +

(0.00037275221*Ln(Stage)^5) +

(0.000404684*Ln(Stage)^6);

Discharge := Discharge +(0.000016092901*Ln(Stage)^7)+

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(0.000010707796*Ln(Stage)^8);

}

else

{

Discharge := 0;

}

end.

Simple Shifting Example:

Stage := Stage + 1.370

end.

Flagging Example:

if Turb>100 then

{

TurbFlag := 1

}

else

{

TurbFlag := 0

}

end.

String Usage Example:

sRun := DataErrors;

sNew := "";

iCommaPos:=1;

while (iCommaPos>0) do

{

iCommaPos:=Pos(",", sRun);

if iCommaPos > 0 then

{

sEach := Copy(sRun, 1, iCommaPos-1);

sRun := Copy(sRun, iCommaPos+1, Length(sRun));

}

else

{

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sEach := Copy(sRun, 1, Length(sRun));

sRun:=" ";

}

iPos := Pos("#5", sEach);

if iPos <=0 then

{

if Length(sNew) >0 then

{

sNew := sNew || ",";

}

sNew := sNew || sEach;

}

}

DataErrors := sNew;

End.

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Attach/Notes Tab

The Attach/Notes tab (shown in Figure 9) is intended to allow the user to store a wide variety of information about the station. Files of any sort (i.e., site map & directions, site pictures, site contact information etc.) can be added in the Attachments section – much like attaching a file to your e-mail –while text entries can be typed in the Notes section. The information entered in the Attach/Notes tab is solely for the user’s convenience as this information is not used by the Setup Application or the Calling Service. Files and text added in the Attach/Notes tab are stored in the AutoCaller Database .

Figure 9: Station Setup Menu> Attach/Notes Tab

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Attachments

Attach

To add a file to the Attachments section:

1) Click the Attach button located underneath the Attachments section.

2) Browse to the desired file.

3) Select the file.

The file is now attached in the Attachments section and can be opened from within the Setup Application by double clicking on it.

Delete

To remove a file from the Attachments section:

1) In the attachments section, click on the file you wish to remove. The file should become highlighted with a blue background.

2) Click the Delete button located underneath the Attachments section.

The file is now removed from the AutoCaller Database and no longer shows up in the Attachments section.

Notes

Text notes can be typed or pasted into the Notes section. Notes are saved in the AutoCaller Database when the user closes the Modify/Add Station dialog box or switches to another station.

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Schedule Tab

The Schedule tab (shown in Figure 10) allows the user to enter the calling schedule for the remote station data logger. Through this configuration tab the user is able to specify when and how to call the station, the number of retries per call attempt, and, in addition to having the data saved in the AutoCaller Database , whether or not to write the retrieved data to a CSV (comma separated variable) file.

Figure 10: Station Setup Menu> Schedule Tab

Scheduled data calls always retrieve only the data required to update the AutoCaller Database . Prior to placing a scheduled call, the Calling Service will examine the station’s database to determine the date & time of the most recently stored data. In order to minimize data collection times and potential airtime charges, the subsequent scheduled call will only request the data from the last record

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stored in the database to the current time (up to a maximum number of days – the default setting is 3 days but this can be changed).

Enable Scheduled Data Collection Checkbox

There are two ways to automatically collect data from remote stations:

1) Stations can have individual call schedules defined using the Schedule configuration tab, or

2) Stations can be added to a Station Group and then have a common call schedule defined for the specific group (refer to the Stations Group Setup Menu section of this manual for details on this option).

If the user wishes to individually schedule a station for automated data collection then the Enable Scheduled Data Collection checkbox must be selected in order to allow the Calling Service to individually collect data for the selected remote station.

Call Settings

When scheduled data collection is enabled, a call schedule with fixed daily periodic intervals and other daily non-periodic times can be specified for the station using the Call Settings options.

Use Fixed Schedule

The Use Fixed Schedule checkbox must be selected in order to specify periodic calling times. The Fixed Schedule is a daily schedule whose cycle restarts at midnight each day. In Figure 10, the defined Fixed Schedule will cause the Calling Service to call the FTS Demo station hourly starting at 6:02 am until 6:02 pm (18:02) each day.

Other Times

The Other Times line enables the user to specify daily non-periodic calling times. In Figure 10, the defined Other Times will cause the Calling Service to call the FTS Demo station at 4:05 am (04:05) and 10:05 pm (22:05) each day in addition to the periodic call times defined by the Fixed Schedule. Other Times should be entered in 24 hour format (hh:mm) with a space between the different call times.

Comm. Type

The Comm. Type drop-down box is used to select which of the station’s defined communication methods will be used by the Calling Service when making the individually scheduled station calls. The selected communication method can be different from the default communication method specified in the Communication configuration tab. The default communication method is used by the Calling Service when the user schedules a station to be called as part of a Station Group.

Data Output Options

Save to CSV File

(*** NOTE *** This is an obsolete function which is maintained for existing installations, please use the Data > Export function instead.)

In addition to having retrieved data stored in the AutoCaller Database , the user has the option of having the data retrieved by each Calling Service call written to a user-specified CSV file. The specified CSV file can be overwritten by subsequent calls so the file always only contains the most recently retrieved data or subsequent calls can append data to the CSV file so the file contains a complete history of the data that was automatically retrieved from the station.

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The Save to CSV File checkbox must be selected to enable writing data to the specified CSV file. Similarly, the Append to File or Overwrite File option must be selected for the desired action.

DLP Tab

The DLP tab (shown in Figure 10.1) serves two purposes:

1) It will allow you Launch the Data Logger Program (DLP) screen.

2) When launching the DLP Screen it will populate it with the latest uploaded DLP for this station if one exists, otherwise it will launch the DLP screen and leave it blank.

See section on Get and Send Data Logger Programs for more details.

Figure 10.1: Station Setup Menu> DLP Tab

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STATIONS> Group Setup Menu Group Manager

The Group Setup menu is the menu through which users can organize their remote monitoring stations into groups for convenient data collection. The Group Manager window (see Figure 11) allows the user to create Station Groups, to select which stations belong to the various groups, and to schedule data collection for the group. This window also provides the ability to select existing groups so that they can be modified or removed from the database.

Figure 11: STATIONS> Group Setup Menu

Group navigation can be performed using the Group Name drop-down list or using the navigation buttons. The navigation buttons located below the Group Name drop-down selector allow the user to single-step forwards and backwards through the group list (the ‘<’ or ‘>’ buttons) or to jump to the first or last group in the list (the ‘|<’ or ‘>|’ buttons).

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New Group

New groups are added to the AutoCaller system by clicking the New Group button on the Group Manager window. The user will then be prompted to enter a name for the new group. Once a group has been named, the user can add which stations belong to the group and set the desired call schedule for the group.

Delete Group

To delete a station from the AutoCaller system, the user simply navigates to the group they wish to delete and then presses the Delete Group button. As a precaution the user is prompted to confirm the delete before the group is removed from the database. When deleting a group, only the station group is deleted, the individual stations in the group remain untouched.

Group Tab

The arrow buttons in the Group tab are used to control which stations belong to the selected group. The arrow buttons perform the following functions:

> : adds the selected station to the group,

>> : adds all stations to the group,

< : removes the selected station from the group,

<< : removes all stations from the group.

The left-hand All Stations window pane displays all of the currently defined remote stations. The right-hand In Group window pane displays the stations which belong to the currently selected group.

To add a station to the group, click on the desired station in the All Stations window and then click the ‘>’ (add station) arrow button or simply double-click the desired station. The selected station will now appear in the ‘In Group’ window. It is important to note that a station can be added to several groups.

To remove a station from the group, click on the desired station in the ‘In Group’ window and then click the ‘<’ (remove station) arrow button or simply double-click the desired station. The selected station will now appear back in the ‘All Stations’ window.

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Schedule Tab

The Schedule tab (see Figure 12) allows the user to enter the calling schedule for the station group. Through this configuration tab, the user is able to specify when to call the stations in the group, the number of retries per scheduled call, and, in addition to having each station’s data saved in the AutoCaller Database , whether or not to write the retrieved data to a CSV (comma separated variable) file.

The functionality of the Schedule tab in the Group Setup menu is identical to the functionality of the Schedule tab in the Station Setup menu. The only exception is that when the Calling Service processes a scheduled group call, each station in the group will be called using its default communication method.

If a station and its associated group are both scheduled to be called at the same time and both calls are using the same communication method, the AutoCaller will optimize the calling regime by only placing one station call.

Refer to the schedule portion of the STATIONS> Station Setup Menu section of this manual for details on configuring call schedules.

Figure 12: STATIONS> Group Schedule Menu

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STATIONS> Computer Port Setup Menu Computer Port Setup

The Computer Port Setup menu is the menu through which users define each of the computer’s active COM ports. The Serial Port Setup window (see Figure 13) allows the user to enter the connection details for the equipment (computer modem, data logger, radio modem, etc) connected to each COM port.

The Computer Port Setup menu is specific to each computer running the Setup Application. If you wish to perform a manual call from the Setup Application running on a Remote User computer, you must configure the Remote User computer’s COM ports and then define a communication method which uses the appropriate port. Computer Port Setup information is not stored in the AutoCaller Database - port information is stored locally on each computer.

Important - Note: The Setup Application does not use Windows modem driver information. Modem configuration information must be supplied in the Serial Port Setup window.

Figure 13: STATIONS> Computer Port Setup Menu

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Serial Port Setup

The Serial Port Setup window allows the user to customize each of the computer’s COM ports for the connected hardware. Example configurations for an MSAT modem connection (COM #6), a direct RMX connection (COM #4), two standard computer modems (COM #1 & #2), and a direct data logger connection (COM #5), are shown in Figure 13. The function of each Serial Port Setup field is as follows.

Com #

The Com# field refers to the actual computer’s serial COM port. This field is not editable.

Active

The Active field is a checkbox, which when selected, signals to the AutoCaller system that the corresponding COM port is available for use. The port’s Com# field changes from red to green when the Active checkbox is selected.

Modem

The Modem field is a drop-down list which allows the user to select which model modem is connected to the COM port. When a particular modem is selected the TM4000 and TM Ultra Initialization fields are automatically configured for the selected modem.

Description

The Description field is a textbox which allows a user to enter a descriptive name for the port. The name provided by the user appears in the Choose Allowed Ports window when configuring FTS Telemetry methods.

TM4000 Init

The TM4000 Init field is a textbox which contains the initialization string required for the computer’s modem to communicate effectively with a remote site’s FTS TM4000 telephone modem. This field is automatically configured when the user selects a modem from the drop-down menu in the Modem field; however, the initialization strings in this field can be user modified as required. For proper communications with a TM4000, the computer modem should be initialized as follows:

1) its baud rate fixed at 1200 bps, 2) data compression should be disabled, and

3) error correction should be disabled.

TM Ultra Init

The TM Ultra Init field is a textbox which contains the initialization string required for the computer’s modem to communicate effectively with a remote site’s FTS TM Ultra telephone modem. This field is automatically configured when the user selects a modem from the drop-down menu in the Modem field; however, the initialization strings in this field can be user modified as required. Normally the default settings are appropriate for the TM Ultra as the TM Ultra is a relatively modern telephone modem.

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Dial Prefix

The Dial Prefix field allows a user to enter a prefix to each call made using this COM port. The intention of this field is for the user to enter the specific prefix required to gain access to an outside telephone line instead of adding the prefix to each station’s telephone number. For example – a prefix of ‘9,’ (dial 9 and then a comma): 9 to get an outside line and a comma to add a delay while the outside line is being switched in.

Important - Note: Ensure that you do not add the dial prefix both here and in the station’s communication setup. The dial prefix is only required in one location.

Dial Command

The Dial Command field allows a user to enter a command that will be used to dial the modem attached to this COM port. If this field is left blank, the Dial Command for the modem defaults to Hayes AT command set standard of ATDT.

Hang-up Method

The Hang-up Method field allows the user to select which method is used to disconnect from a device connected to the COM port. The two options are: drop the DTR line (standard for most telephone modems) or use the command string defined in the Hang-up String field.

Hang-up String

The Hang-up String field allows a user to enter a specific string that will be used to disconnect from a device connected to the COM port. Note that the following hang-up string is required when using MSAT satellite modems: +++~~~ATH0^M.

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DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu Station/Group Calling

Through the Collect Data & Telemetry Calls menu the users can manually initiate calls to remote monitoring stations. The Station/Group Calling window (see Figure 14) allows the user to retrieve data and other site information as well as set logger time and send and retrieve Data logger programs from an individual station or station group. Once the Call button is clicked, the Setup Application’s Call Status screen will be displayed so the user can monitor the call’s progress.

Data collected using manually initiated data calls is stored in the station’s database (similar process as data collected through scheduled calls). This allows users to backfill missing data or to bring the database up-to-date with the latest data available from the data logger.

Information returned from site information calls (current conditions, logger information, or special calls) is only displayed on the Setup Application’s Information Call Results window. This information is not stored in the station’s database.

Figure 14: DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu

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Call Station/Call Group

The Call Station radio button enables the drop-down station list which allows the user to select which station they wish to contact. The Call Group selector button enables the drop-down group list which allows the user to select which station group they wish to contact.

Retries

The Retries box allows the users to select how many calling attempts, in addition to the first call, the Setup Application should make in order to successfully retrieve the requested data. Note that call retries does not apply to GSNet communication type calls.

Communication Method

When calling a station the user has the choice of which communication method the call should use to contact the station. As a convenience, the station’s default communication method is pre-selected (highlighted in blue).

The Communication Method selection box is the feature which enables multiple remote users to manually call the remote stations because it allows the user to place the call using the communication method defined specifically for their computer. Standard Calls

Standard calls are calls that communicate with the data logger located at the remote site. A call can request data stored in the data logger, information about the data logger, or a reading from the sensors attached to the station.

Important - Note: When using GOES Telemetry only data calls are supported as the AutoCaller retrieves station data from the GOES ground station not directly from the data logger.

There are two ways to request stored data from the logger; the user can request the ‘newest’ data, or a specific range of data.

Collect New Data Checkbox

The Collect New Data checkbox provides the user the option of collecting only the data required to bring the database up-to-date or collecting all data within a period backdated from the current time (i.e. last 2 hours).

Collect New From Last Time in Data File to Current Time

When the Collect New From Last Time in Data File to Current Time radio button is selected, the data call will request the data logger return the data required to bring the station’s database up-to-date. Prior to calling the station, the Setup Application queries the station’s database for the date & time of the last data entry so that only the information required to update the station’s database to the time of the call (as provided by the calling computer’s clock) is requested from the data logger.

Note that the Collect New From Last Time in Data File to Current Time is the type of call that is performed when the station is automatically called by the Calling Service.

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Latest Amount

When the Latest Amount radio button is selected, the data call will request the data logger return a specific time period of the most recent data stored in the data logger (i.e., the last 2 days or the last 3 hours etc.). The date and time of the returned data may or may not coincide with the time shown on the calling computer as the data returned by this call is dependent on the time set in the data logger. The data returned from the data logger is saved in the station’s database.

Collect Date Range

The Collect Date Range checkbox enables the user to request a specific range of data from the data logger by specifying the range start and end times. This type of call can be used to backfill data missing from the station’s database (if the data is actually available from the data logger).

Get Current Conditions Checkbox

The Get Current Conditions checkbox enables the user to request the remote data logger return the data from an immediate reading of the sensors specified in the data logger program. The Current Conditions information returned from the data logger is displayed on the Setup Application’s Information Call Results window. Current Conditions data is not saved in the station’s database.

Get Logger Information

The Get Logger Information checkbox enables the user to request information about the data logger at the remote site. Logger Information data is not saved in the station’s database.

Get Logger Audit Log

The Get Audit Log checkbox enables the user to request information about data logger changes and other events such as “Set time”, “Logger restarted” etc.. at the remote site. Audit Log data is not saved in the station’s database.

Set Logger Time

The Set Logger Time checkbox enables the user to set the time of a data logger. The time can be set to the current time of your PC clock or you can set it to a manually pre-adjusted time. (See figure 14.1)

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Figure 14.1: DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu

Get And Send Data Logger Program

The Get Logger checkbox enables the user to download a copy of the data logger program(DLP). Once downloaded a copy will appear on the screen below (See figure 14.2) as well, the program will be made part of the Station Set-up and can be viewed from the DLP tab of the Station Set-up dialog.

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Figure 14.2: DATA> Collect Data & Telemetry Calls Menu Get From Logger Button

Initiates a call to obtain the data logger program from the logger. While this call is in progress you are free to do other things within the AutoCaller program, when the call is complete this screen will re-appear and display the download program. You can obtain DLP’s for groups of stations in a single call as well. This will cause a screen show in figure 14.2 to open for each one of the stations in the group once the calls are complete.

Send To Logger Button

Initiates a call to send the currently displayed program to the logger. While this call is in progress you are free to do other things within the AutoCaller program. Once the call is initiated you are free to

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close this screen, the progress of the call can be monitored using the Data > Show Call Status Screen. The Data> Show Info Call Results will also report on the final status of the call.

Load File Button

Click this button to load a data logger program from a file onto this screen.

Save File Button

Click this button to save the data logger program from a file onto this screen.

Device Specific Special Calls

Special calls are calls that communicate with the telemetry device located at the remote site. Some of the recently designed FTS telemetry devices have the ability to provide diagnostic and configuration information – specifically the RMX radio modem and the FTS Globalstar satellite modem. The functionality of the calls in the Special Calls box is telemetry device dependent.

Information retrieved through special calls is only displayed on the Setup Application’s Information Call Results window and is not saved in the station’s database.

RMX Radio Modem

The RMX radio modem can provide its configuration information and log files as well as the station identifiers (station IDs) of the other RMX modems to which it can communicate.

Refer to the RMX Radio Modem Transceiver Operating Manual (FTS manual 700-RMX) for detailed information on the RMX radio modem.

RMX- Get Neighbours

The RMX-Get Neighbours special call causes the remote site’s RMX to transmit a query to determine which other RMX units are within its RF range. The remote site RMX returns the station IDs of the RMX units which reply to the query. The returned station IDs are given in hexadecimal format (base 16) as indicated by the ‘h’ suffix.

This call can be used to build a radio cluster diagram (determine radios paths) as the user can systematically call successive RMX radio modems to determine modem RF connectivity.

RMX- Get Radio Quality Log

The RMX-Get Radio Quality Log special call retrieves the radio quality log file from the remote site’s RMX. This file contains data regarding the quality of the radio transmissions with neighbouring RMX modems.

RMX- Get Information

The RMX-Get Information special call retrieves the remote site’s RMX configuration settings as well as the current RMX time.

RMX- Get Audit Log

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The RMX-Get Audit Log special call retrieves the audit log file from the remote site’s RMX. This file contains time-stamped messages of what the RMX considered to be anomalous events. The time set in the RMX is used as a reference for these messages.

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Globalstar Satellite Modem

The FTS Globalstar Satellite modem can provide its control board configuration information and log files. These features are only available when calling the modem using a GSNet telemetry method.

Refer to the FTS Globalstar Satellite Modem Operating Manual (FTS manual 700-GLOBALSTAR) for detailed information on the FTS Globalstar modem.

GS1- Get Configuration

The GS1-Get Configuration special call retrieves the remote site’s Globalstar modem configuration settings.

GS1- Get Call Log

The GS1-Get Call Log special call retrieves the call log file from the remote site’s Globalstar modem control board. This file contains time-stamped information regarding the call time and duration of successful communications with the Globalstar modem. Both asynchronous and GSNet calls are recorded in the control board call log. The time set in the control board is used as a reference for these messages.

GS1- Get Audit Log

The GS1-Get Audit Log special call retrieves the audit log file from the remote site’s Globalstar modem control board. This file contains time-stamped messages of what the control board considered to be anomalous events. The time set in the control board is used as a reference for these messages.

GS1- Clear Call Log

The GS1-Clear Call Log special call empties the call log file from the remote site’s Globalstar modem control board. The fact that the call log was cleared is recorded in the control board’s audit log.

GS1- Clear Audit Log

The GS1-Clear Audit Log special call empties the audit log file from the remote site’s Globalstar modem control board. The fact that the audit log was cleared is recorded in the control board’s audit log.

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DATA> Show Call Status Menu Call Status

The Call Status window (see Figure 15) is the screen that allows the user to view the status of past, present, and queued station calls. The Current Status tab is automatically updated to show the status of the most recent calls while the History tab allows the user to selectively view previously completed calls.

Figure 15: DATA> Call Status Display

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Current Status Tab The Current Status tab shows the status of all queued, active, and recently completed station calls. This screen is automatically refreshed from the information in the AutoCaller Database . Call Status information for completed calls not shown on the Current Status tab can be viewed using the History tab.

A user can cancel a manually placed call by selecting a call (the call background appears blue when it is selected), right-clicking the mouse, and then select the cancel call option. After canceling a call, it may take a few seconds for the cancelled call’s status to change. The user is not able to cancel an automatically scheduled call. Other right click functions include:

1) Station Set-up- which will bring you directly to the station set-up of the line you chosen

2) DataView – which will open a dataview for the chosen station.

Fields

The Current Status tab has several fields to accurately report the status of each station call. An explanation of each field follows.

Reference

The Reference field displays the originator of the call coupled with a unique reference number. This can be either the Calling Service (displayed as AutoCaller Service) or the Setup Application (displayed as AutoCaller Setup). This field allows the user to distinguish between scheduled and manual calls.

When RMX radio modems that are part of the same radio cluster are called as a group, the reference number for these calls will be the same as the RMX is able to handle simultaneous data calls.

Request Date/Time

The Date/Time field displays the date and time the call was placed into the calling queue.

Group/Station

The Group/Station field displays the group and name of the station being called.

Comm Type

The Comm Type field displays the whether the call uses regular FTS telemetry, GSNet telemetry or GOES Telemetry to communicate with the remote station.

Call Type

The Call Type field displays what information is being requested from the remote station (i.e., Latest Data, Current Conditions, Logger Information, etc.).

Call Details

The Call Details field displays specifics of the call to the remote site.

For an FTS communication type call this field will display call retry information, the COM port used for the call and, if applicable, the remote site’s phone number.

For a GSNet communication type call this field will display the ID number of the outgoing SMS e-mail, the remote site’s phone number, the GSNet server’s IP address and port number, as well as the timeout value (in seconds) for the GSNet call. Call retry information is also displayed; however, GSNet type calls do not support call retries.

For a GOES communication type call this field will display the IP address and port number used for the connection to the LRGS database as well as call retry information.

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Call Status

The Call Status field displays the state of the call to the remote site. One of six messages is displayed in this field (see below).

Queued : The call is waiting for a COM port or phone number to become available.

Calling : The call is in progress.

Complete : The call cycle has been completed.

Error : There was an error during the call process. See the Error Details field for specifics.

Cancelled : The call was cancelled before the call process was completed. A manual call can be cancelled by the user while a scheduled call will be cancelled by the Calling Service if the call does not proceed in a timely manner.

Retry Wait : The previous attempt of this call was unsuccessful and the call is now waiting for its next call attempt.

Call Progress

The Call Progress field displays information on each step of the call to the remote site (i.e., initializing modem, dialing, etc.).

Bytes

The Bytes field displays the number of bytes received from the remote site. The received bytes can be data or error message information from the remote station.

Port Status

The Port Status field displays the state of the COM port during the call. This field is only used when communication through a telephone modem.

Data Status

The Data Status field displays the state of the data received from the remote site. One of three messages is displayed in this field (see below).

Good : Data was successfully retrieved from the remote station.

None : No data was received.

Invalid : The returned bytes did not contain valid station data.

Error Details

The Error Details field displays specifics on what error occurred during the call process. If the call has multiple retries then successive error messages are appended and displayed in this field. This means that even though a call retry successfully retrieves data, the Error Details field will still display an error message from the previously failed call attempt.

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History Tab

The History tab shows the status of all station calls (manual and automatic). The History tab has several filters which enable the user to selectively view station call information. After entering the desired filter information the Setup Application will update the History screen after approximately 2 seconds or the user can immediately manually update the screen by clicking either of the refresh icons (see below).

Refresh Icon:

In addition to filtering the station call information, the user can sort the information by clicking on any of the History tab Field Headings.

Call Information Filters

Six filters (see below) are available to allow the user to selectively view call information. The filters work in conjunction with each other, only calls which match all filter requirements will be displayed. If a filter is left blank, it will be ignored in the sorting criteria.

Call Date Range Filter

The Call Date Range filter allows the user to select the date range of the calls that the user wishes to examine. This filter requires that a start and end date be specified (note that the end date can be in the future).

Station Name Filter

The Station Name filter allows the user to select which station(s) calls appear in the History tab. The Station Name filter can be a partial string so that stations with similar names can be displayed at the same time.

Group Name Filter

The Group Name filter allows the user to select which station group(s) calls appear in the History tab. Like the Station Name filter, the Group Name filter can be a partial string so that station groups with similar names can be displayed at the same time.

Source Filter

The Source filter allows the user to select whether to display manually generated calls (AutoCaller Setup) or scheduled calls (AutoCaller Service) in the History tab. If this filter is left blank, both manual and scheduled calls will be displayed.

Call Details Filter

The Call Details filter allows the user to isolate the details of the calls that are displayed. For example, the user could choose to display only calls on a certain COM port or calls to a certain telephone number.

Error Details Filter

The Error Details filter allows the user to only display calls with certain errors. For example, the user could choose to display all calls that required more than 1 attempt.

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Fields

The History tab has several fields to accurately report the status of each station call. Many of the fields contain the same information as the Current Status tab; however, the History tab does have additional fields. Fields is the History tab may be rearranged (drag and drop the Field Heading) to suit the user’s needs. An explanation of each Field Heading follows.

Track #

The Track # field displays a reference number unique to the method in which the call was made (manual call via AutoCaller Setup or scheduled call via the AutoCaller Service). This reference number is the same as the number shown in the Reference field of the Current Status tab.

Source

Like the Reference field on the Current Status tab, the Source field displays the originator of the call; either the Calling Service (displayed as AutoCaller Service) or the Setup Application (displayed as AutoCaller Setup).

Request Date/Time

The Request Date/Time field displays the date and time the call was placed into the calling queue. This field is the same as the Date/Time Field on the Current Status tab.

Call Start Date/Time

The Call Start Date/Time field displays the date and time the station calling process was actually started.

Call End Date/Time

The Call End Date/Time field displays the date and time the call to the station was completed.

Group Name

The Group field displays the group of the station being called. This field displays the group name portion of the Group/Station Field on the Current Status tab.

Station Name

The Station field displays the name of the station being called. This field displays the station name portion of the Group/Station Field on the Current Status tab.

Comm Type

This field is the same as the Comm Type Field on the Current Status tab.

Call Type

This field is the same as the Call Type Field on the Current Status tab.

Call Details

This field is the same as the Call Details Field on the Current Status tab.

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Call Status

This field is the same as the Call Status Field on the Current Status tab.

Call Progress

This field is the same as the Call Progress Field on the Current Status tab.

Bytes

This field is the same as the Bytes Field on the Current Status tab.

Port Status

This field is the same as the Port Status Field on the Current Status tab.

Data Status

This field is the same as the Data Status Field on the Current Status tab.

Error Details

This field is the same as the Error Details Field on the Current Status tab.

Actual Port Used

The Actual Port Used field displays the actual COM port used for the station communications. This field is useful when the user has a pool of modems that can be used to call stations as it identifies which COM port was used to make the station call.

Max Attempts

The Max Attempts field displays the number of attempts allowable to collect the data. This field identifies how many retries are allowed for a specific station call (i.e., if a call is allowed 2 retry attempts then the Max Attempts field will display 3 – one original call plus 2 additional retries in the event of communication failures).

Attempt #

The Attempt # field displays a count for the number of attempts made to collect the data. This field is useful for identifying stations whose communications may be problematic (i.e., perhaps a poor radio link or telephone line).

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DATA> Show Info Call Results Menu General

The Information Call Results window (see Figure 16) displays the information returned from station information calls. Information returned from a Current Conditions, Logger Information, or Special Call is displayed as the data is retrieved and will remain displayed until information from subsequent calls ‘pushes’ the older data off the bottom of the window. The user can clear the Information Call Results

window by pressing the Clear button at the bottom of the window.

Figure 16:

DATA> Informa

tion Call

Results Display

Clear

The Clear button clears the Information Call Results window. No station data is deleted during this operation, only the information on the display is cleared.

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DATA> View Data Menu General

The View Data menu allows the users to examine and edit the data retrieved from their remote monitoring stations. The View Data window (see Figure 17) allows the user to select a station from the Select Station pull-down list and then choose which of the station’s data to view and print if desired.

Figure 17: DATA> View Data Display

As can be seen in the above diagram, duplicate data sets are visible in the Data View. The fields with the _Raw suffix whose data values appear in red are locked in the database and cannot be changed. Users can alter the normal fields (values displayed in black); however, the Raw fields are retained as a record of the original data from the data logger.

The color of an editable field shows its current state: normal, changed, editing, deleted or selected. The coloring can be viewed and set by right clicking in the Data View window and selecting the “Set Colors” menu.

Editing a field can be performed by clicking in the field then entering a new value. Regions can be selected by clicking and dragging the mouse over a region or by right clicking and selecting a begin point (via “Begin Selection”) and then selecting an end location (“End Selection”). Only single columns or regions within a single column can be select. Once a region is selected the data can be copied or cut then pasted into a different column.

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Data Viewing

Several options exist to allow the user to customize how their station’s data is displayed. In order to view only the data of interest, the user can:

1) specify the date & time range of the data

2) specify the time the data was collected (i.e., only the hourly data) 3) select which sensor’s data to view by displaying or hiding data columns

4) filter the data (i.e., display only data where humidity is lower than 30%)

5) sort the data by clicking on the column heading for ascending and clicking again for descending order.

6) Right click mouse to Launch Station setup or collect data directly from this screen which automatically knows the station context.

The user can display or hide data columns by right-clicking within the column to display the column control panel. The user then has the choice to hide the field, insert a field that was hidden, or to reset the view to display all data fields. Column locations may also be rearranged by dragging and dropping the column headings. Data views can be customized on a station-by-station basis.

After selecting a desired data range and/or setting a data filter, the user can force an update to the Data View screen by pressing either of the screen’s Refresh icons (shown below).

Refresh Icon:

View Range Selection

Station data can be viewed in one of two ways: the user can specify an actual date & time range (i.e., 27/June/2005 08:57 to 15/July/2006 23:48); or, the user can specify a time period prior to the current date and time (i.e., the last 2 weeks).

Range

The Range selector button enables the From and To selection boxes so that the user can input the desired date and times. The user may right-click in either selection box to automatically select: the first entry in the database; the last entry in the database; the beginning of the month; or the current date.

Float

The Float selector button enables the View selection box so that the user can input the desired date time period. The drop-down menu allows the user to select a time period or the user may input a period of their choosing (i.e., last 65 days).

Times in View

The Times in View dropdown selection box enables the user to select which data from the database to view. The user may select from the dropdown choices or can modify one of the choices so that only the desired data is displayed (i.e., select 12:00 to only display the noon readings or select 12 to display all data with times between 12:00 and 12:59).

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Data Filter

The data filter on the View Data screen allows the user to further refine the station data that is displayed. The data filter is a simple filter as it only filters based on one data condition on one station data field.

Field

The Field drop-down selection box selects which one of the station’s data field will be used as the filter.

Operator

The Operator drop-down selection box selects the action to perform on the data field. The available mathematical operator choices are:

• equal to • less than • less than or equal to • greater than • greater than or equal to

Value

The Value entry box allows the user to enter a number to set the desired filter value.

Clear Filter Icon

The Clear Filter icon (shown below) deletes the data filter settings to allow all data to be displayed.

Clear Filter Icon:

Sort Data

Normally data is displayed in descending chronological order; however, the user can choose to sort the displayed data by clicking on any data field heading on the Data View screen. The user can select ascending or descending order as indicated by the up or down arrow beside the data field heading (i.e., in Figure 17 data is sorted in with the most recent data displayed at the top of the screen).

Print Preview

The Print Preview icon (shown below) allows the user to view how the displayed data will be printed.

Print Preview Icon:

Print Data

The Print Data icon (shown below) prints the data as it is displayed on the View Data screen.

Print Data Icon:

Show Gaps

The Show Gaps checkbox enables visual markers in the station’s data which indicate that there is data missing (a gap) between two data points. The Setup Application determines if there is a data gap by examining the data point time interval.

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Modify Calculations

The Modify Calculations icon (shown below) displays the calculations for the current station. The Calculations Screen can also be reach from the Station Setup screen via the Calculations.

Modify Calculation Icon:

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DATA> Switch to Another Database Menu General

When first installed on the Calling Service Computer or the Remote User Computer, the AutoCaller system interacts with the locally installed AutoCaller Database (FTSdata.mdb). The Switch to Another Database menu option allows a user running the AutoCaller Setup Application on a Remote User Computer to switch from the locally installed database to the main database used by the Calling Service. This enables the remote user to monitor calls and view data from the main AutoCaller Database . The remote user must have network privileges to allow them to connect to the computer which contains the main database.

When switching to an Microsoft SQL Server your network administrator or DBO must first transfer your database from MS Access to the SQL server before switching. The database on the server must allow full security rights to all AutoCaller users. This includes table add and delete rights. Your network administrator will need to fill in the SQL section shown in Figure 18.1.

Figure 18.1: Data >Switch Database.

Important - Note:

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If the user connects the Setup Application to a different database and the Setup Application is running on the same computer as the Calling Service then the Calling Service will also use the newly selected database.


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DATA> Export Menu General The Export Data menu allows the users to export your station or group of stations to CSV or XML files. Furthermore, these exports can be performed on an un-attended scheduled basis using the FTSExporter service. The basis of the export system is the “Export Template” which is a way to define and then save an export definition for later use by the user or to be used by the export schedule service to perform un-attended exports.

Manage Existing Export Templates

Below (figure 18.2) is the screen to list, create new, and manage your templates.

- Double click on an exiting template to open it,

- Click the “New” button to create a new template.

- Click on column headings to sort by that column ascending, click again for descending.

- Filter by user, save date and export type. Filter will refresh in about 2 second after your last keystroke.

Figure 18.2: Date > Export (Manage Export Temp lates )

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Export Template Screen

Show in figure 18.2 is the “Export Template” screen which is a way to define and then save an export definition for later use either by the user or to be used by the export schedule service to perform un-attended exports

Figure 18.3: Date > Export (Export Template)

Export Stations or Groups

Choose whether you would like to export single stations or select groups to export. The appropriate box Choose Stations or Choose Groups will become active depending upon your choice.

Choose Stations

Place a check beside any or all of the stations you wish to export. (Note: The station you choose here will determine what fields are available in the All Chosen Station’s Fields box below. Choosing none here will result in an empty fields box.

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All Chosen Station’s Fields Box

The box will contain all the available fields within the stations or groups you selected above. Fields that are not a part of your station choices will not appear here. Click on a field then click the right

arrow to send this field into the Chosen fields box. Click the left arrow to remove the field from the chosen side and put it back into the all fields box.

Chosen Fields Box

The fields that in this box are the only data fields that will be exported and they will be exported in the order that they appear from top to bottom as left to right in the CSV data file. All fields will remain in the same column number therefore if a field is not valid for one of the chosen stations then an empty cell will appear on that station’s line in place of that field. This rule will maintain CSV column integrity while allowing multiple stations to be exported to a single file.

Note: The first two columns of all CSV exports will be the station name followed by a comma then the date and time value for each record.

Output Type Box

You must choose and output type or style, currently supported types are CSV and XML.

CSV

CSV is defined as a single line for each data record with each field on the line separated by commas. Output lines will contain a mandatory station name field followed by a date-time as the first two columns, then followed by each of the selected fields in the order as they appear (top to bottom) in the chosen fields box.

XML

XML output is a fixed format where all fields for each record contain a field name tag. Every selected record will appear but empty fields for each record will not.. Example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

- <dataroot xmlns:od="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:officedata"

xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="TestXML.xsd" generated="2008-06-25T09:10:22">

- <FTS_Rooftop_async>

<DateTimeNum>2008-04-24T10:40:00</DateTimeNum>

<ATC>11.2</ATC>

<LoggerSn>1006</LoggerSn>

<Telem>14</Telem>

<ATC_Raw_>11.2</ATC_Raw_>

<Telem_Raw_>14</Telem_Raw_>

</FTS_Rooftop_async>


<DateTimeNum>2008-04-24T10:50:00</DateTimeNum>

<ATC>11.3</ATC>

<LoggerSn>1006</LoggerSn>

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<Telem>13.9</Telem>

<ATC_Raw_>11.3</ATC_Raw_>

<Telem_Raw_>13.9</Telem_Raw_>

</FTS_Rooftop_async>


XML output will also create an XML Schema file with the same name as the output file with the extension “XSD”

Date-Time Format Box

This box determines how the date-time is formatted to the CSV file (date-time always starts at the second column of the CSV). You can click the dropdown to see many standard formats or you could type directly into the text area of the box to create your own unique date and time formats. Placing commas between the date, time characters will cause them to be placed into separate columns in the CSV. For example:

Example # Date-Time Mask CSV Output Example

1 yyyy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss StationName,2008/06/20 09:45:00,data1,data2 …..

2 mmm dd yyyy hh:mm:ss StationName,Jun 20 2008 09:45:00,data1,data2 …..

3 mmm dd yyy, hh:mm:ss StationName,Jun 20 2008,09:45:00,data1,data2 …..

4 yy,mm,dd,hh:mm StationName,08,06,20,09:45,data1,data2 …..

Notice the commas separating the date and time fields in the output of examples 3 and 4 to reflect the mask.

Times Box

The purpose of this box is to enter criteria which will cause the selection of only certain records based on time of day, only records that meet this criteria will be exported. Here are some examples:

Mask Results

ALL Will display all times of day.

0..23 Exports only hourly data for each of 24 hours.

1,3,5,7 Exports only hours 1, 3, 5, 7 o’clock.

Hourly Exports only hourly data for each of 24 hrs.

12:00 Exports only noon data.

30 Min Exports will be all on the hour and half pas the hour data.

Include Field Names

When ticked, causes the first line of the CSV export to contain the field names for each of the fields to be exported. Has no affect on XML output format.

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Include Field Units

When ticked, causes the second line of the CSV export to contain the unit names for each of the fields. Has no affect on XML output format.

Date Range Options .

Export All Data Will export every record contained in the station(s).

Export Date Range Exports only records that fall within the chosen date range.

Export Since Last This will export all data since the last export of each station template combination. For example, if you export a station with a given export template then export the same station with another template, two separate last export date-times will be tracked.

Export Float Range Allows the exporting of ranges of data that are textual in nature that are relative to points in time. Examples:

Last 3 hours: Export records from the current time going back 3 hours.

Last 15 days Exports records from the current date and time going back 15 days.

Since Beginning of year Exports records since Jan 01 of the current year.

Output File

Browse to a file in which the exported data will be placed, click on the Append radio button to add to the end of an existing file or, click overwrite to clear the file before exporting. Be careful not to have the file open in another editor, as this will cause an error. To export your data to a new file, just click the Browse button and proceed as though saving an ordinary file.

Schedule Tab

Exports templates can be scheduled to run at pre-selected times in an un-attended mode by completing the schedule tab of the export template.

The Enable Scheduled Data Collection checkbox must be selected in order to allow the Exporting Service to use this template to export data.

Use Fixed Schedule

The Use Fixed Schedule checkbox must be selected in order to specify periodic exporting times. The Fixed Schedule is a daily schedule whose cycle restarts at midnight each day. In Figure 10, the defined Fixed Schedule will cause the Calling Service to call the FTS Demo station hourly starting at 12:01 am until 11:50 pm each day.

Other Times

The Other Times line enables the user to specify daily non-periodic exporting times. In Figure 18.4, the defined Other Times will cause the exporting Service to run this template 4:05 am (04:05) and

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10:05 pm (22:05) each day in addition to the periodic call times defined by the Fixed Schedule. Other Times should be entered in 24 hour format (hh:mm) with a space between the different call times.

Figure 18.4: Data > Export (Export Template- S chedule tab)

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DATA> Data Transfer Menu General

The Data > Data Transfer option has two parts, Create Data Transfer File and Load Data Transfer File

Figure 18.5: Data > Transfer

Create Data Transfer File – Save data to transfer file. The Create Data Transfer File will allow you to create self contained, compacted files which contain one or more entire stations including data and meta data such as field names, units etc.. This file can then be sent to other people to load the contained stations into their own database using the Load Data Transfer File function.

Figure 18.5: Data > Transfer –Create Data Transfer File

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Select Stations To Transfer

Place a check beside any or all of the stations you wish to export. Your choices will be placed into a single data transfer file together with the data range chosen and all Meta data such as field names, units etc…

Target Transfer File Name

You must choose a file in which to place all of your chosen stations, to do so click the Browse button and choose a path and file name. You cannot type directly into the file box nor can you change the extension of the file, it must remain as .DTZ in order for the recipient’s Data Transfer Load Function to recognize it.

Save Options

This option will allow you to choose the amount of data to transfer by choosing one of three available data range options:

1) Since Last: will keep track by station as to the last transfer data date and time so that the next time you transfer it will begin at that point..

2) Date Range: Allows you to choose a specific start and end date time to transfer.

3) All Data : Will export all the data for each of the stations chosen.

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Load Data From Transfer File

The Load Data From Transfer File function will allow you to open and select from a list of station continued in Data Transfer file (.dtz) created and sent to you by someone using the Create Data Transfer File . This is a self contained compacted file which can contain one or more entire stations including data and meta data such as field names, units etc..

Figure 18.6: Data > Transfer –Load Data From Trans fer File.

Choose a Data Transfer File From Which To Load Data Your first step in loading from a transfer file is to browse to one of these .dtz files that some had sent to you, click open and a list of available stations will appear as shown in figure 18.6.

Select From Available Station In Transfer Tick one or more of the listed stations to load into your database. You can load them as the name currently have or you can rename them by using the change local target station. Stations that do not exist in your database will be created. In the example in figure 18.6 someone had sent 4 stations but will be only loading 4 of them, the other one can be done separately at another time.

Map Transferred Stations This function will allow you to change the name of a station from the one sent to you since you may have a different naming convention and you may not want to overwrite an exiting station with the one being transferred to you The Data Start Date-Time and Data End Date-Time are for information purposes only to tell you the range of data in the chosen transfer file.

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Load Data Options Add Only New Records - This option is to load records that are not existing in your target station and will not overwrite any existing records even though they are part of the data sent to you.

Overwrite All Records – This option will replace all of your target station records with those from the transfer file.

Import All Data – This option will import both the field(user) data as well as the raw data to your target station.

Import Only Raw Data – This option will import only the Raw copy of the data leaving your Field (user) data un-touched.

Import Only User Data – This option will import only the User copy of the data leaving your Raw data un-touched.

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HELP> About Menu General

The Help menu allows users to access a PDF version of this AutoCaller User Manual as well as displays version and license information on their AutoCaller system. Through the Help menu the user can also update their station license. User Manual

The User Manual menu item allows users to access a PDF version of this User Guide. About

The About menu allows the users to view the particulars of the AutoCaller system (see Figure 18 below). Software version and serial number information is displayed as well as the License Count for the number of stations that can automatically be called by the AutoCaller Calling Service .

Figure 18: HELP> About Display

Modify License

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The Modify License button opens the dialog box shown below in Figure 19. The dialog box prompts the user to enter the 16 character License Code provided by FTS which then enables the AutoCaller Service to automatically call the licensed number of stations.

Figure 19: HELP> About> Modify License Display

Upon correctly entering the License Code, the Setup Application will automatically display the Software Name, Software Number, and License. After clicking the Update button, the AutoCaller Service must be restarted (see the Stopping & Starting the Calling Service section in this manual) in order for the License information to take effect.

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Appendix 1: FTS Telemetry Details The FTS Telemetry type encompasses direct data logger connections as well as telephone, radio, satellite, or IP modem connections used to retrieve data from a remote monitoring station. Parameters of the remote site’s data logger and telemetry equipment as well as parameters for the computer calling the remote station must be properly identified in the communication method’s FTS Telemetry setup window (see Figure 20) in order to communicate with the remote station. Access to this window is provided through the Add/Modify/Delete Communication Method button on the Communication tab of the STATIONS> Station Setup menu selection.

Figure 20: FTS Telemetry Example

Note: Figure 20 is an example of an FTS Telemetry communication method for a remote station FTS Demo. On this computer (CEDAR), modems on either Com1 or Com2 can be used to connect to the radio cluster hub site which has a TM Ultra telephone modem and an RMX radio modem (ID: 010Ah). The hub site communicates with repeater site (ID: C02Fh) which communicates with the FWS-12S Data logger at the FTS Demo site via FTS Demo’s RMX radio modem (ID: 0005h).

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Description

The Description field displays the name of this particular Communication Method at the time it was created. The name given in the Description field will appear in the Communication Tab – Site Specific Communication Methods list and also in the Communication Methods choices list when making manual calls to the station. When naming a communication method, a good practice is to begin the name of the communication method with the name of the computer on which the communication method can be used. This allows remote users to easily identify the communication method they defined for used with their computer and modem (i.e. see Figure 20: “CEDAR- FTS Telemetry Example”). Data Logger Type

The Data Logger Type field identifies the model of FTS data logger at the remote site. Select the appropriate model from the drop-down menu list. If the remote site does not have a data logger (i.e. is a radio repeater site only) then select ‘None’.

Password Box

If your data logger is password enabled(i.e. some has set the password in the logger) then in order to perform certain functions such as Set Time, Send Data Logger Program and other functions which may change the behavior of the logger you will need to enter this password in this box. Setting the password is not currently supported in AutoCaller .

Use Saved Sensor Sets

Associated with Data logger field is the Use Saved Sensor Sets checkbox. Sensor set information is information about the data that the data logger transmits along with the actual data on each data request (i.e., data field names, data storage information, etc.).

If the Use Saved Sensor Sets checkbox is enabled then on the first data call to the station the returned data logger sensor set information will be saved. Subsequent calls to the station will result in only data being collected from the data logger. If the saved sensor set information does not match the incoming data, the AutoCaller will automatically update its sensor set information. The user should enable the Use Saved Sensor Sets option when utilizing telemetry options that incur airtime charges as this option will minimize the data transmitted from the station on each data call. Choose Allowed COM Ports

The Choose Allowed COM Ports selection box enables the user to select which of the computer’s COM ports can be used to contact the station. The AutoCaller system is multi-call, multi-thread capable so the user can identify all of the COM ports on the computer which can be used to connect to the remote station. When making a call to a remote site, the Setup Application or Calling Service will use whichever of the allowable COM ports (and associated modem) is available to place the call.

Important - Note: COM ports are hardware devices which are specific to each computer. A user on a Remote User computer cannot initiate a call to a station with a communication method that was configured for use on the Calling Service computer. This is because the Remote User computer is not able to access and control the COM ports on the Calling Service computer.

If the user wishes to place a manual call to the station with the Setup Application running on a Remote User computer then the user must configure a communication method which utilizes a COM port (and associated modem) on the Remote User computer. This is why it is good practice to begin the name of the communication method with the name of the computer on which the communication method can be used.

Clicking the Global Computer Port Setup button next to the Choose Allowed COM Ports selection box opens the Serial Port Setup window of the Computer Port Setup Menu. Refer to the STATIONS>

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Computer Port Setup Menu section of this manual for details on configuring your computer’s COM ports.

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Telemetry Options

Each individual communication method can only have one of the following telemetry configurations defined:

• Direct Computer to Data logger Connection

• Direct Computer to Radio Modem Connection

• IP Modem to Data logger Connection

• Telephone Modem Connection to the Data logger

• Combination Telephone / Radio Modem to the Data logger

The setting of the options below determines the telemetry configuration. As the telemetry is configured, the telemetry path for the remote site is visually displayed at the bottom of the FTS Telemetry Setup window. Double-clicking on a telemetry icon will enable or disable that particular telemetry device from the telemetry path.

Direct Connection

This option is used when a point-to-point cable connection exists between the station’s data logger and the computer’s COM port. The ‘Direct Connection’ selection box should be selected to enable this telemetry connection.

Phone Modem

The Phone Modem selection box should be selected when either:

a) the remote station is equipped with a telephone modem, or b) the radio cluster hub site of the radio path to the remote site is equipped with

a telephone modem (see Figure 20 as an example).

After enabling the Phone Modem selection box, the user must select the appropriate telephone modem type and enter the phone number for the remote site.

Modem Type

Remote sites may be equipped with a conventional telephone modem (TM4000 or TM Ultra), a satellite modem (FTS Globalstar or MSAT), or an IP modem (Internet Protocol Modem: i.e. a digital cellular modem). Identify the model of the remote site’s modem using the Modem Type drop-down menu selector. Once the Modem Type is selected the appropriate modem fields will be enabled for the user to enter the relevant modem details.

Telephone Number

Enter the telephone number of the remote site’s modem should be entered in the Telephone Number field. Valid telephone number characters are:

• Numbers: 0 .. 9 : phone number digits

• Brackets: ( or ) : phone number delimiter for readability

• Commas: , : dial pause operator

A telephone number is not required when the IP Modem is selected.

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IP Modem

The IP Modem option is selected when the remote site is equipped with a modem which communicates over the internet (i.e. a digital cellular modem). This modem type does not require a computer COM port as the communications to the remote site are via the internet. The remote site’s modem is identified through either a DNS (domain name server) or by a static IP address. In both cases a port number is also required.

DNS

The DNS field is the name used by the domain name server to identify the remote site’s IP Modem. The DNS field is not required when the remote modem is provisioned with a static IP address. A DNS entry is required when the remote modem does not have a static IP address. If information is entered into the DNS field and the IP Address field then the information in the DNS field takes precedence.

IP Address

The IP Address field is the static IP address of the remote site’s IP modem. The IP Address field should be left blank if the DNS field is used to identify the remote modem.

Port Number

The Port Number field identifies the device port used by the remote site’s IP modem.

Radio Modem

The Radio Modem selection box should be selected when a radio modem (either an RM4000 or an RMX) is used to communicate to the remote site. After enabling the Radio Modem selection box, the user must specify the complete telemetry path from the computer to the remote site using the Telemetry Path controls.

Baud Rate

The baud rate required for the chosen telemetry configuration is usually automatically set by the Setup Application; however, the Baud Rate drop-down menu may be used to override the default selection.

Default baud rates for the various FTS telemetry devices are shown in the table below.

Telemetry Device Baud Rate Direct Connection 9600 baud

TM4000 telephone modem 1200 baud

TM Ultra telephone modem 9600 baud

RM 4000 radio modem 1200 baud

RMX radio modem 4800 or 9600 baud (1)

Globalstar satellite modem 9600 baud

MSAT satellite modem 9600 baud

IP Modem not used

Notes: (1) setting is dependent on the RMX radio modem configuration

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Telemetry Path

The communication path from the office computer to the remote site is pictorially displayed in the Telemetry Path box. The radio modem buttons below the Telemetry Path box are used to manage radio modem path information for remote sites which use radio communications. As radio modems are added and deleted the appropriate icons are shown in the telemetry path. Double-clicking a telemetry icon will disable/enable the telemetry device from the station’s telemetry path without deleting information entered in the Setup Application.

Add RM

The Add RM control allows the user to insert a radio modem into the telemetry path for the remote site. When adding a radio modem the user must supply a 4 digit hexadecimal address for each radio modem in the path. When adding an RM4000, the hexadecimal address is determined by the RM4000’s serial number. When adding an RMX, the hexadecimal address is determined by the RMX’s programmable Station ID setting.

Note: RM4000 and RMX radio modems are not compatible with each other so they cannot be selected to be in the same telemetry path.

Remove RM

The Remove RM control allows the user to delete the selected radio modem from the remote station’s telemetry path. To select a radio modem, single click on the modem (the modem’s address will become highlighted with a blue background).

Edit RM Address

The Edit RM Address control allows the user to edit the hexadecimal address of the selected radio modem. To select a radio modem, single click on the modem (the modem’s address will become highlighted with a blue background).

Enable Telemetry Devices

The Enable Telemetry Devices control allows the user to enable all telemetry devices in the station’s telemetry path that were disabled.

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Appendix 2: GSNet Telemetry Details In order to retrieve station data through a Globalstar satellite system Internet connection (Globalstar Direct Internet mode), all of the following issues must be satisfied:

1) The GSNet Telemetry communication method must be properly configured within the AutoCaller Setup Application .

2) The remote station Globalstar modem must have SMS capability activated on its Globalstar airtime account.

3) The FTS Globalstar Satellite modem must have firmware version 6.2 or greater.

4) The FTS GSNet host service must be properly installed and configured. The GSNet host service is an independent program which performs the actual Globalstar Direct Internet communications to the remote site (this program is available on your AutoCaller installation CD under the custom installation option).

To configure the GSNet Telemetry communication method (item 1 in the above list), the user must supply remote station details as well as information on how to connect with the GSNet service (item 4 in the above list). Figure 21, the GSNet Telemetry setup window shows an example of a typical GSNet Telemetry setup.

Figure 21: GSNet Telemetry Example

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Description

Similar to the FTS Telemetry Description field, this field is the name the user assigned at the time this communication method was created. The name given in the description field will appear in the Communication Tab – Site Specific Communication Methods list and also in the communication methods choices list when making manual calls to the station.

Important - Note: Unlike the FTS Telemetry communication method, when naming a GSNet Telemetry communication method, the user does not need to begin the name of the communication method with the name of the computer on which the communication method can be used. This is because a GSNet Telemetry call accesses the GSNet service program instead of a specific computer COM port for its communications. Once the GSNet Telemetry communication method is defined and operating for the Calling Service computer, any user on a Remote User computer can initiate a call to a station with the GSNet Telemetry communication method that was configured for use on the Calling Service computer.

Station Information Fields

Details such as the phone number of the Globalstar modem located at the remote station, the type of data logger at the remote station, and the desired data overlap must be provided in order to collect data from the remote site.

Area Code

The area code of the remote site’s modem should be entered in the Area Code field. Only enter the 3 digit area code as no other characters are valid (refer to Figure 21).

Telephone Number

The telephone number of the remote site’s modem should be entered in the Telephone Number field. Only enter the 7 digit telephone number as no other characters are valid (refer to Figure 21).

Data logger

Identify the model of the data logger at the remote site using the Data logger drop-down menu selector.

Password

If your data logger is password enabled(i.e. some has set the password in the logger) then in order to perform certain functions such as Set Time, Send Data Logger Program and other functions which may change the behavior of the logger you will need to enter this password in this box. Setting the password is not currently supported in AutoCaller .

Data Overlap

The purpose of the Data Overlap field is to compensate for the time it may take to deliver a Globalstar SMS message to the remote site when satellite service is not available. In order to avoid possible data gaps in the station’s database, the value set in the Data Overlap field should be greater than the value set in the GSNet Host Service Max. Wait for Server field (see Max. Wait for Server explanation in the GSNet Host Service Information Field Settings below).

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GSNet Host Service Information Fields

In addition to the station details, information on the GSNet host service used is required in order for data collection to work properly. The user can define a set of Global Settings on how to access the GSNet host service or repeat the settings individually for each station. Normally the Global Settings are used as there is usually only one GSNet host service running.

Use Global GSNet Host

The Use Global GSNet Host radio button enables the use of globally defined GSNet Host Service Settings to identify the host GSNet service for this remote station (see Edit Global Settings section on the next page for an explanation of the required settings).

Use GSNet Host Settings Below

The Use GSNet Host Settings Below radio button enables the use of locally defined GSNet Host Service Settings to identify the host GSNet service for this remote station. Local GSNet Host settings perform the same function as the Global GSNet Host settings (see Edit Global Settings section on the next page for an explanation of the required settings).

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Edit Global Settings

Click the Edit Global Settings button to open the Global GSNet Host Settings window (see Figure 22). Primarily, the settings in this window identify the details of the computer which is running the GSNet Host Service to the AutoCaller. There is also a time-out period defined which defines the maximum period that the AutoCaller will wait for a GSNet response.

Figure 22: GSNet Global Settings Example

IP Address

The IP address of the computer running the GSNet host service should be entered in this field.

Port Number

The port number of the computer running the GSNet host service should be entered in this field.

Working Folder

The Working Folder field defines the folder on the computer running the GSNet host service in which the GSNet host service temporarily stores the retrieved station data so the data can be retrieved by the AutoCaller.

Important - Note: A user must have network read & write access rights to the Working Folder

Max. Wait for Server

The Max Wait for Server field defines the maximum time that the AutoCaller will wait for a reply to a SMS data request. After the Max Wait for Server setting has been exceeded the AutoCaller will stop waiting for a reply and the call will be deemed to have failed.

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Appendix 3: GOES Telemetry Details An Internet connection to NOAA’s LRGS database is used to retrieve station data sent over the GOES satellite network. In order to establish the connection to NOAA’s database, all of the following issues must be satisfied:

1) The remote station data logger and associated GOES transmitter must be installed and operating.

2) The user must know the format of the data transmitted through the GOES transmitter. There are currently 3 supported formats, BLM, Time Ordered and Water Surveys Canada.

3) The GOES Telemetry communication method must be properly configured within the AutoCaller Setup Application .

4) The user must have an account and password issued to them by NOAA .

Figure 23 , shown below, is an example of a typical GOES Telemetry setup window using BLM format. An explanation of each setting follows.

Figure 23: GOES - BLM Telemetry Example.

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Figure 24, shown below, is an example of a typical GOES Telemetry setup window using Time Ordered format. An explanation of each setting follows.

Figure 24: GOES – Time Ordered Format Example.

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Figure 25: GOES – WSC Format Example. NESDIS ID.

The NESDIS ID field is the unique identifier for the remote site’s GOES transmitter. The identifier is an 8 character identifier supplied by NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service) for a GOES transmitter at a specific remote monitoring site.

Data Format Type

This box specifies which format to use to interpret the incoming data. The currently supported types are BLM, Time Ordered and Water Surveys Canada. As you switch this setting the screens, choices and buttons will change to allow you to format the incoming data with the specific parameters for the chosen type.

First Tx

The First Tx field is an optional field where the user may enter when the first GOES transmission from the remote site is scheduled to occur. This field is for user reference only and does not need to be populated in order to receive station data via the LRGS connection (i.e., 00:15:30 would indicate that the first GOES transmission would occur at 15 minutes 30 seconds after midnight UTC time).

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Interval

The Interval field is an optional field where the user may enter how often the GOES transmission occurs (i.e., 01:00:00 is hourly). This field is for user reference only and does not need to be populated in order to receive station data via the LRGS connection.

Baud Rate

The Baud Rate field is another optional field where the user may enter the Baud Rate of the remote sites transmission (i.e., 100 bps, 300 bps, or 1200 bps). Again, this field is for user reference only and does not need to be populated in order to receive station data via the LRGS connection.

Sensor Sets

Sensor Sets allow the transmission of several different sets of data and therefore will require several definitions for the incoming data. To create a sensor set click Add Sensor set then choose the required fields for each sensor set. If you tick the Sample data box, the program will assist you by suggesting and displaying the sensors found in the sample data from the site indicated by the NESDIS ID. The Sensor set number is the first number on each line of the raw incoming data. This feature is applicable to Time Ordered Format only.

Add Field Button This button will allow you to add a field to the st ation without having to open the Station Set-up Screen. Instead simply click thi s button, choose a valid name and click ok. The new field will appear as the next item in the selected fields (right side) box.

Sample Data Tick box

When ticked, this box will overlay the actual data from the station along side the fields names that you have chosen to aid you in choosing the correct fields mappings. The data is overlaid in lighter gray along side of the field names. Not applicable to WSC format.

View Raw Data Button

This button will allow you to view a sample of the raw data that is returned by the station with the chosen NESDIS ID. This is just another aid in helping you to properly map the incoming data to your stations fields.

Set-up From Template Button

The Setup from template button will allow you to select from a series of common predefined formats of both BLM and Time ordered formats. To minimize set-up time you can also choose a template that is close to your format and tailor it to your need. Templates are not applicable to Water Surveys Canada format.

Within the selected Data Format, readings from multiple sensors can be transmitted. The user must define within the LRGS communication method the order that the sensor data is being transmitted in order for the AutoCaller to correctly interpret the received data. The Setup From Template button

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allows the user to select a template file which has the correct sensor order for the remote site in question (contact FTS for a template file if required).

Available Database Fields

The Available Database Field list box shows the data fields available in the station. Upon initial station setup this list is blank and must be populated from the template file or by individually adding station field names in the Station Setup > Description tab.

Selected Ordered Message Fields

The Selected Ordered Message Fields list box displays the selected order of the sensor data fields as they will be received from the LRGS database. The Right Arrow, Left Arrow, All, and None buttons can be used to create the properly sequenced data fields under the Selected Ordered Message Fields list box from the data fields under the Available Database Field list box.

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Save Data On The Hour

The Save Data On The Hour checkbox allows the user to save the data retrieved from the LRGS database as top of the hour data instead of saving the data with the time of the GOES transmission. Please contact FTS Technical support if you have any questions regarding your specific setup.

Global Settings. Applicable only to BLM format.

Click the Global Settings button to open the LRGS Global Settings window (see Figure 26). The settings in this window identify the particulars of the LRGS servers at the GOES ground station from which the data will be retrieved. Data will always be collected from the primary server. In the event that the AutoCaller cannot connect to the primary server, the AutoCaller will attempt to collect data from the secondary server.

Figure 26: LRGS Global Settings Example

User ID

The User ID for the user’s LRGS server account should be entered in this field.

Password

The Password for the user’s LRGS server account should be entered in this field as well as in the Re-enter Password field.

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IP Address

The IP Address of the LRGS server should be entered in this field.

Port

The Port Number of the LRGS server should be entered in this field.

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