Telecommunications - Video Network Real Time Switching

The SCATS system, developed for Telstra by Digital Graphics Pty Ltd, controls the real time switching of the video and associated audio circuits in Telstra's National Video Network.

SCATS is an acronym for Switching Control And Tail Switching. The Tail Switching part refers to the control of the circuits between the Telstra switching centres (TOCs) in each capital city and the television stations. These circuits are called tails and each TV station has a PC connected back to SCATS to provide them with control of their leased tails. The Tail Switching system is called CITS (Customer Initiated Tail Switching).

The central control PCs use Digiboard Intelligent Serial cards to provide up to 48 communications ports on a single PC.

Telstra's National Video Network

The Telstra Video Network is used by all the television broadcasters to send various program materials, such as news items and sporting events, around the country. Unlike the telephone network where customers establish a connection on demand in real time, the video network has a much more limited capacity and connections are arranged on a pre-booked basis.

Digital Graphics has designed and written specialised control software for the Ready Mixed Concrete and Asphalt Industries.

 The systems utilise PCs controlling PLCs to control the real time operations of the batching plants, including weighing of the various materials and chemicals and the sequenced discharge of the batched materials into the trucks. The PCs provide the user interface, which is designed to require the minimum use of the keyboard. The PC also stores the mix design details for an unlimited numbers of products, and logs batching information for later analysis.

 The system can also produce delivery dockets and store billing information.

The system has been successfully installed around Australia and exported to Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea. It is fully customised for the customer's specific requirements. Major customers include Boral Concrete, Boral Asphalt, Concrite Concrete and Monier (PNG).