|Newsletter NCIC 2000 - Linking It All Together

      November 1996

          Volume 1, Number 5

      Project Status Update

      Introduction
        This month's issue focuses on
        the areas of the NCIC 2000 system that law enforcement personnel
        may use directly -- the NCIC 2000 Workstation, the Squad Car
        Mobile Imaging Unit (MIU), and the equipment (scanners, printers,
        and cameras) and communications used with each. We will look
        at the status of these products in the NCIC 2000 development
        effort, discuss technical specifications, and cover the portability
        and flexibility of the software that the Harris Corporation (Harris)
        is developing for the workstation and the MIU. The workstation
        and MIU designs give users a wide choice of hardware to host
        NCIC 2000 functionality, provided that the equipment meets the
        specifications outlined below. Next month, we will focus on the
        Fingerprint Matching Subsystem (FMS).
        Status of Workstation and
        MIU Development
        Most of the software for these
        products is complete. The programming to add the new NCIC files
        to the workstation and MIU software still needs to be completed.
        The new files are: the Violent Gang and Terrorist File, the Deported
        Felon File, the Protection Order File, and the National Sex Offender
        Registry File.
        The FBI is considering a plan
        for early delivery of these products and the FMS. Specific dates
        are still being discussed, but delivery would occur well before
        the date scheduled for NCIC 2000 initial operating capability
        (July 1999). This would give the FBI and some interested States
        time to test the performance and integration of the workstation
        and MIU. Tests will give insight into the capabilities and portability
        of these subsystems, especially NCIC 2000 application software
        such as the user interfaces, the Computer Based Training (CBT),
        and the Software Image Processing System (SWIPS). SWIPS replaces
        the IPScard, which was a hardware image processing card.
        If the FBI decides to take early
        delivery of the workstation and MIU, Harris will provide workstations
        and MIUs with NCIC 2000 applications software, all required commercial
        software, and all required documentation. At this point, negotiations
        with Harris are in progress and no dates for early delivery or
        testing have been set. We will keep you updated on these areas
        in future issues.
        Workstation and MIU Specifications
        Note: The following is a general
        overview of NCIC 2000 workstation and MIU hardware and software.
        Users should not make purchases based on this brief summary.
        For further details and questions, please contact Mr. Roy Weise
        on 304-625-2730.
        The NCIC 2000 workstation and
        MIU allow users to access NCIC 2000 using popular commercial
        off-the-shelf equipment. This precludes the need for special
        purpose hardware and software, other than the NCIC 2000 applications
        software that the FBI will provide to States at no cost. The
        NCIC 2000 workstation and MIU are designed and tested to operate
        on any computer that uses Windows 3.1. The workstation and MIU
        software have also run successfully on Windows 95 and Windows
        NT in Harris' tests, but the NCIC 2000 software does not use
        the 32-bit processing and dynamic multitasking capabilities of
        Windows 95 and Windows NT. Both the workstation and the MIU use
        standard Windows interfaces and drivers and are designed to facilitate
        integration with new commercial technology and software as it
        becomes available. This allows users to have access to multiple
        application developers.
        The workstation and MIU run on
        any Intel-based 386 processor or higher. The recommended processor
        speed is 66 MHZ, 486 or better. Performance and response times
        will be better using a faster computer, such as a 486, Pentium,
        or higher processor.
        The MIU is designed similar to
        the workstation in that it uses standard, commercially available
        hardware and software. MIU application software that is unique
        to NCIC 2000 will be provided by the FBI at no cost to users.
        The MIU supports the NCIC 2000
        transactions that are most typically sent from a patrol car (e.g.,
        inquiries). The MIU will have equipment to support police operations,
        such as a live-scan fingerprint device, a digital camera, and
        a printer capable of printing high quality images. The MIU will
        have a simple interface that allows a police officer to make
        inquiries into NCIC 2000 (e.g., using function keys as "hot
        keys"). Harris has designed and tested the MIU on a 486
        computer. The computer and additional equipment that comprise
        the MIU must be able to withstand shock, vibration, and temperature
        extremes that may occur in vehicles.
        Harris has provided the FBI with
        a working model of the MIU. It is on display in the Criminal
        Justice Information Services Division's Human Interface Technology
        Center (HITEC) Center, located at FBI Headquarters. Harris has
        demonstrated the interchangeability of various commercial products
        in the MIUs configuration. The FBI anticipates that the hardware
        technology will continue to evolve over the next several years.
        We will keep you posted on these advancements.
        NCIC 2000 Workstation Commercial
        Hardware Specifications:
        386 processor or higher (66
          MHZ 486 or higher is preferred for performance)8 MB memory (4 MB minimum)120 MB hard disk drive (minimum)RS232 serial port based on the
          16550 Universal Receiver/Transmitter (UART) chip for communication
          with the MIUMonitor capable of displaying
          1024 x 768 pixels and 64 gray shades with a Windows driverTwo button mouse (Microsoft
          compatible)Extended, 101-key keyboard3.5" or 5.25" Floppy
          Disk DriveAdaptec SCSI Board OR COMPARABLEOne ISA slot for a communications
          board -- EICON X.25 configured (or a communications board compatible
          with State requirements)NCIC 2000 Workstation Peripheral
        Equipment:
        Brother HL-10h 10 PPM, 600 DPI
          Laser Printer with 4 MB Memory Upgrade OR COMPARABLE (Note: Printer
          resolution is important as the system is designed to print high
          quality images (64 shades of gray scale) as well as text, such
          as messages and reports)Digital Biometrics, Inc. FC-7
          Model T Desktop Fingerprint Scanner OR COMPARABLE for live scanning
          of fingerprintsTamarack Color Scanner Series
          12000C OR COMPARABLE for scanning documents, file fingerprints,
          and other identifying images (e.g., mug shots)Dataradio modem OR COMPARABLE
          for transmission of data sent to the MIU (Note: Users may select
          their own mobile communications, but the capability chosen should
          support error correction transmission).NCIC 2000 Workstation Commercial
        Software:
        The following software is not
        provided by the FBI. States must purchase this software.
        DOS 6.22Windows 3.1FTP, Inc. PC/TCP 3.0 OR COMPARABLEAdaptec SCSI Driver 2.0 OR COMPARABLE
          (Note: Some SCSI drivers may not work correctly).Tamarack Scanner Driver 3.7
          OR COMPARABLE (Note: Scanners must be capable of supporting high
          quality images such as facial details on mug shots. The scanner
          must be able to physically read at least 500 dpi with no interpolation.Brother Printer Driver 1.40
          OR COMPARABLEDisplay Driver (1024 x 768)
          OR COMPARABLENCIC 2000 Workstation Application
        Software:
        This software will be provided
        by the FBI at no cost to States.
        Computer Software Program FilesSoftware Data FilesCBT Files and DataNote: The workstation application
        software includes object code from the following COTS class libraries:
        zApp 2.21, Tools.h 6.0, Windows Sockets 1.1, Accusoft DLL-16
        for Windows 4.0. The workstation application was coded in Borland
        C++, version 4.52 and uses a PS/2 type mouse.
        A note on communicating with
        the NCIC 2000 Central Segment
        The NCIC 2000 workstation is
        designed to communicate via TCP/IP protocol over X.25. If local
        users access State Control Terminal Agencies (CTA) using protocols
        other than X.25 (through Windows Sockets) and TCP/IP, users can
        substitute their own access protocols in the communications portion
        of the workstation. NCIC 2000 is designed to allow users to easily
        change to other commercial communications equipment. CTAs should
        not have to change their existing means of communicating with
        their users.
        NCIC 2000 Mobile Imaging Unit
        (MIU) Hardware:
        Fieldworks FW8500 Computer OR
          COMPARABLE (486 or higher)Minimum 4 MB memoryMinimum 40 MB hard disk driveCentronics parallel port for
          the gray scale printerVGA display screen (640 X 480)
          with a Windows driver84 key QWERTY keyboard with
          function keysNCIC 2000 MIU Peripheral Equipment:
        Sony UP-D860 Digital Graphic
          Printer and PV-125 Inverter OR COMPARABLE to print identifying
          images, fingerprints, and results of NCIC 2000 inquiries.Digital Biometrics Model-T Fingerprint
          Scanner OR COMPARABLE with recharging and a SCSI interface cradle.Closed Circuit Products B-52
          Camera OR COMPARABLE to provide the capability to capture identifying
          images and transmit them to the workstation for display and printing.Dataradio Turbo Mobile Radio
          Modem (MRM) OR COMPARABLE. The MRM hardware provides the packetization,
          modulation, and error correction for data sent to and from the
          NCIC 2000 workstation.NCIC 2000 MIU Commercial Software:
        The following software is not
        provided by the FBI. States must purchase this software.
        DOS 6.22Windows 3.1Adaptec SCSI Driver 3.03 OR
          COMPARABLEDisplay Driver (1024 X 768)
          OR COMPARABLENCIC 2000 MIU Application
        Software:
        This software will be provided
        by the FBI at no cost to States.
        Software application filesSoftware program data filesNote: The MIU application
        includes object code from the following COTS class libraries:
        Borland C++, version 4.2

      State Your Opinion

      This space is provided for
        authorized criminal justice agencies to provide commentary, questions,
        or suggestions. We will provide an answer to all questions. If
        you would like to submit an article, send it to:
        Federal Bureau
        of Investigation
        Attn: Ms. Katina Mackall
        Room 9504
        NCIC 2000 Program Office
        935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
        Washington, DC 20535

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