Interface standardization of the integrated radio communication system
Vitaliy Koshevyy, M. Kovalev, A. V. Shishkin · Shipping & Navigation · 2019
Maritime terrestrial communication employs Digital Selective Calling (DSC) to establish subsequent radiotelephone / telex messaging. DSC is a core subsystem of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) but its practical operation has revealed shortcomings, which have led to the fact that DSC procedures are practically not used in address radio communications. DSC imperfections appear especially in theemergency situations and may adversely affect the safety of navigation. An unfriendly interface causes the navigators to ignore DSC procedures and provokes the voice call on distress and safety channel 16 that doesn’t accelerate the information exchange, but only creates communication uncertainty. The article proposes an approach to improve the user DSC interface based on the integration of DSC controllers and Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder installations and standardization of the DSC interface that implies unified presentation of information and control operations for VHF/MF/HF communications regardless of the equipment from different manufacturers. Taking into account the practical needs of navigators an experimental integrated VHF DSC-AIS system with the remote control in the NMEA-0183 standard and graphical user interface were developed. In the integrated DSC – AIS system there is no need to manually entering the maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) of the called vessel. To establish a connection with the vessel required, the officer must: 1) select the AIS mark of the vessel to be called on the information display to automatically entering the MMSI into the DSC controller; 2) receive a DSC acknowledgement from the called vessel by a blinking AIS mark, and 3) start an exchange of information without wasting time identifying who is who. The working channel (frequency) can be set by default (or can be selected manually, if necessary, using the standard user menu). The standardized interface provides the unification of the transceivers’ handling in the integrated radio communication system, regardless to the specifics of the radio communication equipment of different manufacturers and increases the efficiency of radio communication.