Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS). CENS Application The implementation of the Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS) application will

Computer EmergencyComputer Emergency

Notification System Notification System

(CENS)(CENS)

CENS ApplicationCENS Application

The implementation of the Computer The implementation of the Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS) Emergency Notification System (CENS) application will potentially save lives and application will potentially save lives and ensure the safety of employees.ensure the safety of employees.

CENS ApplicationCENS Application

The (CENS) application enables organizations The (CENS) application enables organizations to send messages electronically and in a to send messages electronically and in a designated environment to notify personnel of designated environment to notify personnel of emergencies, building related alerts, and emergencies, building related alerts, and provide other important information.provide other important information.

CENS FeaturesCENS Features

The CENS application works across multiple platforms.The CENS application works across multiple platforms.

Effectively and efficiently communicates with all the staff, Effectively and efficiently communicates with all the staff, specified groups, or specified locations via Specified Area specified groups, or specified locations via Specified Area Messaging (SAM).Messaging (SAM).

Provides the ability to notify employees of building or Provides the ability to notify employees of building or location-specific emergencies.location-specific emergencies.

CENS can also be used for non-emergency broadcast CENS can also be used for non-emergency broadcast messaging.messaging.


Authorized personnel create messages and perform Authorized personnel create messages and perform administration of CENS.administration of CENS.

Complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.Complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Minimal impact to network performance.Minimal impact to network performance.

Utilizes security features. Utilizes security features.


The client runs in the background and does not The client runs in the background and does not interfere with employees’ daily work.interfere with employees’ daily work.

Flexible and adaptable.Flexible and adaptable.

Low cost solution.Low cost solution.

CENS CENS

The CENS application consists of a Message The CENS application consists of a Message Generator, Web Server services, and a Client that Generator, Web Server services, and a Client that resides on individual workstations.resides on individual workstations.

1. The CENS Message Generator is the interface used by 1. The CENS Message Generator is the interface used by authorized personnel to create messages.authorized personnel to create messages.

2. The CENS Server software provides connectivity and database 2. The CENS Server software provides connectivity and database transactions and it creates HTML messages.transactions and it creates HTML messages.

3. The CENS Client software resides on individual workstations as 3. The CENS Client software resides on individual workstations as a small application. It polls the server at intervals and receives a small application. It polls the server at intervals and receives messages, as appropriate.messages, as appropriate.

CENS Process DiagramCENS Process Diagram

Message Generation Application Server Componenton Message Sender Workstation

Process Flow Steps 1 - 5Message generation and submittal

Database Server Web Server

Polls database. Creates HTML header and message files on Web server

Process Flow Steps 7 - 87. Client polls server and server responds with acknowledgment (< 30 bytes)

Client Workstation

Process Flow Step 6 System Administrator

installs CENS Client on Workstation

Message SenderWorkstation

8. Client polls server and server responds with message to client workstation

OR

Backup

CENS – Message GeneratorCENS – Message Generator

1.1. An authorized Message Sender logs in and An authorized Message Sender logs in and authentication is used to access the server authentication is used to access the server software.software.

Database Server

Message Generation Application Server Component

Process Flow Steps 1-5Message generation and submittal



2.2. Using the Message Using the Message Generator the sender Generator the sender selects different types selects different types of messages. of messages.

The same message is sent to all personnel, specific groups, or areas irrespective of the location of the emergency via Specific Area Messaging (SAM).


3.3. Once all options Once all options are selected, the are selected, the message sender message sender previews and previews and confirms the confirms the message. message.

The user has to confirm twice before sending the message.

CENS - ServerCENS - Server4.4. The message sender submits the message, which The message sender submits the message, which

is then written to the embedded database.is then written to the embedded database.

5.5. The message sender will receive a notification from The message sender will receive a notification from the CENS Server that the message was sent the CENS Server that the message was sent successfully to each server. successfully to each server. If there is a problem If there is a problem with either server the message sender is notified.with either server the message sender is notified.

Database Server

Message Generation Application Server Component

Process Flow Steps 1-5Message generation and submittal


CENS - ClientCENS - Client

6.6. The Client application is installed on desktop. The Client application is installed on desktop. Users will know if CENS has been loaded on the Users will know if CENS has been loaded on the desktop by the appearance of a black triangle in the desktop by the appearance of a black triangle in the icon tray.icon tray.

Client Workstation

Process Flow Step 6System Administrator installs CENS Client on Workstation manually or automatically using managed software tools or a login script.

CENS - ClientCENS - Client

7.7. The CENS client polls the CENS server at The CENS client polls the CENS server at configurable intervals via a HTTP request configurable intervals via a HTTP request (typically via port 80). (typically via port 80).

8.8. The CENS server application acknowledges the The CENS server application acknowledges the client request by sending a HTML message client request by sending a HTML message back to the CENS client, currently about 30 back to the CENS client, currently about 30 bytes in size. bytes in size.

Client Workstation

Web Server

Backup

CENS - ClientCENS - Client9.9. If the message sent from the server is a new message, the CENS client will:If the message sent from the server is a new message, the CENS client will:

Sound a siren for emergency messages. Non-emergency messages are a non-obtrusive audible sound on Sound a siren for emergency messages. Non-emergency messages are a non-obtrusive audible sound on any desktop computer. Either internal or external speakers will sound the siren.any desktop computer. Either internal or external speakers will sound the siren.

Display a full screen message that cannot be removed without deliberately closing the emergency message.Display a full screen message that cannot be removed without deliberately closing the emergency message.

CENS uses redundant servers for protection of possible network communications problems.CENS uses redundant servers for protection of possible network communications problems.

A message is considered ‘new’ if the message ID is greater than the user’s last received message and the message timestamp is less A message is considered ‘new’ if the message ID is greater than the user’s last received message and the message timestamp is less than 46 minutes old. than 46 minutes old. The 45 minute value is configurable.The 45 minute value is configurable.

Web Server

Backup

CENS Software & ArchitectureCENS Software & Architecture

CENS is written in Java.CENS is written in Java.

CENS has a client side and a server side and uses ‘pull’ techniques. CENS has a client side and a server side and uses ‘pull’ techniques.

The CENS server components are designed to execute on any Java application server that supports Java Servlet Specification version 2.4 or newer. The CENS server components are designed to execute on any Java application server that supports Java Servlet Specification version 2.4 or newer.

CENS - ServersCENS - ServersServer sizing is dependent on customer’s requirement and, Server sizing is dependent on customer’s requirement and, therefore, may change.therefore, may change.

Server HardwareServer Hardware

Requirements for disk space, memory and processor are minimal.Requirements for disk space, memory and processor are minimal.

Make usability decisions based upon requirements of web server and Make usability decisions based upon requirements of web server and anticipated network load.anticipated network load.

CENS SecurityCENS Security

Server SecurityServer Security

Access to the server housing the HTML messages can be Access to the server housing the HTML messages can be locked down by a system administrator as deemed necessary. locked down by a system administrator as deemed necessary. Restriction by IP address range is possible.Restriction by IP address range is possible.

Client SecurityClient Security

The client software is loaded automatically at startup (Windows The client software is loaded automatically at startup (Windows login) for all users; however the client cannot alter or send login) for all users; however the client cannot alter or send messages.messages.

CENS BenefitsCENS Benefits

CENS ensures that its user organizations are able to CENS ensures that its user organizations are able to effectively and efficiently communicate with staff in the event effectively and efficiently communicate with staff in the event of a crisis situation. The application requires no additional of a crisis situation. The application requires no additional software.software.

CENS delivers a consistent message to all personnel.CENS delivers a consistent message to all personnel.

CENS indicates the specific problem and what action to take.CENS indicates the specific problem and what action to take.

CENS works continuously if a user is logged on to system. CENS works continuously if a user is logged on to system.

NITC Services OfferingsNITC Services Offerings

NITC will:NITC will:

acquire and/or host a CENS server or utilize customer-acquire and/or host a CENS server or utilize customer-owned Windows server.owned Windows server.

partner with the customer to provide technical project partner with the customer to provide technical project planning and coordination.planning and coordination.

provide applications development expertise to modify provide applications development expertise to modify the most current USDA code and customize it to meet the most current USDA code and customize it to meet customer requirements.customer requirements.



provide CENS application level support during the provide CENS application level support during the development, installation, and maintenance phases.development, installation, and maintenance phases.

coordinate with the customer’s emergency command coordinate with the customer’s emergency command authority to create a database of message types and authority to create a database of message types and message content.message content.

provide application-level technical assistance with provide application-level technical assistance with systems setup, installation, testing, and deployment.systems setup, installation, testing, and deployment.



provide application-level “Help Desk”.provide application-level “Help Desk”.

provide application-level web-base knowledge expertise provide application-level web-base knowledge expertise for testing and deployment.for testing and deployment.

provide application level CENS systems and end user provide application level CENS systems and end user CENS documentation.CENS documentation.


NITC Services Pricing:NITC Services Pricing:

Fee based depending upon Fee based depending upon customization requirements.customization requirements.

CENS Application Pricing:CENS Application Pricing:Available upon request for FederalAvailable upon request for FederalGovernment entities.Government entities.

“ “Partnering for Partnering for Success”Success”

Business Contact: 888-USE-NITC

www.ocio.usda.gov/nitc

Documents

Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS). CENS Application The implementation of the Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS) application will