Since 1984, CommPower has provided high reliability message switching solutions for the U.S. Defense Department.  These message switches securely and expediently transfer JANAP/ACP and telemetry data from users, systems and radars to consumers of this sensitive and time critical information.  The CommPower CP-XJP is our latest offering in this solution space, offering full service legacy messaging switching and XML gateway services to the U.S. Air Force.

Full service legacy message switch and XML gateway

The CP-XJP™ is a dual purpose messaging component that provides the following services:

As a legacy switch, the CP-XJP manages up to 256 individually configurable I/O channels through which a variety of legacy formats are sent, received and routed.
  • Full validiation, translation, and routing support for ACP126/128, DD173, NASCOP, and JJ/DD/II (telemetry) message formats.
  • RS232 Mode I/II and file based protocols are supported across 256 individually managed, discrete I/O connections.
  • Three message service positions and one control position are provided for routing management, message error correction, and system control/monitoring.
  • Online message and audit archive for message recovery and retrieval processing, as well as processing analysis.
As a gateway, the CP-XJP translates outbound legacy messages to XML for transmission to external web or e-mail networks/systems (and vice versa).
  • Full conversion of legacy messages to/from XML (Extensible Markup Language), including SPIF (Security Policy Information File) based security label translation.
  • XML messages are exported/imported via a file based protocol that supports integration of 3rd party applications for value added processing (profiling, work flow, external archive).

CPXJP Flyer2

Within the CP-XJP, two subsystems exist: Legacy Services and XML Services. Each is responsible for messaging handling per its Legacy/XML framework, and also interfacing with each other in a seamless manner in support of Legacy to/from XML message flows.

Beginning with the Legacy to XML message flow, a suite of Mode I/II and/or file based channels are supported through which legacy messages (DD173, JANAP/ACP 128, ACP 126, NASCOP87, JJ/DD/II) are received and transmitted. Each channel is individually configurable with regard to protocol parameters, message format, security, and operational state.

As each message is received, full validation is performed in accordance with the underlying format rules that govern each message format type. Validation errors encountered result in either rejection of the message to the originator (via SVC) or submission of the erred message to the system error queue for servicing by the local operators.

Following reception, each message received is stored within the system archive where it is retained for a configurable number of days. From this archive, retrieval/rerelease operations can be requested.

Next, formal message routing is performed to determine the set of target destinations for the message. This is accomplished through analysis of the message addresses within format lines 2/7/8 (as applicable). Routing Indicators (RIs), Plain Language Addresses (PLAs), and collectives are supported. A local address book is maintained within the system to specify the action to be taken for each address the CP-XJP is responsible for.

During the message routing process, a received legacy message may be targeted for delivery to multiple channels, each of which may mandate a message format different from that received. For these destinations, the message will undergo a format translation to transform the message into a format that can be processed by the receiving system.

Following format conversion processing, the message is ready for transmission to the set of target destinations. These can be a combination of legacy and XML. Legacy transmission entails the output of the message via the applicable set of Mode I/II and/or file based output channels, whereas XML transmission entails the transfer of the message to a configurable directory for pickup/processing by a downstream system.

For the reverse processing path (XML to Legacy) a similar flow to that defined above is carried out.

In support of end-to-end message flow, the CP-XJP system supports a suite of control and service consoles for control/monitoring of the system and message correction services.

CP-XJP is available directly from CommPower.