LINES

Link Interface Node for External Systems

Console
port

MISSION
MISSION
LINES is a complete solution, including both
hardware and software, to provide specific
WAN / LAN communication subsystems.
LINES architecture allows two operating
modes, called FP and OCP.

Keyboard
&
Backlight screen

Front communication Processor (FP)

LINES FP mode provides multiprotocol serial
communication interfaces to applications
hosted on workstations running UBSS or
ARTTS proprietary middlewares.
FP mode is used as a front-end subsystem in
ATC, ACCS and Radar data processing
systems to interface all external devices such
as Radars, Centres, Weapon Systems, and
specific peripherals (Voice Recorder, Strip
printer,...).

pLINES4/8

Open Communication Processor (OCP)

LINES OCP mode is an open architecture
designed to build autonomous WAN / LAN
routers.
OCP mode allows to plug dedicated
application functions and thus is used for
radar distribution and radar by-pass, for
protocol and/or messages conversion, as a
SNMP protocol translation router, ...

pLINES8 only

10/100bT

Security
4 Sync /
Ethernet 4 Sync /
port
Async Ports
Async Ports

MAIN HARDWARE FUNCTIONALITIES

LINES

01234567890123
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Interface Concept SA

Console

44 mm
R8

R5

P8 T8

R7

P5 T5

R6

T7P7

R 4T4

T6P6

R1

R3 P4

T1 R2

P1

440 mm

T3

T2

P3

Security

Eth3

Eth1

Eth2P2

110/240V - 50/60Hz

0
17

LINES is an open products family based on a hardware COTS, pLINES4" and

pLINES8", dedicated to built specific LAN/WAN routing applications.
pLINES boxes are powered by
1 first Motorola MPC8250 processor (200MHz, 280 MIPS) as main CPU
and communication processor,
1 second Motorola MPC8250 communication processors in slave mode
(pLINES8),
32 Mbytes of dynamic RAM, extendable up to 64 Mbytes, 8 Mbytes of
FLASH EPROM, extendable up to 16 Mbytes, 128 Kbytes SRAM.
pLINES4 provides :
3 10/100bT Ethernet interfaces,
4 DTE multiprotocol (Async/Sync.) RS232/422/485/EIA530A/X21 serial
ports, speed up to 4Mbps, insulation capability for redundancy purpose
1 security port for box redundancy management.
pLINES8 adds to pLINES4 features:
4 DTE multiprotocol (Async/Sync.) RS232/422/485/EIA530A/X21/V35
serial ports, at speed up to 4 Mbps, with insulation capability for
redundancy purpose
pLINES box dimensions are 1U (h) x 440mm (w) x 170mm (d)
pLINES is qualified in compliance with EU EMC directive 89/336/EEC

We make the sky safer for you

LINES-pLINES V2.2 FP MODE

This leaflet is not a

contractual specification

LINES is used world-wide in ATC and ACCS systems developed and provided
by Thales ATM and Thales companies.

MAIN SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE FUNCTIONALITIES
FUNCTIONALITIES
MAIN
LINES is based on FPBSS V6 software product :
FPBSS is composed of a kernel and a protocol
library, common to FP and OCP modes.
FPBSS kernel relies on :
An embedded Linux Operating System plus its
TCP/IP and SNMP stacks,
The Philog X25 stack with an ISO 7776 HDLCLAPB, an ISO 8208 X25 and an ISO 8073
Transport class 2 layer.

FP_API
Middleware
(UBSS or ARTTS)
Operating System
Ethernet LAN
Mailbox

OCP mode functionalities :

FPBSS software is configured and downloaded into flash memory in
order to behave as an independent "black-box".
OCP can manage all aspects of communication routing between WAN
and/or LAN interfaces with specific embedded applications such as
message processing, message diffusion or radar message conversion.
It provides :
Standard ARTTS programming interface for embedded applications
development in C language,
Clock synchronisation with external time injection (i.e. GPS) or NTP for
absolute radar messages timestamping,
TCP point to point connections, UDP unicast, multicast and broadcast
communication on LAN,
Automatic dual lines management by constant search of the best
quality reception .
A generic standard routing application is also available as a base to
quickly build a routing functionality. It is configured using flash memory
downloaded ASCII file.
ASSOCIATED SERVICES
Services provided by LINES team include :
development and management of LINES product, in close relationship
with technical direction, project managers and users,
development and management of specific protocols on WAN interface,
development and management of specific OCP applications,
DOD 2167A standard documentation,
configuration management, test and validation,
delivery of releases,
maintenance of present and previous releases,
factory support to application development and integration teams,
site support (if required), for consulting and/or assistance to site
installation,
internal and/or end-user training courses, in English or French :
FP user/integrator training course (1 day),
OCP user/integrator training course (1 day),
FP application developer training course (1 day),
OCP application developer training course (3 days).
All courses include practice, customised training is provided on request.
This leaflet is not a
contractual specification

Workstation

over

TCP/IP

LINES FP

TCP or UDP/IP

LINES OCP
Application

...

...

Up to 8 serial lines per box

MAIN
MAINFIGURES
FIGURES
FPBSS CSCI is composed of two main CSCs and is
about 350 000 lines of C code.
The library of communication protocols includes :
3 device interfaces,
13 radar lines protocols,
14 communication protocols including X25 (LAPB, X25
and ISO class 2 layers)
Full product documentation available with SRS, IRS, SDD,
SUM, STP/D/R and VDD documents updated after each
new major release.
Communication performances :
up to 8 links at 256 kbps according to the protocol,
up to 300 messages per second on LAN and WAN.
HISTORY
HISTORY
LINES product was originally created in 1993. Three
hardware and software technologies have been built :
1993 to 1995 : About 350 racks, based on a VME
solution integrating Ethernet and I/O boards are
operational in the Singapore, Greece, Slovakia ATCC
systems, ...
1996 to 1998 : About 200 boxes, based on the Motorola
MVME162 board plus serial lines IP modules, are
operational in the Saudi Arabia, Australia ATCC systems,
..., and in all STAR2000 radars,
1998 to now : More than 1500 boxes, based on LINES
product, are used in all Thales ATMs ATCC systems
(Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, ) as well as radar
systems (STAR2000, RSM970S), but also in many major
military systems provided by the Thales group (Florako,
MARTHA, LOC1, )

We make the sky safer for you

LINES-pLINES V2.2 FP MODE

FP mode functionalities :
FPBSS provides an UBSS and ARTTS programming
interface on host to manage I/O lines, available to
applications developed in Ada and C languages :
Management of external lines through open/close
and ioctl commands,
External lines supervision by permanent status
acquisition of system items,
Transmission and reception of messages at up to
256 Kbps in full duplex mode with active flow control
management and optional local acknowledgement,
Clock synchronisation for timestamping,
Capability of messages packing/unpacking,
Frontal Processor supervision by dedicated FPSUP
process on host.

Application