Inm C Userguide DataReportingProcedures
Inm C Userguide DataReportingProcedures
Inmarsat - C
Data Reporting & Polling Services
User Manual
June 2008
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This edition of this User Manual has been updated with information available at the date of issue. This edition
supersedes all earlier versions of this manual.
This publication has been compiled with the greatest possible care, but no rights may be derived from its
contents.
1 INTRODUCTION 5
3.1 OVERVIEW 7
3.2 HOW A DNID IS USED 7
3.3 DOWNLOADING DNIDS 7
3.4 MEMBER NUMBERS 7
3.5 MULTIPLE DNIDS IN A TERMINAL 7
3.6 DNIDS & OCEAN REGIONS 8
APPENDIX B – GLOSSARY 30
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1 Introduction
1.1 About this Manual
This manual describes the principles of Data Reporting and Polling and how to set-up this service via Stratos. In
general Data Reporting and Polling is integrated in logistic information systems (for instance a fleet management
system). The most common implementation is for vessel position reporting. This manual does not give a
description of the different systems.
Customer Support
Tel: 1 800-563-2255 Toll Free in N. America
Tel: 1 709-748-4226 International
Tel: + 800-1313-1313 International Free Phone where available
Fax: 1 877-748-4320 Toll free in N. America
Fax: 1 709-748-4320 International
Note that although X25 is still supported by Stratos, many terrestrial providers globally are
discontinuing the service.
Contact Stratos Customer Services for an application form or download it from our website:
www.stratosglobal.com
The Data Reporting service is intended for transferring small quantities of data (e.g. a position report) from an
Inmarsat-C terminal to a specific terrestrial destination defined by the customer. This address can be an Internet
email address or TCP/IP. Delivery to X25, fax or telex are also possible but are not widely used in today’s
industry.
The Polling service allows a fleet manager or other authorized entity to send control commands (polls) to the
Inmarsat-C terminals. The Poll command may initiate some action, for example program the terminal with a DNID
(Data Network ID – the first step in setting up a vessel for position reporting), ask for a Data Report to be
transmitted or to configure an automatic reporting interval. The most common polls, are:
• Download DNID
• Delete DNID
• Set reporting interval
• Start reporting
• Stop reporting
• Send a report on demand
For details on how to configure the C-terminal for Data Reporting, please consult the manufacturers' manual of
the C-terminal.
2.2 Polling
A Poll is a short command to an individual C-terminal or group of C-terminals initiating some action, controlled by
the firmware of the C-terminal. A terrestrial user can ask for data reports, with for instance the position of the
ships or trucks.
Polls can be sent via Internet e-mail or with the 2-stage access method via X25 or TCP/IP. Further information is
provided later in this document.
In order to make a C-terminal respond to a Poll it must be configured correctly. For details consult the
manufacturer’s manual of the C-terminal.
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In this closed network, a short address is used in the form of a unique DNID (Data Network ID) number.
Inmarsat-C terminals will address the data report to this DNID, such that the Stratos systems will know how and
where to route the data report.
One DNID can be used for up to 255 C-terminals. To discriminate between C-terminals with the same DNID, each
C-terminal is given a member number from 1 to 255. Billing is to the DNID and as such customers do not share a
DNID, however a single customer can have more than one DNID, should they have more than 255 Inmarsat-C
terminals. To set up the service, Stratos will issue a DNID and download this DNID and member number over the
satellite link to the C-terminal, where it will be stored.
Please note that once a DNID has been downloaded into a terminal, all data reports generated by this terminal
will be referred as coming from member number “xxx”. Data reports do not contain terminal IMN (Inmarsat
Mobile Number) information, therefore please be sure to keep records of the cross reference of IMN to
DNID/Member number.
A DNID can normally only be downloaded in the Ocean Region where the C-terminal is logged in, unless the
terminal has the feature described above. This also applies to deleting a DNID, i.e. a DNID cannot be deleted from
a previously programmed ocean region, unless the terminal is in that ocean region at the time the delete
command is sent.
Stratos has two Land Earth Stations (LES) and two LES ID (02 and 12) providing global coverage for Inmarsat-C.
In the application form you should indicate which LES, if you have a preference.
Stratos will:
• Issue a DNID number for the LES ID you have indicated in the form;
• Download this DNID with member number into the requested C-terminal(s)
(Note that on the application form you should add member numbers to the mobile ID-numbers and indicate in
which Ocean Region the C-terminal is located).
You can start using the service as soon as you receive the confirmation.
Successful downloading can be checked at the DNID Status Screen of your C-terminal(s). For detailed instructions
consult the manufacturer’s manual.
Please inform Customer Services when DNIDs are not in use anymore or before a C-terminal is to be transferred
to a new owner. Customer Services will carry out the deletion of the DNID in the C-terminal.
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1. delivered immediately to your destination such as a fleet management system or email address
3. retrieved from the DNID file at Stratos. This accomplished by connecting to the Stratos Land Earth
Station (LES) using 2-stage access (see more information further in this document). The contents of the DNID
file can be retrieved with the command DNID followed by the DNID number and Ocean Region digit.
For example typing DNID,12345,3 will retrieve the data report(s) from all C-terminals sailing in the Indian
Ocean Region that are programmed with Stratos DNID 12345.
However Stratos can also deliver position reports in plain text, where the original raw data will be “decoded”
before being saved to the DNID file and / or delivered to the shore destination. The data report format
preferences must be indicated on the application form.
Below is a sample position report with Textual Conversion and no additional optional header. When Stratos
delivers a data report or you retrieve it from the DNID file at the Stratos Land Earth Station (LES),
An optional header can be attached before the actual data report contents.
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The Decode Type feature specifies if the actual content should be forwarded as it was received (No Conversion),
whether it should be translated into plain text (Textual Conversion, as in the sample above), or if a default form of
additional information should be inserted before the original non-converted Data Report (T&T Default Header).
The Textual Conversion option only applies to the Position Reporting Service. All other possible encoding of Data
Reports cannot be recognized by the LES. Hence this option is only applicable if the customer is using only
Position Reporting on a particular DNID/Ocean Region and wants to have the information in plain text.
No Conversion means that the LES will make no changes to the content or appearance of the information and as
such it will be delivered to the terrestrial destination in its’ original binary format, where it must be decoded by
the customer’s own application..
The T&T Default Header inserts the following information at the beginning of the data report and forwards it as an
8-bit message to its terrestrial destination:
<DNID number><CR><LF>
<member number><CR><LF>
<length of Data Report in bytes><CR><LF>
The T&T default header option does not include any decoding.
Message Headers
This option specifies which header information should be added to the Data Report when it is forwarded to its
terrestrial destination.
The Text and Data header features here refer to the presentation of the message used on the satellite channel: a
message coming in using 5-bit or 7-bit presentation is regarded as ‘Text’, while a message that is received using
8-bit presentation is regarded as ‘Data’.
A Data Report is always an 8–bit message. Although very rarely used except for very specific purpose-built
applications by the customer, it is possible to send messages from a mobile terminal using the DNID as the
specified address. In such cases the presentation can be 5-bit or 7-bit.
In other words, the Text header, if specified, is used only for messages that are received using the 5-bit or 7-bit
presentation (very rare), while the Data header, if specified, is only used for messages that are received using the
8-bit presentation. The values for these two features depend on the LES (and customer). A default header text is
available, but it is possible to also define specific header text.
The API Header feature specifies whether the forwarded Data Reports or messages should have a fixed header
added. The API Header (Application Program Interface) is a header that has a fixed format for specific message
types regardless of the presentation type. There are five API Headers defined, used for terrestrial delivery:
The advantage of the API header is that it contains additional information related to the message. API headers
cannot be used together with the Text- and Data headers.
For more details on the data report available formats and examples, please consult the “Stratos-DNID delivery
options manual”, available on our website or via Stratos Customer Service Centre.
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In the “from” field of the e-mail you will find the domain name. For LES 12, this is currently <c12.stratos.net>
preceded by the member number of the mobile within the DNID. For LES 02, the domain name is
<stratosmobile.net>.
For example:
[email protected] contains a data report sent from a C-terminal belonging to a certain DNID (related
to LES id 12) identified as member number 37. The DNID number is contained in the body of the
message.
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a. the IGW checks whether the email address of the originator has been registered at Stratos to send polls,
b. if the email address is not registered, the IGW then will check the first two lines of the body text containing
a valid (registered) userid and password (these two lines will be deleted before sending the poll command).
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Subject: poll 1,G,12345,D,0,0,0
------------------------------------------------
userid: <your username>
password: <your password>
Note: If using this userid & password authentication method, send the poll from an email address that has not
also been registered for C-email. If you cannot do this, please contact Stratos Customer Services to configure
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In the examples below the username is 0000username and the password is password.
The following instructions must be used to access Stratos LES 12 or 02 in all ocean regions, via the “Two Stage
Access” method.
The examples below show the dial-in numbers / addresses corresponding to LES 12 / access number in The
Netherlands (Burum).
For LES access numbers / addresses please consult Appendix B: Stratos Inmarsat-C access numbers/addresses.
After connecting to your chosen Stratos LES (02 or 12) via IP connection, you have access to the Poll and DNID
commands.
Telnet Access
Telnet access to the Inmarsat-C LES is currently available in two modes: unencrypted and encrypted . The
unencrypted mode means that data is not secured or authenticated. Stratos offers two encryption methods: PPTP
and IPsec.
For technical details on both methods please consult the manuals “Stratos Inmarsat-C PSDN - TCP/IP user
interface manual” and “Stratos Customer Guide to Encrypted TCP-IP Access”.
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The Stratos TCP/IP access addresses for LES 12 and LES 22 are provided in Appendix B.
After establishing a Telnet session to one of the Stratos LES IP addresses, you will be presented with the
Inmarsat-C ‘please enter username:’ prompt. From this stage the system works the same as the normal
PSDN (X.25) or PSTN access.
Separation of the Poll parameters on the command line can be done by comma, colon or space (you may find it
best to use comma). Below you find an explanation of all Poll parameters. Note that only the necessary
parameters have to be entered.
All Poll commands contain a Data Network ID (DNID). The DNID has to be downloaded to individual C-terminals
before Polling can be used.
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Obtaining Maritime 2 Packet Speed and Course Data Report. Note that although Trimble Galaxy terminals are no
longer manufactured, there is still a large population in use globally.
The important factor in obtaining a 2 packet maritime format report from Trimble Galaxy terminals, is that you
only need to send a carriage return after the @@ and not a line feed as well.
If a line feed is sent, then you will receive a 1 packet position report. This is normally referred to as a Land Report
as it dose not include course and speed.
Therefore to get back a report in Maritime format with 2 packets (speed and course) use:
@@<CR>
.S<CR>
You only want to see 3 characters accepted by the system, not a fourth, that would normally be a Line Feed
character. (Test conducted to Trimble Galaxy TNL 7001 unit mobile running version of firmware is 5.10).
POLL<SP><ocean region>,I,<dnid>,D,<sub-address>,<mes>,04,<member>,<frame>,
<reports per day>,1<CR><enter whatever data you wish to send followed by a carriage return><CR>
.s<CR>
This should provide a marine data report category with 2 packets in marine format (speed and course in the
second packet).
1. The sender must allow sufficient time after sending the 04 program poll for the receiver to accept the poll,
tune to the LES, send the acknowledgement and retune back to the NCS, before sending the type 05
initiate data reports poll. Typical elapsed time can be between 2 and 15 minutes and is dependant on
Inmarsat-C network loading at the time.
2. Send the initiate poll command at least one minute or so after the program command, to allow the
Inmarsat-C terminal time to receive the first poll.
3. The sub-address field must be the same for both the type 04 and 05 polls. For sub-address, enter number
from 001 to 008, which correspond to timers 1-8 (A through H) in Galaxy DCE.
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Nothing Decoded
Nothing Decoded
Nothing Decoded
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Nothing Decoded
Program Poll
• @@ used in text field to obtain 2 packet Maritime Format reports from Trimble Galaxy mobiles.
• with data report response as well as acknowledgement report, start time 0130 UTC and interval set at 24 times
a day.
• Sub-address field should be set the same for the program , initiate and stop polls.
• DNID Mailbox retrieval response from LES shown in Text Conversion format.
Poll<SP>2,i,6868,d,1,400022210,04,10,630,24,1<CR>
@@<CR>
.s<CR>
3 characters.
Storing message...
Submitted 03-03-07 01:13. Reference number 521197.
Nothing Decoded
Initiate Poll
• Sub-address field should be set the same for the program , initiate and stop polls.
Poll<SP>2,i,6868,d,1,400022210,05,10,630,24,1<CR>
@@<CR>
.s<CR>
3 characters.
Storing message...
Submitted 03-03-07 01:22. Reference number 521687.
Check the DNID Mailbox a few minutes after the program and initiate polls to make sure the mobile responds and
has acknowledged receipt of the poll. You may have to send them again if the mobile is busy or not in its idle
state.
Note: The initiate poll has to be sent before the programmed frame time e.g.; in this example before frame 630
which is approximately 0130 UTC. On that basis it can be seen that the day is divided into 10,000 frames, starting
at 0000 GMT.
>dnid 6868 2
Nothing Decoded
Here are the incoming periodic data reports from the mobile which start after the initiate poll has been fully
accepted by the mobile.
Stop Poll
Poll<SP>2,i,6868,d,1,400022210,06,10,0,0,1<CR>
.s<CR>
0 characters.
Storing message...
Submitted 03-03-07 02:07. Reference number 524176.
APPENDIX B – Glossary
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