Sparkgap Control Stack
The Sparkgap Control Stack is a Linux software package that controls a ReFLEX two-way paging network, supporting multiple, channels, zones and base stations. It supports unicast and multicast communications, secure provisioning and management, and sub-5 second message delivery. The paging control stack is a generational update to the M41XX and M42XX paging controllers, and is specifically optimized for first-responder primary dispatch.
Benefits
- Ultra-reliable solution for critical messaging
- 5-second message delivery, confirmation, and response
- User read confirmation and multiple-choice responses
- AES-128 message encryption with key management
Architecture
The Sparkgap Control Stack installs on an RHEL 7+ or CentOS 7+ operating system, and comprises three 64-bit service modules: io, core and rzone.
The io module provides messaging interfaces. The core module maintains the subscriber database and message queues. The real-time rzone module handles the RF air interface, connecting to one or more base stations and providing one or more zones of Reflex coverage.
The control stack implements supports several messaging interfaces, SDP, SMTP, SNPP, TAP, and an IVR interface for Asterisk, used for telephone paging.
Messaging Interfaces
SDP: The Sparkgap Dispatch Protocol is a socket-based text protocol for sending critical messages to pagers and groups of pagers, and receiving acknowledgements and responses as they happen in real time. It also includes socket-level connection health monitoring, group membership reports, and other features relevant to primary dispatch and critical communications.
SMTP: The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is a push based protocol for sending email. The Sparkgap Control Stack is a Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) meaning it can send and receive email as both a SMTP client and server. In this configuration, email addresses are assigned to pagers, which may send and receive email.
SNPP: The Simple Network Paging Protocol allows socket clients to send messages to pagers (RFC 1861). The Sparkgap Control Stack supports level 3 SMTP, which conveys responses back to the client.
TAP: The Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol allows clients to send messages to pagers using a serial port.
Asterisk: The CRS Asterisk Interface supports a lightweight IVR socket protocol that can integrate into Asterisk framework as an application. Together, the interface and application permit telephone callers to send pager messages using their telephone dialpad.