Software architecture of data acquisition control process during TJ-II operation

Data from the diagnostics on the TJ-II device will be collected by several independent systems linked to local area networks (LANs). Some of these systems will consist of digitizers based on well-known standards: CAMAC, VME, VXI, etc. Other allowable systems would be personal computers or workstations with direct control over a specific diagnostic. In principal, any equipment capable of being linked in a LAN can be used as a controller for data collection. All systems will be programmed from a central computer. In this computer, an application program will allow the set up of data acquisition in any system. This will be achieved by communicating systems through a network standard protocol: TCP/IP. The central computer will also centralize the database of discharges. For this purpose, immediately after a discharge, data will be sent from the autonomous systems to the main computer. The latter will coordinate data reception, organize discharge information, and compress data. Data will be transferred rapidly so all diagnostic signals will be available to users for immediate analysis. The computer processes outlined here will provide an application program to provide users with an interface for all operations related to data acquisition, fast signal analysis, and remote control of diagnostics. A second functionality will be the management of TJ-II discharge database. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.