AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
Harris Voice Communications System for the 21st Century (VCS21) is a global,
next-generation Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications system for
air traffic management (ATM) that meets ED-137 specifications. VCS21 facilitates
ATM modernization programs by delivering net-centric voice communications that
reduce dependency on traditional point-to-point communications.
The system replaces proprietary, time-division multiplexing (TDM) communications hardware with standards-based, net-centric VoIP-enabled nodes. This allows communication resources to scale directly with each added endpoint, eliminating the problems associated with fixed capacities in TDM-based systems.
VCS21 architecture distributes the network core to peripheral equipment. With the intelligence distributed over various elements, a failure at one part of the system does not affect operation in the rest of the system, and the IP network does not rely on a single interface connection. The use of the Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) protects against network failures, ensuring continued operation of the voice network, ultimately resulting in higher system reliability and availability.
VCS21 allows net-centric and legacy voice systems to coexist. This enables a seamless transition during ATM modernization programs of virtually any size and complexity, from small, single-tower installations to national and multinational voice systems. The system also operates as a fully networked enterprise voice system, with enhanced capabilities for business continuity planning, asset sharing, and future facilities.
VCS21™
A Harris Solution for Global Air Traffic Management BENEFITS> Supports from 1 to more than 800
controller working positions
> Seamless integration with existing ATM operations enables IP transition
> One hardware and software platform for all ATM applications, regardless of facility size
> System availability exceeding 99.999%
> Supports dynamic resectorization, resource allocation, workload balancing, and airspace design
> Lowers operating costs by reducing requirements for systems, spares, and integration
Local ATC Facility
PRP
LegacyCircuits
ED-137
LegacyCircuits
Remote Site
Protocol
ExternalWAN
IP Recorder
Analog Radios
Analog Radios
IP Radios
Legacy ATC Facilityand PBX/PSTN
Red LANIP Network
Blue LANIP Network
VCS21 CWPScalable to
800+ positions VCS21 TMCS
VCS21 CallControl Servers
VCS21Media Gateway
VCS21 RIU
VCS21EnterpriseManager
ED-137ATC Facility
NET-CENTRIC ATM PLATFORM/BUILDING BLOCKS FOR THE FUTURE> Controller Working Position (CWP) for both radio
and telephone communications
> Media Gateway for telephone trunk and radio interface functions, enabling any mix of legacy and networked communications
> Dual, active facility LAN with PRP running on each component, with zero switchover time (compared to a traditional TDM core)
> Radio Interface Unit (RIU) for emulating all legacy, remote-end functions while also supporting networked A/G functions in accordance with ED-137
> Call Control Servers for managing endpoint connectivity and conference capabilities
> TMCS and Enterprise Manager for fault reporting, monitoring, control, and configuration of system(s)
Flexible Architecture Designed for Global ATM Operations of Any Size or Complexity
INNOVATIONS> VCS21 is the only voice communications
platform in the world that is scalable to more than 800 positions with IP at its core
> Technology leap from legacy TDM
– No port-density limitations, unlike TDM-based systems
– Enables facility network convergence
– Cost-effective system implementation across geographically diverse locations
– Capable of expanding seamlessly without additional core processing
– Single channel granularity
– Common hardware and software platform for all system sizes
> Advanced Enterprise Level Management
– Next-generation features, such as asset sharing playbook for multiple sites, facility load sharing, business continuity planning, and facility consolidation
> Seamless integration into ATM systems
– Advanced technology with interoperability to legacy telephone and radios (2-wire, 4-wire, etc.)
– Plug and play capability to preserve existing capital investments, and to enable migration to IP platform
– Lowers transition risk and mitigates impact to ongoing operations
> High availability
– Decentralized architecture
– No single point of failure
– No performance breakpoints
– Dual active facility LAN with PRP on each component
> Security controls and protection
– IPSec, Access Control (AC) service, audit and accountability service, System and Information Integrity (SI) service
> Flexible/advanced human machine interface (HMI)– Badges embedded within buttons– Drag-and-drop style editor– Single or dual display
– Portable applications (tablets and laptops)
> Reduced system and life cycle costs
– Open architecture and standards with ED-137, ATS-R2, SNMP, IPv4, IPv6, DHCP, NTPv4, IPSec, service oriented architecture (SOA) interfaces
– Ability to seamlessly scale the system over the facility life cycle
> Optional primary/backup configuration
– Two independent systems to prevent propagation of failures
– Controller working positions accessing both systems over four LAN interfaces
– IP radio and telephone resources always connected to both systems
– Legacy resources mirrored on both systems and handled via A/B switch
– Initiating switchover from primary system, backup system, and enterprise level user (remote location)
Harris is a registered trademark of Harris Corporation.Trademarks and tradenames are the property of their respective companies.© 2013 Harris Corporation 09/13 521990 SEC d0600
Non-Export-Controlled Information
Government Communications Systems P.O. Box 37 Melbourne, FL USA 32901-0037
+1-800-442-7747 (+1-800-4HARRIS), ext. 2588 harris.com/vcs21
Harris ATC Solutions 80 Jean-Proulx Gatineau, Quebec J8Z 1W1 Canada
The Harris Voice Communications System
for the 21st Century (VCS21) is a VoIP
system specifically designed for global
ATM voice communications. The product
was generated from proven ATM
algorithms with over 18 million system
hours of combined operation in more
than 50 countries. For more than 25
years, Harris has provided some of the
world’s most reliable critical communica-
tions systems. Harris’ next-generation
voice communications and gateway products provide exceptional reliability and maximum functionality for wide- area radio network and communication support worldwide.
To learn more about the Harris VCS21 solution for your operations environment or how VCS21 is enabling the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) National Airspace System Voice System (NVS) solu-tion, please visit us at: harris.com/vcs21.
VSCS
Com
ponents
4 M
illio
n Sy
stem Hours
TMCS
• P
ositio
n SW
A/G
G/G
SW •
Intercom SW
Back
up Site
Liberty-RCE Components
700 Thousand System Hours
xMG HW
CWP HW
RIU HW
Enterpris
e Man
ager
Networking
• I
P
Securit
y
FTI/OASIS Compo
nent
s
70 Thousand Ente
rpris
e Ho
urs
VoIP • Resource Sharing
RCE Emul. SW
A/G G/G SW
Liberty-STAR Components
14 Million System Hours
VCS21™ A Harris Solution for Global Air Traffic Management
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