Kamiak will meet the real-time data monitoring requirements specified in topic AF03-244 "Generic, Multi-Platform Real-Time Data Monitor" by exploiting the unique qualities of the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocols in a way that also has application in a wide variety of non-defense applications. UPnP is a specification produced by a consortium of companies that defines platform-neutral protocols to allow automatic discovery, description, event notification, control and monitoring of devices that are connected to computer networks. Our solution consists primarily of two elements: 1. the logging library, which, when linked to a real-time simulation or other source of data, exposes the collected data to the network as a virtual UPnP device, and 2. the "Universal Control Panel" (UCP) which provides a human interface to any number of UPnP devices on an IP network, including that of the logging library. The UCP allows the human operator to contrive a custom control panel consisting of any number of virtual instruments via a drag-and-drop GUI. The control panel can control and monitor the UPnP devices in real-time. The UCP discovers all information at run-time using the UPnP protocols and so can be used to monitor and control any UPnP device. The UCP is thus also valuable in a wide variety of applications including industrial process control, home and building control and automation. Reduces development risk, effort and time The Universal Control Panel (UCP) confers reduced development risk, effort and time on any project that substantially replaces a custom-developed human interface with the UCP. Permits adaptation of the human interface to changing systems and circumstances When the UCP is used to provide the human interface, the interface can be easily updated as new networked devices are changed or added to- or deleted from- the system. The UCP allows the changes to be detected at runtime and user interface elements to be added, deleted and Changed, even in the field using a simple drag-and-drop interface. Mitigates problems encountered with system changes Changes in the interface of a networked device can often require corresponding changes in other devices that communicate with it, resulting in a monolithic system where devices cannot be individually changed out but must be updated in unison. UPnP permits a networked device to simultaneously expose multiple versions of an interface which allows other devices on the network to continue using an older version of the interface, and exploit the new one as and when they are able. Mitigates problems encountered integrating legacy and disparate architectures and languages Networked devices interact according to well-defined non-proprietary platform-independent standard UPnP protocols. Applications As well as the data-collection application described in the topic, we believe the UCP will find application in the home automation, building control and industrial process control markets.
Keywords: Real-time, Graphical User Interface, Data logging, Control and Monitoring, XML, Universal Plug and Play, run-time discovery, Platform-neutral
