The overall CS architecture is shown in Figure 3.

The most notable features of the system architecture is the ATM-like cell communication structure which transmits both voice and data between the panels and processing nodes of the system. This is illustrated in Figure 4.

Combined with the powerful Model Builder user interface and communication environment, this packet switching philosophy was greatly enhanced the scalability of the system. This cell-based technology allowed the separation of the control logic for all of the panels to a single central computer, allowing easy reconfiguration of the panel functionality without making any hardware or firmware changes to the panels themselves.

A set of three circuit board types was common to all the panel types. These boards provided voice and I/O digitization functions, and the third provided the signal conditioning for the various headset, handset and panel speakers. This greatly simplified the design, manufacture and testing of the custom panels. A representative diagram of the custom panel electronics is shown in Figure 5.

1. The DACS, a pre-existing and tested communications simulation system infrastructure provided radio propagation modeling, intercom networks, extensive host control capability, and DIS compatibility.
   
   
2. The pre-existing TDM / RIU architecture of the DACS provides digital audio input/output transport among all operator devices located on each node (within each cubicle).
   
   
3. The pre-existing DIS network support provides communications between operators located at different nodes (cubicles to cubicle).
   
   
4. The newly developed Model Server architecture provided a single computing platform on which each of the panels logic processes is executed.
   
   
5. The new panel architecture produced panels which were electrically identical from the communications and control perspective of the DACS and Model Server platforms.
   
   
6. The dual network capability of the DACS and Model Server was used to segregate low bandwidth control information originating at the host computer or at the DACS/Model Server, from the high bandwidth networked audio (DIS compatible) signals.

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