System Control Software

Included on every system is the Microbus MP5Control software which ensures that Health and Safety, security & vehicle management requirements can be met for your installation by enabling you to control and test various M-PC2, M-PC and MP5 functions under Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems.

All of our software functions are also available via our DLL library for which we include complete source code should you wish to include any of these functions in your own software. We also include a test utility "MP5 / MP7 test" to enable you to troubleshoot the system and test these functions.

The Microbus Port software consists of 4 parts.

• The Microbus Control software which constantly monitors the system and provides the "OnScreen" control menu for launching applications & controlling the screen brightness.
• A control panel applet to provide easy control and configuration of the system behaviour (pictures below).
• The "Microbus Port" kernel mode driver - which interfaces directly to our custom hardware under Windows 2000 / XP.
• Our custom hardware which provides system monitoring, voltage control, backlight control, Digital I/O, relay control, vehicle ignition sensing and much more.

[An example of the Microbus Control pop-up window when pressing the "on" button ]

From this window you have a one-step solution for launching dozens of applications, controlling the brightness of the screen and shutting down the system.

From the control Panel applet you can review the hardware and software revisions, and configure the system's components (including optional features):

• Board - Displays the board type, revision and serial numbers of all parts of the system which ensures traceability
• Software - Displays the revisions of Microbus software, drivers and firmware.
• On/Off Button - The action taken when pressing the "on" button. Options include blanking the display, shutting down (including standby or hibernate), controlling brightness (including day & night modes) launching other software & sending commands to other software.
• Ignition - Enables you to define what happens* when the system senses the vehicle ignition is switched off.
• Announcements - custom warning announcements can be automatically played by the system on sensing events such as ignition turned off, CPU over-temperature, Fan speed low & Battery power failure.
• Task List - from here you can define which applications can be launched from the "on" button
• Display - You can preset the initial brightness setting of the panel and define the gradation of the brightness control
• Over temperature - Enables you to define what happens* if the CPU reaches a pre-determined temperature limit to ensure reliable operation of the system.
• Fan Speed - Enables you to define what happens* if the Fan speed falls below a pre-determined rotational speed limit to ensure reliable operation of the system.
• Reporter - Enables additional logging of system events to 3rd party software (full logging of system events is logged to a file by default).
• Battery - Enables you to define what happens* if the vehicle power source falls below a critical level which ensures reliable operation of the system.
• Under Voltage - the M-PC2 has extra system voltage level sensors so that you can define actions* at custom system voltage levels.
• Lock-Down Windows - Security options can be enabled to prevent users from accessing other parts of the Windows Operating system which enables complete control over the end-user experience by preventing unauthorised access and modification of settings.
• Relay control - each relay connected to our Digital I/O port can be controlled independently via software, or can be defined here to be activated on boot or dependant on vehicle ignition or battery level status.

* actions including screen blanking, messaging to 3rd party software, displaying OnScreen messages or shutting down after multiple pre-set time intervals.

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Board properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Software properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying On/Off button properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Ignition properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Under-Voltage properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Security LockDown properties]

[Example of the control panel applet displaying Relay Control properties]

[Example of the MP7 test software displaying some of the control functions available via the Microbus Port software for which source code is available so that you can incorporate these functions into your own software]