Future satellite communications applications will require a packet-switched onboard satellite processing system to route packets at very high speeds from uplink beams to different downlink beams. The fast packet switch consists of eight inputs and eight outputs that can receive and transmit data, respectively, at a rate of 155 Mbps. In addition, the fast packet switch features a congestion-control algorithm that allows users to set different thresholds for individual destination ports, thus throttling back the traffic from the transmitting port. To allow for better characterization of the fast packet switch, the Artificial Intelligence Group of Lewis ' Digital System Technology Branch developed a user-friendly graphical user interface to the switch. By using the graphical interface, users can efficiently compose commands and generate command script files.
Users intuitively select commands from a graphical display by using a mouse.
When a command is selected, appropriate parameter options are displayed for further selection. Command instructions and data responses, respectively, are transmitted to and from the fast packet switch via a direct RS-232 serial link. The fast packet switch responses to commands are automatically displayed and can be saved to a file for future reference. In addition, users can build a sequence of commands into a script that can be saved, loaded, edited, and executed at a later time. Errors in command syntax are avoided because only appropriate parameters are offered for the selected command name.