What are the Advantages of the Data Multiplex System?

The Data Multiplex System:

- Improves integration of interfacing ship's electrical subsystems without compromising the total system capability. It is readily adaptable to equipment modifications in established subsystems, and does not contain a single point of system failure.

- Transfers information with a network of multiplexers and with relatively few cables. The cables are installed according to a standard plan that does not vary with changes to the ship's electrical equipment locations.

- The redundancy inherent in the Data Multiplex System architecture and programming precludes catastrophic failures in information transfer capabilities and eliminates single point of failure vulnerability. In general, failures in the Data Multiplex System have the effect of reducing the update rate of periodic signals and increasing the response time for periodic transfer requests in proportion to the quantity of failures existing simultaneously. This failure effect pattern is referred to as graceful degradation. (However, it is possible to have multiple failures without any degradation, depending on such factors as system load and failure types.)

- The Data Multiplex System continuously monitors and displays its operating status from a centralized control station called a maintenance group (MG). The occurrence of a fault within DMS or within the data being transferred is visually and audibly indicated and localized in terms of (1) the major component or data transfer anomaly and (2) a replaceable part; i.e., a plug-in module, a group of not more than three plug-in modules, or a primary or secondary bus cable segment. The program for performance monitoring and fault localization (PM/ FL) is provided by a combination of (1) software resident in an AN/UYK-44 data processing set included in the MG and (2) decentralized BITE firmware located in the various Data Multiplex System units.