PTP®: Modular, Customizable Data Processing Solutions For Satellite Operations
The PTP® software application provides a modular set of components that users can connect to build an intuitive, flexible, and customizable data processing workflow. Instead of writing and compiling code, users work within a menu-driven graphical user interface (GUI). As a result, they can quickly select, add, configure, and link PTP modules to create a tailored data handling process. Additionally, users can rearrange modules, adjust configurations, and update workflows in seconds. These changes take effect immediately, which helps accelerate testing and analysis.
What is the Programable Telemetry Processor (PTP®) And How Does It Work?
The PTP Supports Your Missions Life Cycle
The PTP® system supports the entire life cycle of a satellite system, providing critical functions from development through deployment.
PTP Software Server/Client Application
The PTP® Server software is the core component of the PTP system. It controls the hardware and manages the reception and transmission of data across both serial and Internet Protocol (IP) interfaces. In addition, it handles data processing, storage, and playback.
The Console client application provides an easy-to-use, point-and-click interface for configuring and monitoring one or more PTP Servers. It communicates with the PTP Server through a TCP/IP socket connection and can run on a local PC, a remote network PC, or the PTP Server system itself.
PTP Modules: Config and Status Windows
All PTP software modules share standard input/output features: they can receive data, output one or more data streams, be configured and monitored through the GUI, and respond to or generate events for other modules (as shown in Figure 1). Each PTP Module supports at least two display types: Config and Status. The Config displays the configuration window that contains all configurable parameters for that Module.
The Module’s Config includes data entry values, drop-down selection lists, checkboxes, and radio buttons to establish the Config parameters for that module.
Key Features And Benefits
- A COTS solution that reduces program-specific development
- The user can modify and change any function at any time
- Compatible with major COTS satellite monitoring and control software packages
- A wide variety of hardware interface options to reduce integration time
- Adaptable solution for evolving mission requirements
- Delivered as a system-level or software-only solution, depending
on program needs
Understanding PTP Desktop Components
The elements of PTP serve as the building blocks for creating data-processing configurations known as Desktops. A PTP Desktop includes PTP Modules, each Module’s configuration, and the connections between Modules. Additionally, the Desktop connection diagram provides a visual representation of these relationships.
PTP Option Modules
In addition to the standard PTP implementation, we provide extensions in the form of additional ‘licensed’ modules to expand PTP’s capabilities, perfectly integrated with other PTP operations. Our base PTP software provides over 100+ modules, as seen below.
Product Capabilities
Broad, Extensible Protocol Support
The PTP® offers a wide variety of network encapsulation protocols to facilitate integration with different satellite control systems and offers support for new protocol standards as they emerge. Support for user encapsulation formats includes NASCOM RTP, IPDU, SFDU, LEO T, and EDOS. SLE data services (FCLTU, RAF, RCF) are provided with support for the United States Space Force SGLS interoperability standards.
Configurable Platform Architecture
Enterprise grade server architecture is utilized to provide expandability and multi-mission capabilities. Transmit and receive interfaces can be added and removed for configuration to new missions. Interfaces range from low-speed serial interfaces, like TTL, RS-422, and RS-232, to high-speed interfaces, like Ethernet, LVDS, and ECL. The PTP® can also be configured with RF interfaces from 70MHz to 6GHz to support MODEM functionality.
Encoding And Decoding
Multiple encoding and decoding algorithms are supported including randomization, Reed-Solomon, Viterbi, Turbo, LDPC, and CRC.
Telemetry And Command Processing and Simulation
The system provides real-time telemetry, command processing, and simulation capabilities. It supports CCSDS Conventional (Version 1) and AOS (Version 2) protocols, transfer frame processing, VCID and APID filtering, packet processing, telemetry decommutation, engineering unit conversion, and CCSDS telecommand processing (COP-1). Additionally, the platform includes configurable PRBS and pattern generation, error and noise simulation, bit and packet error rate calculations, and integrated data quality monitoring with bit error rate test (BERT) tools.
Easy Local and Remote Configuration
The PTP can be controlled locally or remotely via a highly functional GUI. A remote-control library is also provided for integration with satellite control systems, and a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent is provided for integration with enterprise management platforms.
Data Archiving and Playback
Data archiving and playback is provided to and from local drives and network-attached storage devices. Data can be recorded and played back from any point in the data stream. Configurable multi-mode file playback and segmented and multi-file recording is supported as well as automatic time-tagging and aging of recorded files.
Featured PTP® Models
PTP-2031
The PTP-2031 is a 1U high-performance rackmount system designed for demanding network and timing applications.
It features redundant power supplies for enhanced reliability and ten hot-swappable hard drive bays for flexible storage management.
Available configuration options include multiple networking options or storage options.
Key Benefits
- Compact 1U rackmount design
- High availability through redundant power supplies
- Easy maintenance with hot-swappable drives
- Remote management capabilities via IPMI 2.0
- Flexible networking and I/O options to meet mission requirements
Included Software
- Windows 11 Professional
- PTP software pre-installed
Hardware Features
- Intel Xeon processor
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM
- Dual 10Base-T RJ45 network ports
- IPMI 2.0 out-of-band management interface for remote system monitoring and administration
Connectivity Options
- Pure network-based transfer applications
- Up to two channels of serial I/O through optional interface boards
PTP-2032
The PTP-2032 is a 2U high-performance rackmount system designed for demanding network and timing applications.
It features redundant power supplies for enhanced reliability and eight hot-swappable hard drive bays for flexible storage management.
Available configurations options include multiple networking options or storage options.
Key Benefits
- Space-efficient 2U rackmount design
- High availability through redundant power supplies
- Easy maintenance with hot-swappable drives
- Remote management capabilities via IPMI 2.0
- Support for up to four serial channels
- Flexible networking and storage options to meet mission requirements
Included Software
- Windows 11 Professional
- PTP software pre-installed
Hardware Features
- Intel Xeon processor
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM
- Dual network ports
- IPMI 2.0 out-of-band management interface for remote system monitoring and administration
Connectivity Options
- Up to four serial I/O channels through optional interface board offerings
- Flexible integration for applications requiring serial communications
PTP-2033
The PTP-2033 is a 3U rackmount platform with a compact 20-inch depth, making it an ideal solution for installations where rack space and depth are limited.
It features redundant power supplies and internal storage while providing higher board density than the 2U platform, requiring only 1U of additional rack space.
Available configurations options include multiple networking options or storage options.
Key Benefits
- Space-efficient 2U rackmount design
- High availability through redundant power supplies
- Easy maintenance with hot-swappable drives
- Remote management capabilities via IPMI 2.0
- Support for up to four serial channels
- Flexible networking and storage options to meet mission requirements
Included Software
- Windows 11 Professional
- PTP software pre-installed
Hardware Features
- Intel Xeon processor
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM
- Dual network ports
- IPMI 2.0 out-of-band management interface for remote system monitoring and administration
Connectivity Options
- Up to four serial I/O channels through optional interface board offerings
- Flexible integration for applications requiring serial communications
PTP-2040
The PTP-2040 is a 4U rackmount platform with a compact 20-inch depth.
It features redundant power supplies and four hot-swappable hard drives to support reliable operation and simplified maintenance.
Available configurations options include multiple networking or storage options.
Key Benefits
- Space-efficient 2U rackmount design
- High availability through redundant power supplies
- Easy maintenance with hot-swappable drives
- Remote management capabilities via IPMI 2.0
- Support for up to four serial channels
- Flexible networking and storage options to meet mission requirements
Included Software
- Windows 11 Professional
- PTP software pre-installed
Hardware Features
- Intel Xeon processor
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM
- Dual Gigabit Ethernet network ports
- 20-inch-deep 4U rackmount chassis
- Redundant power supplies for enhanced system reliability
Flexible Configuration
Multiple configuration options are available, including:
- Additional networking interfaces
- Expanded storage configurations
- Application-specific hardware options
Featured Data Interface Cards
PTP-Modem: Multi-Channel Satellite Modem for TT&C Applications
The PTP Modem is a multi-channel satellite modem designed for telemetry, tracking, and command applications. It provides fully programmable uplink and downlink waveforms to meet satellite-specific requirements while supporting standard modulation and coding options. In addition, the modem supports the SGLS waveform. For RF-to-IP applications, it offers a VITA-49 Radio Transport (VRT) network interface.
LUNA-II PCIe Serial I/O Card
The LUNA-II is a PCIe serial I/O card that supports CCSDS Conventional, CCSDS Advanced Orbiting Systems (AOS), and time division multiplexed (TDM) data formats. Additionally, it features an integrated Reed-Solomon encoder/decoder that provides block error detection and correction for all CCSDS-recommended grades of service for Advanced Orbiting Systems (AOS).
ORION High-Rate Serial Interface Board
The ORION High-Rate Serial Interface Board is a PCIe I/O card that supports CCSDS Conventional, CCSDS Advanced Orbiting Systems (AOS), and Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data formats. Additionally, the ORION provides integrated Viterbi and Reed-Solomon decoding for comprehensive bit and block error detection and correction across CCSDS-recommended grades of service for Advanced Orbiting Systems.
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