Msg#:17671 *PROJECTS*
04/23/89 15:45:20
From: MARK DAHMKE
  To: STEVE CIARCIA (Rcvd)
Subj: HCS 2 SPECS
Proposed Specs for HCS2 Mark Dahmke 4/23/89

The HCS2 would be based on the BCC180 with RTC networked  processors attached
via RS-485 at 19,200bps.  The BCC180 would be  used as a multitasking server
where tasks would be set up to monitor inputs, control outputs, execute
user-defined IF-THEN logic,  communicate with the network, and communicate with
the user.

The HCS2 system should be controllable/programmable from a serial console on
the BCC180 or from an RS-232 interface to a PC.   User-defined code, control
logic, and sensor I/O configuration  could be downloaded from a PC into the
BCC180 and optionally from  the BCC180 into any RTC.

The RTC networking firmware should be designed for remote bootstrap;
that is, when an RTC processor resets, it should send a network  request to
determine if it should receive object code from the BCC180 host.  This process
should be automatic at the BCC180 so  that if an RTC is reset, the code
appropriate for that RTC should be present in the BCC180 and automatically
reloaded into the RTC  and initialized.

The BCC180 and all RTCs and sensors should be powered via  battery-backed,
continuously charged gel-cells with a capacity for one hour of operation.  At
the user's discretion, the extent of battery backup can be limited to just the
BCC180, to the BCC180 and RTC processors, or to all processors and sensors.
With good error recovery and automatic reload of slave processors, universal
battery backup may not be required.

Ideally, the RS-485 network should have the option of being fiber-
optic based, to reduce RF and EMI problems.

Other requirements would include the potential integration of the AV/MUX and
remote control IR features previously described in CCI and BYTE, although for
my personal system I don't need this capability yet (but I'm sure it's on
Steve's wish list).