Technology

While the business world has felt the impact of wireless mobile technology in many areas, valuation of mobile systems applications have remained largely uncovered. The ability to assign value of mobile technology to business outputs is far more than a simple cost/benefit analysis. Anticipated benefits are greatly depending on the business context. Industry is highly influenced by the development of ICT, globalization and aggressive competition, and the success of the companies operating within this industry is likely to depend on their ability to utilise ICT in taking the best possible care of their business customers. A method for identifying the potential benefits is in form of bringing mobility incorporated as an integral part of business process which provides operational efficiency, functional effectiveness and aims to strengthen business customer relationships.

Galaxy Mobility Platform: Apps to Manage On a Move

Galaxy’s mobility platform transforms smart phones into powerful remote control and monitoring tools. These can be used for a staggering array of day-to-day and business related functions, from reading utility meters to turning off the lights at a stadium following a sporting event. Cloud computing makes this possible; without it, some of the functions would either be prohibitively expensive or altogether unavailable. Smart phones and iPads are now ubiquitous and Galaxy supports mobile access to its Enterprise City Management Platform so that these devices can be used to get the full benefit of all its smart features from any location. Users can remotely manage systems and services in real time, wherever there is access to the Internet.

The platform provides seamless service integration with the iPhone, Android devices, Blackberries and the iPad. This allows Galaxy reports and dashboards to be accessed from handheld devices. A Galaxy thin client installed on the device can be used to monitor performance and initiate actions that affect systems anywhere on the globe.

The Galaxy™ mobility platform consists of middleware that uses business rules and logic to extract data from the web-based system, prepare it for the mobile platform and communicate it via web services to the mobile device. This ensures consistent delivery across all mobile platforms. The system supports integration with standard integration platforms to deliver the full range of sophisticated monitoring, measurement, verification and versatile reporting services that Galaxy™ offers. The platform can deliver “white label” services: authorized users can configure and manage branding for the mobile applications.

The mobility platform manages login from mobile devices based on the user details and the encryption mechanism, then transfers control to the web page the user requested. Automatic log in can be configured for the device, if that is allowed for the application. XML updates can be managed based on time to live settings. To show list of options on a small mobile screen, a two level grouped list is used. Authorized users can configure the navigation order using a list like drag and drop interface in the mobility platform. Users can save favorites for the rapid access.

The platform can be used to create mobile apps that support:

• Service requests management
• Service report management
• Job cards handling
• Dashboard and benchmarking
• Alarms and event management
• Chart builder and analytics
• Process Integration
• KPI definition and tracking

The Galaxy™ mobility platform can play a critical role to enable a competitive business operations strategy especially if users take full advantage of all that the technology has to offer.

Mobile applications are the modern form of IT support tools in business practice and also a new discipline in realizing business process integration using mobility. The anticipated value they deliver and our understanding of the value source is yet to unfold. First movers will certainly be beneficiary by adopting new technology platforms. Mobile technology enables you to do business faster, more reliably, and at lower cost within the context of the company’s operating environment. The core business processes will perhaps drive the evolution of enterprise mobile wireless technologies towards achieving excellence characteristics.

Galaxy Mobility Platform offers significant benefits for organizations that choose to integrate the technology into their fixed organizational information system. Mobile computing is made possible by unifying business intelligence and communications systems that interact with a non-mobile organizational information system while away from the normal, fixed workplace. Mobile computing by Galaxy is a versatile and potentially strategic technology that improves information quality and accessibility, increases operational efficiency, and enhances management effectiveness.

Flexible Scalable Cloud Architecture

Pacific Controls developed its Galaxy cloud-based computing software platform to support its managed services delivery, building on expertise developed over a number of years. The initial challenge was to manage building systems across the globe.

A powerful computing platform was required to implement the integrated intelligence, control optimisation, autonomy and remote diagnostic capabilities needed to deliver this service. The central information repository also had to be able to store large volumes of data on the performance and status of all the systems and equipment. To meet this need, Pacific Controls developed a scalable framework capable of managing and analysing many extra bytes of data from a wide range of sources.

The system is dependable, robust and flexible with numerous fail-safe features and the software has a proven history of reliable operation. It is built around a powerful MS SQL database engine and M2M wireless data collection and can be accessed securely from any location using almost any web-enabled device.

Pacific Controls is an experienced systems integrator and has designed the system to be easily integrated with existing management software and alarm receiver systems. This allows it to link equipment installation, maintenance and monitoring into a seamless whole. The data server panel provided by Pacific Controls provides a bridge between standard and proprietary protocols and the IP network and can work in conjunction with a diverse range of control systems through any standard interface.

The Pacific Controls Managed Services for Critical Assets Monitoring are:

• Interoperable with any data source and MIS. This framework provides a unified development environment across the entire solution from Internet-enabled smart devices to enterprise-wide applications. It starts by normalising the data and behaviour of the individual smart devices through a unique, patented component model. Building end-to-end solutions is simplified by being able to work in the same code base and with the same tools across the entire product stack
• A distributed architecture platform. The system architecture allows applications to be dispersed to multiple distributed computing devices that work cohesively as one system. Its framework is designed to support large-scale applications that run across large numbers of devices or sites over an ICT network
• Unique in their ability to scale for use on different platforms. Users can deploy the framework in low-cost embedded devices designed to be built into individual equipment systems, and can use it to build maximum flexibility at the enterprise level. The platform can be used on a wide variety of server platforms including Microsoft Windows 2008 Server, Windows XP and Linux
• Able to provide integrated control. The platform includes a comprehensive control engine to execute applications ranging from local-loop control to system-wide global strategies and sophisticated business logic. This built-in capability allows applications to execute real-time control, process alarms, convey events back to the end-user and to initiate real-time response across different systems
• Internet enabled, providing support for web-based communications and services throughout the platform and not just as an add-on. As a result, web-enabled monitoring, control and service applications can be quickly developed and deployed with a single toolset
• Extensible and highly flexible, enabling users to extend the capabilities of the platform without being dependent on Pacific Controls. Open APIs, extensive sample source code and comprehensive documentation provide users with the means to create custom applications specific to their business or industry
• Capable of object modeling making it possible for diverse connected systems to talk to each other and to the enterprise systems. The framework takes the data elements from the various devices (inputs, outputs, set points, schedules, control parameters, etc.) and processes these items into normalised software components. This conversion normalises the attributes of the devices (both data and behaviour), creating a database of objects that talk to and work coherently with each other in real time
• Web-based, with an architecture that uses thin clients with heavy central server processing. This enables users to login to the application from virtually anywhere, irrespective of the remote system’s underlying OS and without installing any software. All that is needed is a web browser supporting Ajax, like Internet Explorer, Mozilla or Safari. The application can also run on mobile devices
• Capable of pushing data to clients using a unique technology rather than using the pull technology where the client polls after specified intervals. This reduces the stress on the central server and enables it to handle more clients. Pacific Controls has opened the door to a world where device networking technology and systems integration enable control over virtually any system in the world. End users can operate on a single unified platform and have direct access to real-time data, web-based data and corporate applications regardless of location. Equipment manufacturers and service providers can use the detailed information about how their equipment is used to improve new products and offer new services

Galaxy™ A Secure Central Platform

The Galaxy system is based around a central secure database for storing all the relevant information. This platform provides additional value with its well-structured and usable interface and data design, making information management simple for the customer service team and other stakeholders.

Pacific Controls has applied the most rigorous IT security policies and procedures to its Galaxy platform. It is hosted in an environment that guarantees 99.982 percent availability. The system’s architecture has been hardened to ensure the servers are secure and are not directly exposed to the Internet. The same is true of the network infrastructure where secure network policies, packet and URL filtering at the edge and core level have been applied. The GPRS network uses a private access point node (APN) with a private IP addresses to enhance the security, integrity and availability of the entire infrastructure.

User access control is maintained by the System Administrator and is based on the user profile and the data access that is required. User access profiles can be configured separately for any major feature within the system, including permitted IP addresses and permitted phone numbers. When it comes to preparing for the global information economy of the 21st century, most people assume that the existing IT community and its army of technologists are taking care of all the ‘details’, particularly in securing the devices and data that will continue to grow exponentially.

That assumption could prove to be extremely misguided. Many companies today have let their connectivity outpace their security. The focus of most companies’ security efforts is on devices with which humans interact directly. They fail to realise that each newly connected device represents another potential point of weakness through which hackers can gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. These companies must demand more complete security from their product suppliers and service providers as these devices are being connected much more quickly than they are being adequately secured.

What is needed is new infrastructure software plus centralised business processes for dealing with security across device manufacturers and network and IT service providers. This new system must have two main qualities: automation and homogeneity. It must handle common tasks without human intervention, and it must provide a single platform and interface for interaction with a wide range of devices.

Pacific Controls fully understands these needs and has created an M2M and cloud solution that meets them. Their product is a combination of resident software embedded in the devices, plus capabilities delivered as applications across the network. While security is its first and most important capability, the Pacific Controls solution allows for the secure delivery of any services or applications to any devices on the network in close coordination with IT, carrier and professional services providers. It is a solution that effectively manages the security requirements of disparate devices and business sectors.