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| fids3 - the 3rd generation of fids |
 What fids3 stays for ?
Fids3 stays for ' 3rd generation ( F)light ( I)nformations ( D)isplay ( S)ystem'.
Before the personal computer (PC) came up there were a lot of miscellaneous systems mostly developed in assembler
language on different hardware platforms (e.g. Dec VAX, Microvax, PDP11, Honeywell Bull DPS3). Hardware was very heavy
and expensive. There were absolutly no standards. This was the 1st generation of FIDS.
Beginning of the 90ties the personal computer (PC) was developed. The power of this new generation of
computers was improved dramatically and the first portations of the PC-based UNIX V operation system became available. For the
same time the programming language 'C' consolidated as a standard. This was the technical environment the most
of the todays available FIDS are (still) based on (A UNIX based FIDS written in 'C' with DOS-/Windows based clients (PCs)
which are network/serial connected to the FIDS server). This was the 2nd generation of FIDS.
The todays technical environment is dominated by the total networking provided by the internet. The browser is the standard
client interface (HTML) which nearly everyone is familar in using it today. The todays penetration of mobile devices (Cellphones, Web-Pads) is
comparable to the TV penetration. The latest generation of mobile phones will offer comprehensive graphical
features (e.g. the Samsung Galaxy GT-I9000 has a resolution of 1280x720 pixels). This enables you to communicate with the
network in a way we haven't seen before. This also will influence the way the airport staff will communicate with the existing
software systems. Using a todays smart phones makes it possible to communicate to the Fids3 system
without any functional/display restrictions compared to a normal Itranet/Internet browser client. This is only possible
because Fids3 uses browser 100% technology for all its frontends and public monitor displays.
The software world is dominated by the programming language Java© which is really
portable and perfectly designed for todays Internet communications. Several open-source projects offer professional
cost-free software products/platforms (databases, middleware) and are well accepted/used in todays enterprise development as well.
Fids3 is designed for the Internet and the mobile future without any compromises. It hasn't any dependency on
any software license (operating system, middleware, database), hardware or proprietary protocols. Add a Fids3 server to
the airports LAN and have real-time flight data available everywhere just using the browser. Modern AJAX technology supported by all modern browsers enables this. Fids3 makes
you independent from any TFT monitor brand/manufacturer and uses the popular and free Firefox© browser rendering engine for perfect
monitor layouts. (See example here)
This is the reason why it is called Fids3 ('The 3rd generation of FIDS).
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What is the 'F3 controller' ?
To display flight information on any common brand LCD monitor
you need a unit which communicates with the Fids3 server system
and drives the display content on the screen due to the
configuration and requirements of the application.
This is done by the 'Fids3 video controller (also F3 Controller or just F3C)' which is the name for a logical component
which physically is just a PC equipped with an operating system (normally Linux or Windows XP/7), the Firefox Browser and a piece of software provided by fids3.com, the 'F3 controller extension'.
The F3 Controller is located between the Fids3 server and the LCD monitor ( see figure).
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What is the 'F3 controller extension' ?
Purchasing the Fids3 system to control a certain number of flight
information monitors includes a small software module, the 'F3 controller extension'.
This program is an extension of the free Firefox browser and enables the browser to communicate with the Fids3 server and forces it to display certain information pages on request. It also switches to 'Full Screen' mode, hides the mouse cursor etc., so that it isn't revealed to the public that a browser is rendering the flight information displayed on the LCD monitors screen behind the scenes.
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Does fids3.com supply LCD monitors ?
No. Our main business is software. The only hardware provided from us are the ready-to-run
servers as well as (on request) ready-to-run prepared video controller PCs equipped
with OS, the latest Firefox browser and our F3 controller extension. Our solution
doesn't require any special monitors, so you can theoretically use any LCD monitor
brand available on the market.
It makes no sense to buy e.g. Samsung LCD monitors in Germany and ship them around the world.
This would make things complicated (custom guidelines, spares, maintenance, time loss) and very
expensive (shipment, our profit margin and handling costs). They are available in every
country in the world and best is to contact a local Samsung dealer for delivery and
technical support. The same rules are valid for the network. Fids3 is from the technical point view a
'simple network' or part of an existing network. Their is nothing special or proprietary.
For more information refer to our hardware document.
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Does fids3.com supply 'F3 controllers' PCs ?
Yes, we do.
We provide approved, ready-to-run prepared video controller PCs equipped with OS (Ubuntu LInux OS), the latest Firefox browser
and our F3 controller extension. This small PCs can be mounted 'piggyback' on the monitors back or on the wall
behind the monitor. These controller PCs are devlivered with HDMI/DVI cabling (1m), local
power cable/socket as well as fastening material (VESA mount).
For more information refer to our hardware document.
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Can I install the 'F3 controller extension' on self-supplied PC hardware ?
Yes, you can. The 'F3 controller extension' is coming without extra charge together
with the Fids3 system. Due to minimum hardware requirements provided
by us, you can supply your own PCs to install the Firefox browser and the extension on. This option gives you freedom and independence.
A step-by-step installation guide for the installation of the
F3 controller extension is provided by us as well.
For more information refer to our hardware document.
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Can I install the F3 controller on the back of the monitor ?
Yes, you can. the controller PC normally connected on the back of the monitor.
The controller supplied from fids3.com is coming with a standard
VESA mounting plate. This can be used to fasten the controller
as piggyback or on the wall behind the monitor. Compared to an embedded
PC this solution has the benefit of
technically independence. If the customer is unsatisfied with the
quality of the LCD monitor brand he can exchange it without
buying a new hard-embedded controller PC as well.
For more information refer to our hardware document.
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Does fids3.com provide/install network infrastructure ?
No, this has preferable to be done by any local, on-site company.
There are no special requirements to the Fids3 system to the network. The Fids3 server can be added to any existing airports Intranet. Also the
'F3 controller' PCs equipped with a network adapter and just to be connected
to the network. All existing PCs in the network can be used to communicate to
the Fids3 server if they are equipped with a browser (Firefox, Internet
Explorer etc.)
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Are there special network requirements for Fids3 installation ?
No, the Fids3 server and F3 controller PCs can be added to any existing
airports Ethernet LAN. The communication protocols are TCP/IP and HTTP, so
the standard protocols for todays Intranet/Internet world ( see network sample diagram). If there are
special security requirements the Fids3 network can be isolated, but this is
just a technical detail and influences not the functionality of the Fids3
system itself. Also the choice of network topology with its components
(switches, hubs, WLAN, etc.) is just a technical decision relevant under
reliable/performance aspects but not for the Fids3 communication itself.
In any case fids3.com provides consulting and installation/commissioning
support for it.
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Do I need any special client software/hardware to use Fids3 ?
No, adding a Fids3 server to an existing airports network enables all
existing PCs in the network to communicate with Fids3 just using any HTML browser. This reduces costs and hardware requirements for the airports customer. It is also of strategically interest due to independence aspects. The HMI (Human Machine Interface) of the future will look that way that you can control/use
several application with the browser tool, each from a separate tab (tabbed browsing).
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What about security ? Can everyone access the system ?
No, the browser is just the technical requirement to contact the Fids3 server.
Before using/manipulating it you have to authenticate with user ID and password.
Depending on the users authorization roles he has the right to see and/or
change certain data in the system. Fids3 provides admin features/services for creation and manipulation of users and authorization roles.
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What is about installation ?
The installation of the cabling, network components and configuration, monitor
mountings, routers, switches, Internet access configuration etc. has preferable to be
done by a local computer dealer or integrator company.
Installation support/consulting can be provided by us.
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What is about commissioning ?
If the network is in place and all monitors mounted and connected (power, network) to it as well the commissioning of a Fids3 system is an easy job. If everything is well prepared it will run immediately after connecting it to the network. This job normally can be done by the company installing and configuring the network. This is the partner we have to communicate to in the process of commissioning on-site and/or from remote. So, commissioning support is provided by us.
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What is about documentation/manuals ?
Documentation is provided as online manuals (PDF format). The following manuals are provided:
- User's Guide (Full system description, 360 pages)
- Operator's Cookbook (Quick reference for common operator's tasks, 60 pages)
- Administrator's Cookbook (Quick reference for common administrator's tasks, 60 pages)
- F3C installation/set-up manual (F3 video controller documentation, 50 pages)
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Does Fids3 contain a Page Designer Tool ?
No, Fids3 display layouts depends on HTML and uses a template based concept.
The page designer software tools mostly comprehensive, complicated and the results are
mostly poor and not presentable to the public without any post processing. If you additionally have
individual foreign character set requirements, analogously clocks etc. the
existing tools are unable to provide acceptable results.
Just have a look to our layout document.
No existing page designer will be able to create a layout like this one. And this
normally leads to monitor layouts which are looking like a self-designed amateur
web site.
The Fids3 concept is explained in detail here.
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Can I add/change own airline logos ?
Fids3 normally uses airline logos of the following sizes
- 200x50 pixels (small)
- 300x75 pixels (medium)
- 600x200 pixels (big)
- 1000x300 pixels (XXL)
The system provides an upload functionality enabling you to upload new/changed logos from every PC (at runtime) just using the browser.
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Can Fids3 drive other display devices e.g. Splitflap or LCD/LED boards ?
Fids3 is designed to drive exotically display devices as well. The programming/configuration
effort to add a new handler component is limited and will be offered by us for a fixed, flat price.
Due to our experience we have the know how and skills to control a wide range of
existing devices (e.g. Solari and Conrac split flap, AEG Geavision LCD, DZine Video Controller, Velec Dot-Matrix, Leurocom LED etc.)
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Can we add more monitors/displays in a future step ?
Yes, Fids3 can be scaled and isn't limited to any number of monitors. Just resources and power of the server hardware and the operating system are the limits. More monitors means more parallel work for
the Fids3 server. So, the individual situation (system behavior, response times etc.) has
to be analyzed and the server hardware (speed, number/kind of processors, memory) has to be chosen/upgraded if necessary.
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Is an Internet connection necessary to run Fids3 ?
No, it isn't compulsary to connect the Fids3 servers running inside the airports Intranet
to the Internet. But if you decide to use the following features of the system the Fids3 servers
need Internet connection.
- Weather Data Access
- Server time synchronization from Internet
- SMS/Email Alerting/Flight status tracking
- Webserver uploading
- Internet remote browser client access (e.g. Headquarter Civil Aviation Agency, Smartphones)
- Fids3 Remote maintenance/access
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Are foreign character sets (e.g. Arabic, Chinese etc. ) supported ?
Fids3 uses the so-called UTF-8 character set ( اللغة العربية, 汉字/漢字, etc.) provided by all common browsers.
This character set is able to display every character of the world (in summary
more than 30.000 characters). In the operating system (e.g. Windows XP) the support of this character set must be activated and you need the right keyboard (can also be a virtual one) to be enabled to type in the appropriate characters and store it in the Fids3 database.
Fids3 uses this UTF-8 character set for airport names, airline names, remark
texts, check-in class and free form texts and some other usages.
UTF-8 support Fids3 airports lookup table
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Does Fids support clustered monitor pages ?
Yes, you can cluster pages on one monitor (logical clustering with page switching) or on different monitors (physical clustering). If more than one monitor is involved Fids3 considers also if one or more F3 controller fail for any reason (out-of-service). In this case generally the most topical information pages are displayed by re-arrangement of the logical pages.
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Are there individual Check-In page layouts for airlines possible ?
For certain airlines individual counter layouts can be configured and stored. So you can prepare individual layouts with specific classes for Saudi Arabian airlines and
other airlines. A Check-In counter control feature provided by Fids3 automatically detects if e.g. a Saudi Airline Flight has assigned to the counter and offers automatically just the layouts belonging to the appropriate airline and the common ones in a check box for simple One-Click selection by the Airline staff. Another nice option is to prepare foreign language class and free texts attached to the airline layout. e.g. for Chinese people traveling with Chinese airlines you can also prepare Chinese class or free texts text. All common web browsers support UTF-8 and all character sets available in the world, so you can use it to enter different character sets from the same operator PC (e.g. at the counter). The demonstrated scenario is a very good service to the passengers and show the professionalism and customer friendliness of an airport.
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Can we advertise on monitors ?
Fids3 contains an integrated advertising feature which enables you to define
your own sequences of images which will be shown (similar to a slide show) in
a predefined portion (rectangle) of predefined flight information monitors at
a predefined time (time frame and frequency). This feature enables the airport
operators to upload self-prepared images and makes it easy to define own
sequences of pictures (hotels, car rentals, restaurants etc.) without comprehensive
costs and effort. So the profit break-even for this kind of advertising for
local, airport incorporated companies is straight and uncomplicated.
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How many monitors can I connect to Fids3 ?
Fids3 isn't limited by design. Due to the number of
logical displays and physically clients it automatically creates
parallel working tasks (threads) to speed up performance.
Parallel to that the server hardware has to be dimensioned to the
right size (number/kind of processors, memory, speed etc.).
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Can Fids3 serve Internet-connected flight information displays ?
Yes, Fids3 is predestined for that. Due to its non-compromising affiliation of
the Internet/Browser/HTML/AJAX technology the airport can provide Hotels, Car Rentals,
Airlines, Service Agents etc. with real-time flight information. The customer
just need a LCD monitor screen and a F3 controller connected to the Internet.
Just try the links below to get an idea how it could look (If you use the Firefox browser 3.6 or better just press F11 key to toggle your screen to full-screen mode)
Screens can be also multi-paged, so a thinkable scenario could be a LCD monitor hanging at
a car rental counter showing actual departure flight information switching with any 'special offer' pages.
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Is Fids3 available in a Hot-Standby Version ?
Yes, it is. A virtual IP address is used. Primary and Secondary server have there own
physical IP addresses and only the actual Primary server is assigned to it. The hard disk of the Secondary server will be completely
mirrored at any time. For observation and mirroring a dedicated network cross-over connection will be used to get
technically independant from the rest of the network (e.g. switches), improve speed as well as to reduce the occurrence of a
split-brain situation to a marginal minimum. Recovery from a split-brain constellation is provided by Fids3. On special request a
so-called STONITH-device can be provided.
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