Zetron Acom (Advanced Communications System)

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Effective Communications For Your Mission-Critical Environment

Mission-critical organisations depend on their communications to continue, even if a server, position, network, or major component of the system fails.  Zetron's Acom Advanced Communications System (Acom) is designed to provide the resiliency such organisations require to ensure the integrity and reliability of their communications.

Acom is a state-of-the-art, digital switching and multiplexing communications system that has been designed by experts in mission-critical communications.  Acom offers exceptional performance and superior network connectivity.  In addition, its flexibility supports the cost-effective evolution of your system over time.

Acom is ideally suited to dispatching operations where systems must keep running even if a catastrophic event occurs.  Types of dispatching operations in which Acom has been successfully installed worldwide include:

• Public Safety - Police, fire, ambulance and disaster management.
• Transportation - Aviation, railway, highway-command headquarters and maritime communication facilities.
• Utilities - Electrical, water, oil, gas and mining.
• Government and military facilities - Military and defense command points.

Acom System Benefits

Fault-tolerant, robust, reliable operations

• System architecture is designed to keep operating even if a fault condition occurs.
• Acom's reliability reduces maintenance costs and unscheduled repairs.

Efficient, intuitive, easy-to-configure user interface (UI)

• UI can be configured to accommodate a range of common business practices and operations.
• UI is easy to learn and operate.
• System resources can be consolidated into a single UI and customised to suit a particular user or role.  This improves productivity and reduces training costs.
• Simple one-touch operation can be used to contact individuals or groups.

Enhanced interoperability

• Acom supports interoperability for a wide variety of radio and telephone equipment and other communications devices.
• Numerous devices and systems can be accessed simultaneously from a single control point.

Rich set of features

• Extensive feature set supports the needs and requirements of a wide variety of operational scenarios.

Enhanced systems integration

• Allows telephone and radio communications to run on one platform, eliminating the need for multiple systems.

Low-cost evolution and system longevity

• Acom's ability to incorporate new and evolving technologies extends the life of the system and reduces costs.

Scalable platform

• Modular architecture allows your system to grow along with the needs of your communications facility, regardless of the size of the operation.

Customer Support

• Multiple service levels are available to ensure that you are able to get the assistance you require for your Acom system.

Options for customisation

• Additional functionality can be incorporated into your system to meet your organisations specific operational needs.

Acom Overview

Flexible - Acom's highly flexible digital architecture integrates voice (radio and telephone), data, paging, and video transmitted over a LAN or a Web browser. Operating on a local-area or wide-area backbone, a single Acom switch can support large-capacity, region-wide or country-wide dispatch systems.

Highly interoperable - Acom's high degree of interoperability supports communications across a wide spectrum of radio bands and dissimilar communications interfaces, including Project 25 (TIA CSSI, DFSI, and AFSI), OpenSky, iDEN, TETRA, NEXEDGE, SMARTNET, SmartZone and LTR.  This ensures that agencies with dissimilar radio equipment can communicate.  Although Acom supports open standards such as Project 25 and TETRA, it also supports legacy systems. This ensures its ease of integration.

Full-featured, easy-to-integrate telephony package - Acom offers a feature-rich telephony communications package. This includes functionality that integrates with standard analogue subscriber and exchange ports, as well as ETSI ISDN and E1 QSig.

It also includes:

• Automatic Call Distribution
• Call Event Applications
• Recorded Voice Announcement
• Interactive Voice Response.

Efficient call management - Acom's Call Management feature improves the ease and efficiency with which dispatchers can view and manage calls. Call lists can be set up to display activity that pertains to a specific dispatcher, call type (both radio and telephone), call priority, or calls to or from specific numbers.  Calls can also be highlighted to ensure instant recognition.  In addition, dispatchers can make quick call backs directly from the call list.

Redundant - Acom can be configured for full redundancy with "hot-standby" equipment. This, along with Acom's self-healing ring architecture, ensures the highest levels of system integrity and reliability.  It also makes Acom an effective solution for integrated communication and control operations and consolidated dispatch facilities, as well as back up, remote or mobile-dispatch points.

Configurable - Acom's Windows-based consoles offer intuitive, easy-to-use graphical interfaces that can be configured to provide any mission-specific functionality your organisation requires.

Suitable for large or small operations - The size of an Acom system can range from a few dispatchers operating in a  fixed or mobile environment to hundreds of operators that are centrally located or distributed across multiple communication sites. Communication facilities located in different geographical areas can be networked to provide distributed switching and wide-area control.  This improves efficiency and operational effectiveness and provides maximum security and reliable.

VoIP-capable - Acom provides the ideal platform to implement communication technologies such as Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) and " digital-at-the-desktop" functions.

Alarm management - Acom's integrated alarm-management tools can be configured to either link to external contacts or provide a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).  This greatly simplifies system error diagnosis and system maintenance.

Acom Capabilities

• Radio dispatch
• PABX access
• PSTN access
• Autocall routing
• Automatic Call Distribution
• VoIP
• SNMP Support
• Embedded HTML/PDF browser
• Hotlines, intercom and public address
• Trunked-radio interfaces and protocols
• Network LAN and WAN connections and protocols.
• Patching and conferencing
• Paging
• Selective calling (SELCAL)
• Open-data architecture to support third-party developers
• Digital data telemetry]
• Control of closed-circuit television (CCTV)
• Web-streaming video for CCTV
• Alarm monitoring
• Channel monitoring
• Voice logging
• Recorded Voice Announcement
• Interactive Voice Response
• Remote control and management.

The Acom console workstation is the control point through which operators select radio channels and telephone lines for direct communications, patching, conferencing, signaling, paging and messaging.  The Acom Console Software (ACS) provides the graphical user interface (GUI) for managing system resources.  This application runs on a Windows-based workstation that is equipped with a touchscreen or standard monitor, and control devices such as a keyboard, mouse and trackball.

Flexible Screen Configurations - Any number of screen configurations can be created and assigned to any position.  This includes configurations to reflect available resources, dispatch functions, duty shifts and schedules, supervisory and maintenance roles, and training exercise simulations.  For example, you might create a "location-based" resource configuration that uses icons overlaying graphic images to show the locations of resources such as radios, telephones, public address speakers and video cameras.  This helps to ensure operational efficiency and reduces training for new dispatchers.

Acom's log-on capabilities range from basic user screen startup to full, authenticated log-on control. Configurations can be assigned to operators automatically, based on their log-on profile, or they can be modified "on the fly", as circumstances warrant and permissions allow.  In addition, supervisors can use network management resources to create, activate and publish configurations.

The ACS allows operators to make and receive telephone and radio calls and perform all the functions of a call.  Operators can also use ACS to:

• View call queues and call history.
• Retrieve instant playback of conversations where an IRR is fitted.
• Patch and conference radios and telephone lines.
• Intelligently control radios.
• Simultaneously transmit to dissimilar radio types with a single press of the push-to-talk button.
• Interact simultaneously with multiple operators or callers.
• Use an embedded HTML/PDF browser to view procedures online.
• Link calls to procedures and activate them through HTML hyperlinks.

•  Radio and telephone queues with priority queuing.
• Radio/telephony patching and conferencing.
• Channel select.
• Call-history display.
• Working groups.
• Answer Next / Hold.
• Dial / Last Number Redial.
• Memory / Speed Dial.
• Call Forward / Transfer.
• Mute / Clear.
• Transmit (PTT).
• Transmit All
• Instant Transmit.
• SELCAL/Tone control.
• Fully programmable paging.
• Full-duplex, direct and addressable intercom.
• Foreground and background audio-level controls.
• Console resource indicators.
• Control of auxiliary relays (such as doors and alarms).
• Utility audio (TV, commercial radio).
• HTML pages for document display.
• Automated calling and streaming video display through HTML hyperlinks.
• Configuration management.

Integrated Management System (IMS) - Acom's Integrated Management System (IMS) is a Windows-based application that is used to configure, diagnose, and maintain the Acom system.  The IMS is a map based resource-management tool that allows system administrators and maintenance and support personnel (including Zetron technical support personnel) to view, assess and control system resources.

The IMS can access an Acom system either directly from a maintenance terminal or remotely through a network or dial-up connection. When an administrator clicks a particular network resource icon in the display, a visual representation of the resource appears.  This allows the administrator to review or change the resource's configuration and status information.

Console Design Software - Acom's Console Design Software (CDS) is a Windows-based application that is used to design and configure the Acom console interface screen.  It can accommodate almost any function, size, resource, appearance or location needed for a particular position.

The CDS includes a simple, highly intuitive interface for screen creation and quick editing.  It also includes all of the graphical design tools and editing functions necessary to create user interfaces and assign system resources to buttons and other screen element such as icons and HTML links.

The CDS offers a wide range of functionality and capabilities. Screen layouts can include icons and keys for accessing all communications resources, function controls, calling queues, information display areas and user databases.  Screens can be configured to include a variety of user tools, such as list boxes, resource-based graphics, tabbed windows and web browsers.  Button labels, sizes, colours and fonts can be adapted to suit your operator's needs.  And icons can be added to the buttons as bitmaps to make the screen easier for operators to use.

Acom System Components

Three components form the foundation of the Acom system architecture.  They each contribute to the system's high capacity, flexibility, configurability, and availability.

These components are:

• The Acom Line Subrack (ALS)
• The Acom Console Unit (ACU)
• The Acom Digital Subrack (ADS)

Acom Console Unit (ACU) - Each Acom operator position is equipped with a Windows-based workstation and an Acom Console Unit (ACU).  The ACU connects the workstation and audio devices to the Acom switch.

Like the ALS, the ACU also includes switching, conferencing, multiplexing, and DSP capabilities.  In addition, its full-duplex audio gives operators control over how audio is presented through audio devices such as desktop microphones, headsets, handsets, speakers, and Instant Recall Recorders (IRR).  The ACU also connects other ancillary devices, such as footswitches and indicator lights, into the system.

Acom Line Subrack (ALS) - The Acom Line Subrack (ALS) connects external resources, such as radio, telephone, digital I/O and data, to the Acom switch.  The ALS can be equipped with a wide range of cards that support a variety legacy and current interfaces.  The ALS also provides the system with a variety of sophisticated switching, conferencing, multiplexing and digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities.  As a result, Acom can support many standard and proprietary protocols.  This makes Acom highly flexible and interoperable.

A feature known as the Change-over Subrack (COS) is used to connect two ALS units together.  If a card fails in the main ALS, the COS switches the system to the standby ALS.  This adds to the system's redundancy.

The Acom Digital Subrack (ADS) - The Acom Digital Subrack (ADS) provides Acom's high-bandwidth backbone.

The ADS consists of a controller and several interface cards that manage the transmission of communications and data among the Acom system components.  The ACU and ALS are connected to the ADS through a T1 or E1 link, over either a direct wire-line or IP connection to the Acom switching backbone.  Multiple ADS units are linked together in a self-healing ring architecture that forms the digital backbone of the Acom system.  This ensures the extremely high availability of the Acom system, which typically exceeds 99.999 ("five nines").

Network Architecture

System Topology

The communications links for the ACU form fully redundant communication paths so that even if one unit in the loop fails, the system will continue to operate on the remaining console positions.  Console positions can be connected locally to the switch or they can be located remotely and connected back to the switch through a T1, E1, or an IP connection.  Using specifically configured ACUs, individual console positions can also be remotely located from the main switching site.

Each ALS is connected to a single ADS. They are usually located together in an equipment room.  This combination of ALS and ADS equipment is known as the Common Control Equipment (CCE).  Multiple connected ALS units provide access to all of the radio, telephone and data resources the system requires.   ALS equipment can be remotely located, if necessary, and then connected back to the ADS through a T1 or E1 link over either a direct wire-line connection or an IP network connection.

Acom includes significant data switching and conferencing capabilities.  Data can be switched between the data-channel interfaces, for example, with Acom simply serving as a multiplexer. Or it can be interpreted and manipulated by the ALS to control radios and other equipment.

Acom is ideal for switching or conferencing data as well as converting to protocols such as  VoIP.  In addition, Acom can provide native connections to digital radio networks.  This eliminates audio quality problems that can arise with multiple analogue-to-digital-to analogue conversions.

Acom can also be configured for full "hot-standby" redundancy.  To achieve this, Acom changeover control equipment connects the primary and standby Acom systems to the external equipment. The alarm outputs on two interconnected Acom switch units control any changeover.  A data link between the primary and standby systems allows for data "shadowing" between the two systems. This creates a true "hot-standby" architecture.

Distributed Switching

Acom is an ideal platform for creating and managing a network of dispatch facilities and sharing communications resources among them.  Several of Acom's set-up capabilities are designed to provide the switching architecture that such a network requires.

For example, a high-bandwidth connection can be used to extend the backbone and create a seamless, non-blocking network that links multiple dispatch facilities and maximises capacity.  The networked system's CCE can either be  consolidated at a single site or distributed among various sites in the network.  Any site in the network can perform the dispatch functions of any other site.  This provides the ultimate survivability and resiliency dispatch communications infrastructures require.

Sites that make up a multiple-dispatch facility - such as those that include a primary site and a remote, back-up site - can also be linked through a high-bandwidth T1, E1, or an IP connection; or lower-bandwidth, leased-line connections, also known as Intersite Bearers (ISBs).

A system that uses an ISB is set up to share resources among sites, giving the system the functional aspects of a single Acom system distributed across multiple sites.  This allows phone lines at one site to be used for both incoming and outgoing calls by operators at any other connected site.  Remote lines can be included in conferences, working groups and patches as if they were local.  Remote consoles can be accessed through the network's internal intercom functionality.

ISBs can also be set up to allow each system to access another site directly or through any other site.  Each site operates independently, with the interconnections providing the necessary links to resources from other sites as required. This can be particularly useful for facilitating communications among related but independent agencies, such as law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies within a single county, state or region.

Flexible Configuration

Acom architecture can be used to implement the core switching capabilities of the CCE anywhere in the network, including at the desktop. An ACU-based distributed switching architecture reduces the system's dependence on its CCE and thus enhances system integrity.

Acom's distributed switching environment also allows operators to move easily among positions and geographic locations.  Wherever they are on the network, operators can log on to the Acom system and perform their functions as though they were seated at their own workstation.

Although Acom's distributed switching offers many significant advantages, Acom can be configured to accommodate organisations that prefer or require central switching.