California Highway Patrol Selects Padcom's TotalRoam Mobile Data Solution
11 October 2000
California Highway Patrol Selects Maximum Flexibility, Instant Access to Crime-Fighting Info with Padcom's TotalRoam Mobile Data Solution
BETHLEHEM, Pa.--Oct. 10, 2000--A major upgrade to the California Highway Patrol's communications equipment is delivering unlimited flexibility for the organization's wireless data system.
Based on the TotalRoam(TM) mobile data platform from Padcom, Inc.(R), Bethlehem, Pa., this forward-thinking move by the highway patrol will facilitate future growth and make it easy to add new functionality to the system.
An in-vehicle platform designed to manage data routing for any wireless network communications, TotalRoam handles incoming and outgoing data over one or more wireless networks. CHP officers use the wireless system to instantly and directly access critical information from databases covering vehicle registration, outstanding warrants and much more. The highway patrol has received 500 TotalRoam units to date, with more slated for this fall.
Assemblyman George House of California's 25th Legislative District, who spent nearly 30 years as an officer of the CHP and eight years on the bench as a hearing officer in juvenile traffic court, said he views the wireless solution as an excellent means for making information instantly available to CHP officers. "On the beat, this is critical," he said, "to the safety of the officer, the safety of the citizens and even to the safety of the people the officer investigates. Wide accessibility and thoroughness of information is essential to the vitally important protection of constitutional rights for any who are being investigated as offenders."
CHP's wireless data communications have been transmitted for several years on the BellSouth Wireless Data Network, employing software written by the law enforcement agency's internal IT staff. While current arrangements involve the single BellSouth network, CHP is considering the addition of CDPD coverage in the near future. In that case, the multi-network capabilities of the TotalRoam solution will provide seamless connections between networks.
"We see a trend toward organizations like the CHP needing multiple networks," said Cynthia Hswe, Senior Analyst at The Strategis Group, Washington, D.C. "The highway patrol's choice of this solution will allow them to standardize and be able to migrate to multiple network systems in the years ahead."
The ability to accommodate future system development was an important factor in the selection of TotalRoam. The platform will be able to accommodate substantial increases in the number of units brought into service, with 2500 expected to be activated in a rolling three-year upgrade. The application will eventually move to an IP solution; TotalRoam accommodates the current BSWD protocol and will allow the CHP to use the same solution when the switch is made to open-system architecture.
Total Roam will also enable the wireless transmission of information gathered by other onboard equipment, such as breathalyzers and GPS. It will be able to accommodate any new software developed for the mobile data system, and will facilitate the implementation of spread spectrum and satellite connections, both under consideration now by CHP.
Another significant quality of TotalRoam is that it provides a fully redundant solution. Its multiple networking design guarantees continual communication, fully ensuring that during emergency situations officers will always have backup.
