whittier_plaza

Whittier Access Tunnel

Plaza Computer System

The Plaza Computer System (PCS) is based on a 500 MHz Compaq PC with 256 MB of RAM, a 9.1 GB hard disk, and a 120MB removable LS120 disk. It also has a CDROM and floppy disk. The operating system is QNX and all programs are written in "C". The PCS is linked to the lane controller via a 100BaseT LAN and all data is sent in real time.

Data is stored for viewing in real time from the Supervisor display. All programs are controlled by pointing and clicking with a mouse. Reports are printed on a Hewlett Packard laser printer and a modem allows for the transfer of credit card data and for Tolltex staff to access the system remotely for maintenance.

Some sample screens from the PCS are shown below. Click on any image to see a larger view.

The screen shown here is the main plaza monitor screen used to display real time events occurring in the lanes. The top portion shows data for each lane. Data displayed includes lane status, collector ID, toll schedule in effect, counts of transactions by each payment type, violations, total vehicles and the number of receipts printed for that lane. Icons show the status of devices in real time.

Click image for larger view.

The plaza monitor screen includes graphic icons that represent the equipment in the system. The icons show the status of the equipment according to the messages generated by the lane controller. Depending upon device status, the icons change appearance in real time as follows :

If a device is failed, it has a red "X" through it.
If a device is operating properly, it appears normal.
If the status of the device is unknown, it appears dimmed.

When the system starts, all of the device icons are dimmed. As device status becomes known according to the messages sent from the lane controller, the icons change to either the "normal" or "X' state. Since the slot card reader does not send a status message, it will remain dimmed until the first valid card is read. Then it will turn to its normal state. Additionally, the exit loop detector does not produce a status message. The lane controller determines it has failed by the number of consecutive vehicles that have been processed by the collector without having an activation of the loop. This value is currently set in the Lane Configuration settings screen to allow it to be changed dynmaically.

If a device returns to operation from a failed state, its icon will change from the red "X" to normal. Placing the mouse over an icon displays a yellow window with a status description.

Clicking on one of the Lane Numbers on the top-left side of the upper area displays more details for that lane as shown in the screen below. The bottom portion is a general message area that is scrollable to allow up to 2,000 messages to be viewed by the supervisor. Since the lane controller sends data to the PCS via a 100 Mbs LAN, the real time monitor screen is updated nearly instantly.

The screen shown on the left is the detail lane monitor. The top portion shows lane status, collector ID, toll schedule in effect, when the collector toured in. The body shows counts by vehicle class of each payment type, violations, total vehicles and the number of receipts printed for that lane. Details for multiple lanes can be displayed in multiple windows.

Click image for larger view.

The detail monitor screen is accessed from the main monitor screen by simply clicking on the lane number.

The screen shown on the left is used to add non-revenue users to the system. Similar screens exist to change a non-revenue account or delete an account. Data in the file is immediately sent to the lane controller so it is available for use. When a non-revenue card is used in the lanes, the system verifies the ID number of from the list of non-revenue accounts.

Click image for larger view.

The screen shown on the left is the remote lane control command screen. The system allows the supervisor to open or close a lane from the plaza. This feature is used in the event that the card reader in the tollbooth is not operational or if the collector forgot his/her ID card. If an invalid collector ID is entered, a message appears.

Click image for larger view.

This screen is used to "close-out" a collector for a day and record the cash for use in audit reports. The collector (or supervisor) enters counts of each denomination of money collected during a tour of duty. A tour of duty consists of all segments of duty for one shift. A segment of duty corresponds to the time in the lane. For example, from the time a collector tours in until break is one segment.

Click image for larger view.

The system calculates the total according to the entries made for each denomination and displays that value. The PCS also calculates the variance between what the collector entered and what the system calculated.

The PCS stores detail and summary data transactions. This report lists data for detail transactions generated by a collector for a given period of time. It is used to perform a detail check of the system. "From" and "To" ranges as well as collector ID determine the data that will be displayed.

Click image for larger view.

The PCS stores summary records for the time each collector is operating the lane. This report lists the summary transactions generated by a collector for a given period of time. "From" and "To" ranges as well as collector ID determine the summary records that will be displayed.

Click image for larger view.

A hardcopy of each report is generated on the laser printer by selecting "Print" on the screen.

Features available from the PCS include:

Toll Schedule:

Add Toll Schedule

Change Toll Schedule

Delete Toll Schedule

Collector ID:

Add Collector

Update Toll Collector

Delete Collector

Configuration and System Screen Displays:

Lane Controller Settings Display

Modem Settings Display

RoadMate Settings

View Toll Schedule

Collector ID Table

Non-Revenue Account Table

Reports:

Daily Plaza Summary

Monthly Plaza Summary

Date-Selectable Plaza Summary

Collector Closing and Money Audit Report

Daily Collector Cash Audit

Collector Details

Collector Detail Transaction Report

Collector Segment of Duty Report

No-Funds and Violation

Non-Revenue Usage

Credit Card Usage

Credit Card Detail Transaction Report

Traffic Volume Report

Real Time Monitors

Plaza Monitor

Detail Lane Monitor

System Menus:

Real Time Monitoring

Configuration Menu

Settings Sub-menu

Toll Schedule Sub-menu

Collector ID Sub-menu

Non-Revenue Account Sub-menu

Credit Card payment transfer

Get a print formatted version of this page by downloading whittier_plaza.pdf (349K).
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The plaza monitor screen includes graphic icons that represent the equipment in the system. The icons show the status of the equipment according to the messages generated by the lane controller. Depending upon device status, the icons change appearance in real time as follows :

If a device is failed, it has a red "X" through it.

If a device is operating properly, it appears normal.

If the status of the device is unknown, it appears dimmed.

If a device returns to operation from a failed state, its icon will change from the red "X" to normal. Placing the mouse over an icon displays a yellow window with a status description.

The PCS stores detail and summary data transactions. This report lists data for detail transactions generated by a collector for a given period of time. It is used to perform a detail check of the system. "From" and "To" ranges as well as collector ID determine the data that will be displayed.

The PCS stores summary records for the time each collector is operating the lane. This report lists the summary transactions generated by a collector for a given period of time. "From" and "To" ranges as well as collector ID determine the summary records that will be displayed.