1. Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS)

2. CENS Application
The implementation of the Computer Emergency Notification System (CENS) application will potentially save lives and ensure the safety of employees.

3. CENS Application
The (CENS) application enables organizations to send messages electronically and in a designated environment to notify personnel of emergencies, building related alerts, and provide other important information.

4. CENS Features The CENS application works across multiple platforms.
Effectively and efficiently communicates with all the staff, specified groups, or specified locations via Specified Area Messaging (SAM).
Provides the ability to notify employees of building or location-specific emergencies.
CENS can also be used for non-emergency broadcast messaging.

5. CENS Features
Authorized personnel create messages and perform administration of CENS.
Complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Minimal impact to network performance.
Utilizes security features.

6. CENS Features
The client runs in the background and does not interfere with employees’ daily work.
Flexible and adaptable.
Low cost solution.

7. CENS
The CENS application consists of a Message Generator, Web Server services, and a Client that resides on individual workstations.
1. The CENS Message Generator is the interface used by authorized personnel to create messages.
2. The CENS Server software provides connectivity and database transactions and it creates HTML messages.
3. The CENS Client software resides on individual workstations as a small application. It polls the server at intervals and receives messages, as appropriate.

8. CENS Process Diagram OR Database Server Web Server Backup
Polls database. Creates HTML header and message files on Web server
Process Flow Steps Client polls server and server responds with acknowledgment (< 30 bytes)
Process Flow Steps Message generation and submittal OR
8. Client polls server and server responds with message to client workstation
Process Flow Step 6 System Administrator installs CENS Client on Workstation
Message Sender Workstation
Message Generation Application Server Component on Message Sender Workstation
Client Workstation

9. CENS – Message Generator
An authorized Message Sender logs in and authentication is used to access the server software.
Database Server
Message Generation Application Server Component
Process Flow Steps 1-5 Message generation and submittal
Message Sender Workstation

10. CENS – Message Generator
Using the Message Generator the sender selects different types of messages.
The same message is sent to all personnel, specific groups, or areas irrespective of the location of the emergency via Specific Area Messaging (SAM).

11. CENS – Message Generator
Once all options are selected, the message sender previews and confirms the message.
The user has to confirm twice before sending the message.

12. Message Sender Workstation
CENS - Server
The message sender submits the message, which is then written to the embedded database.
The message sender will receive a notification from the CENS Server that the message was sent successfully to each server. If there is a problem with either server the message sender is notified.
Database Server
Message Generation Application Server Component
Process Flow Steps 1-5 Message generation and submittal
Message Sender Workstation

13. CENS - Client
The Client application is installed on desktop. Users will know if CENS has been loaded on the desktop by the appearance of a black triangle in the icon tray.
Process Flow Step 6 System Administrator installs CENS Client on Workstation manually or automatically using managed software tools or a login script.
Client Workstation

14. CENS - Client
The CENS client polls the CENS server at configurable intervals via a HTTP request (typically via port 80).
The CENS server application acknowledges the client request by sending a HTML message back to the CENS client, currently about 30 bytes in size.
Client Workstation
Backup
Web Server

15. CENS - Client
If the message sent from the server is a new message, the CENS client will:
Sound a siren for emergency messages. Non-emergency messages are a non-obtrusive audible sound on any desktop computer. Either internal or external speakers will sound the siren.
Display a full screen message that cannot be removed without deliberately closing the emergency message.
CENS uses redundant servers for protection of possible network communications problems.
A message is considered ‘new’ if the message ID is greater than the user’s last received message and the message timestamp is less than 46 minutes old. The 45 minute value is configurable.
Web Server
Backup

16. CENS Software & Architecture
CENS is written in Java.
CENS has a client side and a server side and uses ‘pull’ techniques.
The CENS server components are designed to execute on any Java application server that supports Java Servlet Specification version 2.4 or newer.

17. CENS - Servers
Server sizing is dependent on customer’s requirement and, therefore, may change.
Server Hardware
Requirements for disk space, memory and processor are minimal.
Make usability decisions based upon requirements of web server and anticipated network load.

18. CENS Security Server Security Client Security
Access to the server housing the HTML messages can be locked down by a system administrator as deemed necessary. Restriction by IP address range is possible.
Client Security
The client software is loaded automatically at startup (Windows login) for all users; however the client cannot alter or send messages.

19. CENS Benefits
CENS ensures that its user organizations are able to effectively and efficiently communicate with staff in the event of a crisis situation. The application requires no additional software.
CENS delivers a consistent message to all personnel.
CENS indicates the specific problem and what action to take.
CENS works continuously if a user is logged on to system.

20. NITC Services Offerings
NITC will:
acquire and/or host a CENS server or utilize customer-owned Windows server.
partner with the customer to provide technical project planning and coordination.
provide applications development expertise to modify the most current USDA code and customize it to meet customer requirements.

21. NITC Services Offerings
NITC will:
provide CENS application level support during the development, installation, and maintenance phases.
coordinate with the customer’s emergency command authority to create a database of message types and message content.
provide application-level technical assistance with systems setup, installation, testing, and deployment.

22. NITC Services Offerings
NITC will:
provide application-level “Help Desk”.
provide application-level web-base knowledge expertise for testing and deployment.
provide application level CENS systems and end user CENS documentation.

23. NITC Services Offerings
NITC Services Pricing:
Fee based depending upon customization requirements.
CENS Application Pricing:
Available upon request for Federal
Government entities.

24. “Partnering for Success”
Business Contact: USE-NITC