The HyperTAC II SCADA Software combines graphics and data with the power of the Internet. HyperTAC II was developed specifically for use in the water and wastewater industry and benefits from Data Flow Systems' many years of in-the-field experience. It's features are driven by the need's of its users. Over the last two decades, DFS software engineers have learned from the successes and limitations of DFS' previous telemetry software, TAC II. The result is a state-of-the-art Graphical User Interface (GUI). Although the Graphical User Interface is the feature that impresses users the most, it's the report and alarm capabilities of the system that are important in day-to-day operations. Here again, over two decades of experience have matured these features into the essential tools of the system's operator.
HyperTAC II was designed to work with DFS hardware as well as hardware manufactured by others. This flexibility enables HyperTAC II to operate in an array of water and wastewater environments. For example, HyperTAC II has been successfully used for in-plant process and control applications at water and wastewater treatment plants.
HyperTAC II is a network-based telemetry system with a platform-independent graphical user interface. The user interface is accessed via a Java-Enabled Internet browser over a local TCP/IP network or via PPP dial-up connection. The graphical interface makes navigating through HyperTAC II intuitive and follows the familiar look and feel of the World Wide Web.
HyperTAC II's architecture is open and modular to make it easier for DFS to change and extend the system. This fact makes it possible for consulting engineers and users to customize HyperTAC II to an extent greater than most other telemetry software packages available.
HyperTAC II's interface is implemented through HTML, Java, and JavaScript. These languages are familiar to many engineers as well as end users familiar with the Internet. Many things can be changed in the interface: colors, button design, and even the addition of hyperlinks to other sites on the HyperTAC II server, an intranet server, or to the Internet.
HyperTAC II was designed around a network architecture. With the advent of the Internet and the World Wide Web, DFS designers saw the advantages of distributing telemetry data to network clients using this same technology.
HyperTAC II uses standard Internet technologies, such as TCP/IP and HTML, to communicate with network clients. In the HyperTAC II system, TCP/IP provides fast, efficient, reliable communication and HTML provides a flexible and familiar framework for the graphical user interface.
HyperTAC II clients access telemetry data through a standard Internet browser installed and running on the client computer. This computer can be anywhere on the TCP/IP network, on many types of computer hardware, and running one of several operating systems. This kind of flexibility can make installing HyperTAC II, at a particular installation, much quicker and economical. The user isn't forced to make massive upgrades of existing computer equipment.
The client can also connect to the HyperTAC II server by what is called a PPP dial-up connection. With this technique, the user can call the HyperTAC II server from a remote computer – perhaps at home – and make a network connection over the modem. The user can then use the Internet browser the same way he would over a local area network. Another, faster way of accessing HyperTAC II over PPP dial-up is to use a Telnet application instead of an Internet browser. A Telnet user logs onto the HyperTAC II server and starts the HyperGO application. HyperGO runs on the server and sends characters back to the client. This kind of connection is very efficient and is recommended for connections made at 14.4K bps and below.
Virtually every facet of HyperTAC II is customizable. Custom graphical screens are the most obvious use of customization. An engineer or trained user can create custom screens to show telemetry data in any way imaginable.
Reports and alarms are also highly customizable. Reports have user assigned keywords that link groups of telemetry points to one or several canned report types. Alarms have a user interface and individual alarms can be delayed or snoozed. Delaying an alarm can eliminate nuisance alarms and snoozing an alarm can allow time for the operator to correct the cause of the alarm without simply ignoring the problem.
The framework of the HyperTAC II interface is HTML, JavaScript, and frames. Anyone who understands these technologies, as with building a web page, can add elements such as on-line documentation or links to other Internet-based maintenance applications.
The “Virtual Point” is a tool in HyperTAC II for formatting telemetry data for display on custom screens and for performing system-level logic. With the graphical interface for virtual points, engineers have familiar ladder logic symbols to program virtual points. All of this customizability means one thing: if the customer knows what he wants, HyperTAC II can provide it.
There are several status viewers packaged in HyperTAC II. These viewers enable you to instantly see what's going on in your system.
HyperTAC II provides you with a variety of reports that allow you to monitor the activity and performance of your telemetry equipment. The reports gather and filter information, based on parameters you provide in the Report Request Form, and present the data in a meaningful and useful form.
HyperTAC II provides a user-friendly method for configuring your system.
Auto Controls automate and facilitate the controlling of hardware in the field. Configuring an auto control instructs the system to perform a certain function when a specific event occurs. For example, when a well reaches a specified high level, a pump will be turned on to reduce the water level. This occurs automatically; the point doesn't need to be manually monitored.
Scheduled controls are used when you want an event to automatically occur on certain scheduled days and/or times, for example, a sprinkler system that turns on at 5:00 AM and turns off at 7:00 AM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can configure a digital point to come on at a specific time and go off at a specific time. An analog point can be configured to reach a desired engineering value on certain days and/or times.
The “Virtual Point” is a tool in HyperTAC II for formatting telemetry data for display on custom screens and for performing system-level logic. With the graphical interface for virtual points, engineers have familiar ladder logic symbols to program virtual points. All of this customization ability means one thing: if the customer knows what he wants, HyperTAC II can provide it.
HyperTAC II features numerous tools that enable you to configure, monitor and control your system.
HyperTAC II's Building Tools provide you with the tools to:
Screen Builder lets you create a graphical representation of your telemetry system. By building a screen – using text, images, objects, and animation – and then linking the screen's components to actual telemetry points, you can get a quick, real-time view of your operation.
PCU Editor enables you to modify the operational set points of the Pump Control Unit (PCU), a microprocessor-based, solid-state, multi-pump controller, from the central computer or a networked workstation. The PCU provides all the functions necessary to monitor and control sewage lift stations and fresh-water tank filling operations.
PLC Editor enables you to transfer set point values to and from the non-volatile memory locations of a Programmable Logic Controller's (PLC) non-volatile memory locations. The PLC is a microprocessor-controlled module that is designed for implementing logical control at the remote terminal unit (RTU). PLC Editor uses telemetry to send and receive set point values to and from the specified PLC hardware, which allows the PLC to be updated remotely.
Virtual Logic Builder is a user-friendly application that enables you to construct "ladder logic"-style programs that run on the HyperTACII central computer. Ladder logic is a graphical (symbols and text) language that is used to plan, maintain and control industrial systems. Each rung of the ladder (hence the name - Ladder Logic) is used to control a single output.
Trend Builder enables you to create historical data trends for any telemetry point. Trends that are accessed frequently for analysis can be saved. When you save a trend in Trend Builder, a link is created in Trend Viewer (the link name is the file name you assigned to the trend when you saved it). These saved trends can be opened at any time from HyperTAC II's Trend Viewer by clicking on the link. Up to four (4) points can be included on one trend screen so they may be viewed simultaneously.
The Telemetry Traffic Tool is an applet that enables you to monitor radio and network communications between your radio- and network-telemetry drivers, and the field hardware. You can also control the value of digital and analog points, set polling priority, and create a communications log. The Inject feature allows DFS Technicians to troubleshoot communication and other system errors from a remote location.
Telnet is a tool which allows you to remotely access the server. Once logged on, you can perform functions, such as database modification and file maintenance, using UNIX commands. HyperTACII software runs under Red Hat® Linux, an implementation of UNIX that comes preinstalled as part of the HyperTACII 2.0 Telemetry System. See http://www.redhat.com/ for more information on the Red Hat® Linux operating system.
The Server Control Center allows users with "Shutdown System" permission to stop and start telemetry, reboot the Hyper Server Module (HSM), test the Hyper Server Unit's (HSU) battery power, and reset hardware in the HSU. These actions are necessary, for example, when hardware or software changes are made or, possibly, when troubleshooting the system. Special care and consideration should be taken when initiating these commands. Server actions should only be initiated when absolutely necessary. When telemetry is stopped, or shutdown, no polling takes place, no alarms are announced, and there is no access to data.
HyperTACII's easy-to-use file upload utility allows you to browse your Windows workstation or network, and upload one of the following file types to your Hyper Server Module:
This utility allows you to update the firmware (ROM-based software that controls a device) on all of your remote modules from any computer that has been configured as a HyperTAC II client. There is no need to visit the site to update the module's firmware
HyperTAC II includes a comprehensive HTML-based online User's Guide. This documentation can be viewed from the Online Documentation page of this web site.
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