Wireless Communication and Messaging

The Wireless Communication & Messaging System (WCMS) developed by The IP Company ensures that information ends up directly at the right people. This can be mobilized immediately, not wasting valuable time. This efficiency will provide cost savings for additional personnel and limits possible damage.

General Description

The WCMS communication system enables voice communication between crew members, both in the administrative and operational domains. The system is one integrated system, which connects regular desk phones as well as wireless handheld devices. The WCMS system enables voice calls between phones and external systems. There are fixed, wire connected phones and mobile phones connected via WiFi. All external voice systems are connected using a Media Gateway, which is a rack mounted system equipped with modules similar to a network switch, but for phone lines such as ISDN and analogue.

The WCMS system controls desk phones which can perform functions including call transfer, find me/follow me,Do Not Disturb, group/conference calling and Call Waiting. The WCMS devices perform the same functions and additionally provide a secure Android environment. The WCMS sub-system enables communication between crew members anywhere on the Ship. The system consists of a redundant IP PABX telephone system on top of a military cloud, where communication is possible between different ‘endpoints’. These endpoints are represented by rugged mobile handhelds, fixed IP phones, ISDN/analogue phones and user terminals. The desk and conference phones are regular SIP phones and connect to network switches using standard network cabling. WCMS communication is designed to support firefighting and damage control, with users in high noise areas wearing personal protective equipment able to utilize the system. The WiFi network is managed by a WiFi controller; software running on a Virtual Machine in the network, which connects to special Wireless Access Points to create a Wi-Fi network. All of the physical Access Points are virtually merged to create a single Access Point for the handheld devices, preventing roaming issues and ensuring constant connectivity. Antennas are installed both outside and inside the Ship in order to support connectivity below and above decks. The WCMS system provides internal mobile command and control communications both below and above decks for mobile individuals and groups.

System Management

The management of WCMS to control and configure the system is done from one central Web interface which resides on the WCMS Virtual Machine (VM). This VM also contains the central configuration database, which holds all data, logging and auditing information. Monitoring of the WCMS system is done using Nagios, which is a tool that enables a System Administrator to configure components and equipment to be monitored.

All phone devices behave as regular phones to the end users, but are further enhanced with specific functions for naval use. Additionally, authorized users can logon to a phone and the phones will immediately be equipped with their profile settings.

The virtual machines and Media Gateways are delivered in duplicate to prevent a Single Point of Failure. The Virtual Machines are running in a Master/Slave configuration. In a fail-over situation the Slave will automatically take over.