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Features

• Internally records time and date of events and duration of surveillance
• Two years surveillance between resets and battery replacement
• Extremely tamper resistant
• Seal data authentication can be used to verify validity of data and source of information
• Data can be read remotely
• Stores 258 fiber or case tamper events
• Allows continuous polling
• Daisy-chain capability permits reading multiple seals with a single reader
• Applications in treaty verification
• Provides in situ verification capabilities for long distances between seal and reader
• Optional RS-485 communication interface module is available
• Optional wireless communication module is available

Description

The VACOSS 5.0 seal is a re-usable, active fiber optic seal intended for high reliability and long duration surveillance in those applications that require periodic access. When applied to a container or secured storage enclosure, the VACOSS 5.0 seal provides positive verification that the secured items remained secured while the seal was on the container. To remove the secured items from the container or site being monitored, the fiber optic cable must be detached or cut. Any such tampering with the seal or the fiber optic cable is detected by the fiber optic loop and recorded within the seal as a tamper event. The authenticated tamper event data recorded within the seal can be accessed either by direct connection or remotely by network.

The VACOSS 5.0 seal system consists of a seal body and a loop of fiber optic cable. The seal body is potted with a hardened epoxy so that the physical circuit board is impervious to water and is difficult to damage. A tamper switch located within the seal body detects any tampering with the seal and records any opening of the seal's case. To place a seal, the seal's fiber optic cable is looped through the locking mechanism of the container or site to be sealed and the two ends attached to the seal body. The fiber optic loop is interrogated with an infrared light beam at random intervals, averaging once every 250 milliseconds. Openings and/or closings of the fiber optic loop or any break along the length of the fiber optic cable is detected by the VACOSS 5.0 seal and recorded within the seal as a fiber event. Time, date, number, and type of events are recorded by the seal and can be retrieved and reviewed at a later time using the VACOSS reader. Up to 258 events can be stored in the VACOSS 5.0 seal at any one time. Various lengths of fiber optic cable are available to meet customer-specified requirements. For field installations, a VACOSS Seal Field Optical Kit is available, which includes fiber optic connectors and the tools necessary to terminate the fiber optic cable.

Information stored in the VACOSS 5.0 seal can be tracked either locally or remotely by querying the seal on the status of the fiber optic loop. The built-in VACOSS 5.0 seal communication protocol allows for information stored in the seal to be retrieved and reviewed using the menu driven VACOSS reader, or other reader, such as a laptop PC. In addition, this protocol allows for in situ verification capabilities. The new Authenticated Mode functionality provides complete authentication of the data being transmitted from the seal to the reader or PC. In addition, the VACOSS 5.0 seal tolerates unlimited information requests, or queries, at intervals as short as one second. Therefore, the VACOSS 5.0 seal is suitable for an automated polling system that immediately recognizes a fiber event or case tamper.

PARTY LINE CAPABILITY

The VACOSS Party Line Mode can be utilized to read multiple seals that have been daisy-chained with LEMO^® serial connectors. The seals can be read in this mode without physically changing the serial connection using a VACOSS protocol compliant reader. For on-site seal queries, seals can be queried individually or in Party Line Mode by using a standard PC or laptop and a serial cable connected to an Adapter Interface Box that converts a PC's serial pinout into a LEMO pinout. Alternatively, a handheld PC and Adapter Interface Box can be used, as was recommended with earlier released VACOSS seals.

AUTHENTICATION

VACOSS 5.0 has new Authenticated Mode functionality. When operating in Authenticated Mode, the reader and the seal rely on a mutually known keyword to authenticate communications via the use of digital signatures. This mode provides a means of verifying that the source of data is the intended seal and not a third party listening on the serial communications line. The signatures are created based on the message content and the keyword.

COMMUNICATION

The data communication between the seal and the interrogating device occurs through an RS-232 LEMO serial cable at 300 baud. Communication at speeds of up to 115 200 baud over a range of 1000 meters is possible by using an RS-485 cable and RS-485 to RS-232 adapter box.

OPTIONAL RS-485 INTERFACE MODULE

An optional RS-485 Interface Module has been developed for use with the CANBERRA Server Digital Imaging System (SDIS) and the DCM-14 Camera Module. It converts VACOSS specific commands from the 115 200 baud RS-485 line to the 300 baud RS-232 interface used by the seal. The module's LEMO style connector is pin-for-pin compatible with the VACOSS Seal, and its RS-485 connector is pin-for-pin compatible with the SDIS RS-485 daughter board and the DCM-14 Camera Module.

OPTIONAL WIRELESS INTERFACE MODULE

An optional wireless interface module offers a direct replacement for a serial communications line, providing a seamless wireless connection between the VACOSS seal and the desktop PC or portable handheld PC reader. The advantages of this option are that it does not require line of sight between the seal and reader, and it removes the need for cabling throughout the facility.

An additional benefit is the mobility it offers the Inspector when performing reviews. Utilizing a WaveLAN Ethernet converter (EC-S), this configuration allows the VACOSS seal and reader to communicate through walls, floors, and other obstacles via Ethernet, without a physical connection. The wireless interface module can provide secure communications from 600 to 1200 feet depending upon the type of antenna selected.