The Beacon Visualization (BeaVis) computer program provides a ground-based computing environment for displaying, tracking, storing, and maneuvering through telemetric data streams that contain summaries of engineering data generated aboard a spacecraft. BeaVis can also serve as a general-purpose software tool for monitoring data of other specific types. In the original spacecraft-to-ground application, BeaVis enables the user to scroll through a graphical depiction of telemetry downlinks to select desired data. Summary data are represented graphically, with hypertext links to strip charts of sensor channels represented by summary data packets. BeaVis also generates time-line and tabular displays. A time line depicts when, during a spacecraft mission, summary downlinks and beacon tone detections have occurred. The tabular and strip-chart displays are available through hypertext links from the time-line display. BeaVis also provides graphical user interface elements that show such specific summary data components as changes in mission activities, snapshot telemetry, episode data, and user summary data. The program also includes a software tool for creating tables of parameters that are uploaded to a spacecraft.
This work was done by E. J. Wyatt, Robert Sherwood, and Tim Fogarty of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Information Sciences category.
This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393-3425. Refer to NPO-20665.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Program for Viewing Remotely Generated Summmary Data
(reference NPO-20665) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
Don't have an account?
Overview
The document outlines the technical support package for the Beacon Visualization (BeaVis) computer program, developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) under a contract with NASA. BeaVis is designed to facilitate the visualization and management of telemetry data generated by spacecraft, enabling users to effectively track, store, and navigate through engineering summaries.
BeaVis serves as a ground-based computing environment that allows users to interact with telemetry data streams. It provides graphical representations of summary data, which are crucial for understanding spacecraft status and mission activities. The program features a timeline display that indicates when summary downlinks and beacon tone detections occur during a mission. Additionally, it offers tabular displays and strip charts accessible through hypertext links, enhancing the user experience by allowing quick access to detailed information.
The software is particularly beneficial for missions requiring rapid assessment of spacecraft data, such as the Deep Space One (DSI) mission, which actively utilizes BeaVis for its Beacon Monitor Operations Experiment (BMOX). The program is also being integrated into the mission designs for the Outer Planets/Solar Probe (OPSP) Program, which includes future missions to Europa, Pluto, and the Solar Probe.
BeaVis was developed by a team of inventors, including E. Jay Wyatt, Tim Fogarty, and Robert Sherwood, and is available for commercial licensing. The document provides contact information for inquiries regarding licensing, emphasizing the program's potential for broader applications beyond its initial design.
The document also includes disclaimers regarding the endorsement of specific products and the limitations of liability associated with the information provided. It clarifies that neither NASA nor the U.S. government makes any warranties about the accuracy or usefulness of the information contained within.
In summary, the BeaVis program represents a significant advancement in the field of spacecraft telemetry data management, offering innovative tools for visualizing and interpreting critical mission data. Its development reflects ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of space missions, ensuring that operators can quickly diagnose system behavior and respond to any issues that may arise during operations.
