The VIMS Communicator box has two major purposes:
- Facilitate the transfer of files from VIMS On-Board through a wireless Ethernet connection to a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server for use by VIMS PC (File Transfer).
- Allow for multiple devices to connect to the VIMS On-Board telemetry port (Buffered Telemetry Splitter).
VIMS Communicator settings are manipulated using a standard web browser hitting the IP address of the Web Interface for the VIMS Communicator. In addition, parameters can be polled through the VIMS telemetry port via a TCP socket on the Ethernet connection.
The VIMS Communicator connects to the VIMS On-Board service port and downloads files at intervals that are specified by the user. Once the files are downloaded from the VIMS On-Board, VIMS Communicator sends the files via a standard FTP over an Ethernet connection to a FTP server that is specified by the user.
The VIMS Communicator also connects to the VIMS On-Board telemetry port. It then acts as a router allowing one remote scoreboard and two other devices to seamlessly communicate as if they were plugged directly into the VIMS On-Board telemetry port. In addition to routing inquiries and responses, the VIMS Communicator also buffers up to 100 kilobytes of telemetry port communications per connection. For more on buffered communications, refer to Systems Operation, KENR8253, "Buffered Telemetry Splitter".
The VIMS Communicator provides a graphical user interface via a standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) website. This site can be viewed and the parameters can be changed using a standard web browser running on a computer connected to the same network as the VIMS Communicator. Each section of the website is discussed in detail in the Web Interface portion of this manual. Refer to the folllowing list for the basic functions:
- Network Settings
- File Download Settings
- VIMS Communicator Status
- VIMS On-Board Status
- Diagnostics and Utilities
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Socket
The VIMS Communicator will pass inquiries and responses to the VIMS telemetry port through a standard TCP socket connection on the Ethernet connection.
The VIMS Communicator has an open TCP socket on port 9105. All correctly formatted VIMS telemetry protocol commands received on this port are passed on to the VIMS On-Board telemetry port. Responses to solicited inquiries are passed back through the socket connection.