Cisco IP Interoperability and Collaboration System (IPICS) 2.0 is a simple, scalable, comprehensive solution for communications interoperability and distributed incident management. It bridges radio, IP, and non-IP networks and enables multiple emergency responders to exchange important information on-demand for better incident management and day-to-day operations across departments, agencies, and jurisdictions. By sending radio traffic over an IP network, Cisco IPICS enables direct communication with other radios, fixed or mobile phones, and PCs.
With Cisco IPICS, your organization can:
Meet incident communications challenges
Increase flexibility, cut costs, and simplify processes
Provides push-to-talk communications not only on push-to-talk phones, but also on radio handsets, IP phones, laptop PC clients, telephones, and cell phones. The system also dynamically bridges push-to-talk networks and IP and non-IP networks.
Faster "time to information" during emergencies and routine operations:
Allows operations managers to create policies for standard operating procedures and then activate them with a single click. Notifies users by e-mail, paging, and short message service.
Enhanced incident management:
Allows dispatchers and incident commanders to manage operations and resources from one or more locations. Unifies command and control. Maintains a detailed audit log of all communications activities related to an incident.
Flexible deployment options:
Can be deployed in mobile command vehicles and included in tactical communications kits. Can connect using IP as well as non-IP wired, wireless, or satellite networks.
Reduced costs:
Capitalizes on existing communications investments. Avoids unnecessary upgrades to existing radio networks. Provides multichannel push-to-talk services on a PC or laptop.
Beyond Radio Interoperability
Cisco IPICS Release 2.0 provides more than simple radio interoperability. It also provides comprehensive communications interoperability that spans radio networks, IP networks, and non-IP networks, and accommodates:
Radios
Push-to-talk phones
IP phones
Telephones
Mobile phones
PCs with client software
Distributed Control
Unlike proprietary solutions for radio interoperability only, Cisco IPICS Release 2.0 is built on open IP standards. An easy-to-use Web-based interface provides distributed control. Each agency or jurisdiction locally manages its own communications resources, including networks and devices. Agencies can stipulate which resources they will share with other agencies during emergencies and routine operations, based on governance and local policy needs. The ability to share resources across operational views provides simple, scalable, comprehensive communications interoperability among agencies, departments, or locations.
New Capabilities in Cisco IPICS Release 2.0
The Cisco IPICS 2.0 release provides valuable new capabilities, including:
Extended reach of push-to-talk communications to include public switched telephone network endpoints, such as:
Mobile phones
Telephones
New models of Cisco Unified Communications IP Phones
Cisco IPICS Push-to-Talk Management Center software for PCs
Comprehensive system enhancements
Policy-based incident-management capabilities, including automated notification and messaging
Flexible deployment options for tactical operations and disasters, including:
Support for satellite communications
Communications in high-latency, low-bandwidth environments
Connectivity for vehicles and mobile tactical communications
Cisco IPICS Server Software A security-enhanced, Linux-based platform that provides an administration console and resource management and hosts the optional Cisco IPICS Policy Engine and Operational Views applications.
Cisco IPICS IP Phone Client Enables personnel to use Cisco Unified IP phones to collaborate with other personnel on post, telephone, and telegraph (PTT) channels.
Cisco IPICS Push-to-Talk Management (PMC) A Windows-based PC client software package that lets personnel use their PCs to collaborate with other personnel on PTT channels.
Cisco IPICS Operational Views Allows different organizations to manage and share resources across ownership and organizational boundaries.
Cisco IPICS Policy Engine Enables one-click activation of predefined policies for notification and talk-group establishment, and includes the ability to dial in and dial out to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
