The purpose of this topic is to introduce you to the types of IMPRES devices that can be used with IMPRES Battery Fleet Management, how to attach these devices you your computers and how to set up your computers and devices to most effectively use IMPRES Battery Fleet Management
IMPRES Devices
There are three types of IMPRES devices. Each of these devices can be attached to a computer within your organization to supply IMPRES Battery Fleet Management with battery data. All devices are attached to a computer through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable. Note that the IMPRES Battery Fleet Management application must be installed on all computers to which IMPRES devices are attached.
| Device | Description |
| Battery Data Reader (BDR) |
The Battery Data Reader has a single "pocket". When a battery is inserted into the pocket, the battery information is uploaded to IMPRES Battery Fleet Management through the USB connection. Note that the Battery Data Reader does not charge the inserted battery. |
| Communication Interface Unit (CIU) |
The Communication Interface Unit is used to communicate between a Multi Unit Charger (see below) and a computer. |
| Multi Unit Charger (MUC) |
The Multi Unit Charger can be connected to a computer via a Communication Interface Unit (see above). When a battery is inserted into any pocket of the Multi Unit Charger, the battery information is uploaded to IMPRES Battery Fleet Management through the CIU's USB connection. |
| Dual Unit Charger (DUC) |
When a battery is inserted into either of the Dual Unit Charger's pockets, the battery information is uploaded to IMPRES Battery Fleet Management through the USB connection. |
You can attach a number of IMPRES devices to a single computer using a USB hub. The recommend maximum number of devices on a single computer is ten.
The Device Driver
When you plug the USB on an IMPRES device into one of the USB ports on your computer, you will be asked to install a device driver that allows the device and your computer to communicate. The device driver is contained on the IMPRES Battery Fleet Management installation media and is also saved into a sub folder of the installation folder that you specify when you install IMPRES Battery Fleet Management. Normally you will install IMPRES Battery Fleet Management into a folder named C:\Program Files\Motorola\IMPRES Fleet Management, and the device driver sub folder is named Drivers\x86 or x64. The x86 folder contains the device driver files for 32 bit computers. The x64 folder contains the driver files for 64 bit computers. You should specify one of these folder as the locaton of the device driver during the driver installation process.
Note that you must install the driver for each USB port into which you plug an IMPRES device.
Where IMPRES Battery Fleet Management Can Operate
The IMPRES Battery Fleet Management applciation can operate on just a single computer, as well as multiple computers in your organization. When installed on multiple computers, battery information from any IMPRES device on any computer is automatically available to all computers.
Normally, IMPRES customers charge their batteries in a different place, such as in a charger "closet", than where they perform administrative functions. In addition, many organizations have multiple charging locations as well as multiple administrative centers. As long as the charging closets as well as the administrative centers are all connected through a Local Area Network (LAN), IMPRES Battery Fleet Management will be able to collect battery data from all IMPRES devices and can be run on any computer to perform battery analysis. Note that it is not necessary to any IMPRES devices connected to a computer in order to run IMPRES Battery Fleet Management on that computer.
Identifying the Server
The above scenario, where multiple IMPRES devices are attached to multiple computers at multiple locations, is often called a "Client / Server" scenario because one computer is defined to be the "server" and all of the others are defined as "clients". The server computer holds all of the data that is collected from the devices that are attached to the clients and must be configured in the Configuration Dialog.
The following diagram illustrates this concept: A Multi Unit Charger (MUCs), a Battery Data Reader (BDR) and a Dual Unit Charger (DUC) are connected to a client computer via a USB connection. Three MUCs are connected to another client computer. Both client computers are connected to the server computer via a Local Area Network (LAN) connection:
Example of a Simple Client / Server Configuration
In this example, the client computers are remotely located from each other as well as the server computer, but are connected to each other via a LAN connection. The example illustrates that the client computers could be in a charging closet while the server computer could be in an administrative center.
Note that the IMPRES Battery Fleet Management application can be run on any of the computers in the diagram, but it is most likely that the client computers would be in locations that are not always staffed.
What can be the IP Data Gateway?
In the Configuration Dialog, you can Enable the Motorola IMPRES Fleet Management Radio Network Server to communicate with the radio system through an IP Data Gateway in either of two ways:
1. Motorola Network Interface Service (MNIS) - Connects to the radio system via IP to repeaters
2. Control Station Radios - Connects to the radio system via a RF Link
What is the Server URL?
In the Configuration Dialog help topic, it says to enter the URL into the Server Address Textbox. The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a way to specify the address of the server on the LAN. In some cases, it is sufficient to simply enter the network name of the server into this textbox, such as "PCHJ73-01" If your organization has multiple intranet domains, then you may have to append the domain name to the server name, as in "PCHJ73-01.am.mot.com". Ask your local network administrator for help in determining the proper URL for your computers.
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