Product Summary

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Product Summary

1. Advantages of TOPS-Advance (TOPS) from RBS

In the opinion of the terminal operators that have chosen the TOPS package, it is the most advanced package available to the Container Handling Industry today and it is the package of the future. RBS has had the advantage of developing TOPS over the past years using the latest technology. It uses Object Oriented Design and true Client/Server implementation on the most reliable Open Architecture operation system, Unix (Server). The front-end (Client) user interface runs on the most popular and low cost Microsoft Windows 2000/XP and .NET environment.
TOPS is considered by its users as the best terminal operating software product on the market today in terms of functionality, productivity and future development plans.
A major differentiator of TOPS from other products is that TOPS greatly increases terminal productivity by permitting any number of planners to work on the same vessel, yard or train simultaneously. Thus, TOPS will easily support 30 gross moves per hour at the start of operations and ultimately support productivity levels in excess of 50 gross moves per hour. Furthermore, TOPS is a completely integrated system that provides real-time information so that any activity performed by one user is immediately visible to all other authorized users within seconds.
TOPS provides a terminal with the full suite of operational capabilities, including Yard management; Vessel management; Berth management; Crane allocation; Container Handling Equipment (CHE) management; Rail management; Gate management; Booking and Pre-Advice of containers; Truck management and enquiry; User security and access control; and Reports (fixed and user configured). Optional interface to external third party systems (Financial systems, LXE/Teklogix radio data terminals, York REFCON Reefer Monitoring system, Noell/Goting Electronic weighing scale, DGPS systems etc.) can also be readily integrated.
TOPS’ extensive functionality also includes twin lifting, dual cycling, double moves (e.g. deliver export, load import) without exiting the terminal, as well as automated housekeeping and more.
TOPS supports English and other languages. Non-English languages are set up and made available through a translation editor table/script to display on workstation panels/screens. The online User Guides available in Microsoft Word and HTML can also be translated into the required local language (the language must be supported by the Windows Operating System).
The optimization engine within TOPS enables a terminal to alleviate potential operational delays by looking ahead into future planned moves. For example, TOPS maintains a steady flow of container move instructions to a quay crane by looking into future planned moves and scheduling moves that require re-handling earlier in the sequence, to reduce the number of re-handles.
TOPS is designed with the full operational spectrum in mind. It is based on the concept of the terminal as a whole and breaks it down into smaller integrated components. Therefore, it can identify the critical part in the whole operation and it comes up with the most practical solution to accomplish complex tasks, in the simplest manner.
TOPS recognizes that the yard is the foundation of the terminal’s operation and this concept is most important as all containers are moved from and to the yard. The application of this concept minimizes and reduces the time and effort to serve external entities such as vessels, trucks and trains, thus increasing a terminal’s efficiency and throughput and allowing it to carry out its operation with a reduced work force.
TOPS also recognizes the second most important factor in the whole operation, besides Quay Crane and RTG/RMG, are the yard CHEs (Container Handling Equipment) which carry out the actual moves within the terminal. These CHEs are the straddles and trailers and TOPS optimizes their container move instructions at all times.
TOPS supports a streamlined operation, from high level vessel/berth planning through to equipment and work instruction execution. All these operations are highly integrated yet TOPS is able to maintain the flexibility that allows the user to intervene and control all events.
TOPS utilizes sophisticated computer programming logic and architectural power to overcome the complexity of tasks and operational functionality. From the users’ point of view, it is sometimes hard to comprehend the flexibility and ease of use of the system and the fact that complicated tasks can be resolved with one ‘simple’ click.
TOPS’ consolidated design enables the solving of problems from their “root” cause in the simplest manner thus reducing the number of menu options needed by the user. This contrasts with our competitors’ solutions that require more “functions” and “features” to achieve a similar result.
TOPS enables terminals to do more with less by incorporating “true automation” features where previously manual tasks were performed and the results recorded on the terminal’s old system. For example, many systems enable a yard planner to enter their yard moves using “drag and drop” features. However, this is of limited significance, as the yard planner still has to manually plan the yard moves. TOPS, on the other hand, significantly reduces the yard planner’s task in the following way: the yard planner sets up “yard allocation rules” for positioning containers based on their characteristics (e.g. all containers destined for Singapore on a vessel to be stacked in Zone 3, rows 5-7), TOPS then performs the allocation of yard locations and issues work instructions to Container Handling Equipment (CHE) based on the pre-specified allocation rules.
The yard planner on setting up the allocation rules, can concentrate on fine tuning the operation by managing exceptions (that the pre-specified allocation rules cannot handle), revising allocation rules to match the current terminal container flow and deciding which rules to turn on or off during any given timeframe. This concept enables a terminal to maximize the use of their terminal facilities and human resources.
TOPS achieves more results with fewer mouse clicks.
Another powerful feature of TOPS is that it can be configured to operate multiple terminal locations due to the centralized database structure. Security features are configured such that updates to the logical database can only be made by authorized personnel. Queries and generation of reports may be done across all terminals in the database, assuming that a user has the authority to do so.
TOPS runs on a single integrated Oracle database. However, the application architecture enables terminals to choose any SQL-based Relational Database Management System.
TOPS strengths were recognized by APMT, EuroGate, Evergreen, Wan Hai Line, UniGlory, TOLL, Freight Corp., Indonesia Pelindo III (DPW joint venture) when they chose it rather than our competitors solutions, in some cases after searching for a solution over a period of years.
TOPS is made up of two components: TOPX-Advance, the real-time graphical planning control and monitoring application and TOPO-Advance, the foundation information, EDI and reporting applications. The two components are totally integrated and provide real-time information.
A summary of some of TOPS’ salient technical details are:

TOPX-Advance runs on UNIX (Solaris, Linux), written in C++
TOPO runs on Windows XP and later versions, written in Visual Basic .NET
Client/Server environment using the best combination of Unix Server and MS Windows Client
TOPS’ system platform and open architecture are superior to that of its competitors
Because of the openness of the system architecture, the functionality of the system will continue to increase dramatically and adapt to new requirements and technology in the future
As a result of the in-memory database design the system response time is far superior to any of its competitors
TOPS’ single server architecture can handle a range of terminals, from those having a very small throughput right up to those having a very high throughput (up to 10 Mil TEUS or more per annum) and achieving the maximum data sharing in real-time. The upper limit being determined by the server’s memory configuration
Its Scalability allows for use in small terminals and also those with expanding operations
Its Connectivity allows it to be connected with any peripheral devices required by the terminal (this requires customization based on the specific devices)
Its Integration allows for unlimited system and network integration
Its ‘Look and feel’ can be customized to suit any user’s needs, from assigning colours through to window management styles
It supports multiple languages. English, is the basic language plus a terminal's local language such as Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, German etc.. The local language must be supported by the computer's operating system
Its ‘Ease of Use’ is due to its true GUI interface which also makes it easy to learn
Its Functionality encompasses all the functions required for a terminal’s operation
It has extensive Exception Handling which covers the most complex operational scenarios which could be encountered in a terminal’s day to day operations
Its real-time networked architecture allows all users to access the same information at the same time
Its preferred RDBMS is the Oracle Corporation database
It has a Web based application to access the foundation system data

2. TOPX-Advance (TOPX) component of TOPS-Advance

TOPX-Advance is the only true real-time graphical system in the world. It is quick to learn and easy to use, its system navigation is picture and icon driven, not requiring extensive 'pull down' menus like other packages, a feature which is preferred by non-English speaking users.
TOPX-Advance runs on Open Architecture environment. The user is not locked into proprietary hardware or software thus the investment in hardware and software is for today and the future.
One of the features of TOPX-Advance is its real-time, networked data which allows all users on the network to view the same data in real-time, as containers are manipulated on a screen; the changes are displayed instantaneously on all other screens. It also only allows a container to be operated on by one user at a time, displaying messages, to other users if they also try to operate on that container, until the container becomes available.
Real-time sharing of information gives TOPX-Advance unbelievably fast response times and reduces network traffic, this leads to time savings giving the user more time to concentrate on the operation.
Because of real-time sharing of information TOPX-Advance does not upload and download data between clients and servers. This saves the user a vast amount of time during the operation due to the fast response times. This fast response time also reduces frustration which is often experienced when using our competitors’ products, with much slower response times.
TOPX-Advance uses only one instance of the application regardless of the size of the terminal operation. The application is scalable to accommodate future growth due to increased container traffic, new customers, information from new data sources or new business processes, without degrading performance. Another major advantage of the TOPX-Advance architecture is that it is capable of handling higher throughput without significant investment in additional servers.
Another distinguishing feature of TOPX-Advance is that it takes a “unified” view of the containers within the terminal’s domain rather than segregating moves into different silos such as yard moves, vessel moves and truck moves. Taking this unified view enables the built-in optimization engine to automatically calculate optimal container moves after considering the pre-specified rules and other relevant factors such as incoming containers, transshipment containers, planned moves, segregation rules and CHE availability.
TOPX-Advance achieves this unified view by using a “shared memory architecture”. TOPX-Advance runs on a robust UNIX platform and uses a single database for the entire application as opposed to having multiple local data stores. This results in distinct benefits such as:

All functionality contained within TOPX-Advance has access to the central database so that each function is aware of actions occurring within other functions in real time
The built-in optimization engine has access to all terminal/container information, enabling automated optimization of moves
The optimization engine can repeatedly optimize moves as terminal operations occur
Different users can customize their own “views” by manipulating the underlying information
The memory database allows instantaneous response times, regardless of terminal throughput, and provides the most current real-time information of the terminals operation in order for the system to make optimal decisions

The technical architecture of TOPX-Advance not only enables 24x7 operation with full redundancy and almost zero down time, but it also supports annual volumes in excess of 10 million TEUs.
TOPS single server architecture can handle terminals having a very small throughput to terminals having a very high throughput (up to 10 Mil TEUS or more per annum) and achieving the maximum data sharing in real-time. The upper limit being determined by the server’s memory configuration.
This single platform/server architecture leads to vast advantages in decision making during the optimization of each transaction as every single move is performed with a minimum cost of time, thus creating a smooth and highly efficiency terminal operation.

3. TOPO-Advance (TOPO) component of TOPS-Advance

This single platform/server architecture leads to vast advantages in decision making during the optimization of each transaction as every single move is performed with a minimum cost of time, thus creating a smooth and highly efficiency terminal operation.
The TOPO-Advance application is written in Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (VB.net) and runs on the Windows environment. This use the “.NET Framework” which is Microsoft development direction for the future. For more detailed information regarding the significance of ‘Microsoft .NET Framework’ please access the internet.
TOPO-Advance’s look and feel incorporates the Multiple-document interface (MDI). This enables multiple TOPO screen to be displayed in one workspace window at the same time, with each screen displayed in its own window and controlled from the main window.
The following features are available from all screens in TOPO-Advance:

Cut and paste data from and to the TOPO data entry fields and other third party applications windows on a workstation
Save lists of data to third party applications in various formats such as tab delimited text, spreadsheets and HTML files. These files can then be processed by other third party applications
Within a window list:

There is are search features available to easily find data and place the cursor on a row matching the entered search text
Ability to highlight/un-highlight a row in a list of data
Ability to select/unselect a bookmarked row in a list
Ability to sort a list of data by any column in the list, in ascending or descending order.

TOPO-Advance is easily navigated by the user, its functions can be grouped by processes so that the user can quickly see a graphical representation of all the related functions for a process, in a logical and orderly sequence. These graphical process views are grouped under one menu.
TOPO-Advance has a feature to allow users to group their most commonly used functions in under one menu of the System titled ‘Favorites’, thus reducing the need to access many menus to select the required functions.
TOPO-Advance’s User Help documentation is available at screen level
The TOPO-Advance database connection password is dynamically assigned by the Database Administrator who can change the database login password at any time and all TOPS applications have immediate access
A user on logging in to TOPO-Advance can connect to any of the available databases such as the Production, Training or Test databases, from any workstation
Reports nominated for executed in TOPO-Advance are stored and streamed sequentially following the completion of the previous report, such that they do not cause a performance problem on the System
On creating reports the user has the facility to view a report before electing to print it or save it to disk
TOPO-Advance has a high level of security access. Its menu functions are dynamically assigned by User Class an users only see the functions assigned to their logged on User Class.

4. Hardware

Server - Sun Microsystems, currently the world leader in future technology
Client - Intel IBM compatible PC's as workstations
New version of TopX Advance (Graphical Planning, Control and Monitoring System) can be run across the PC to Super Computer running Linux Operating System.

5. Environment and integration

Server - Unix
Client - Windows 2000/XP
EDI interface
DGPS interface
Automatic gate interface
VIS interface
RMG automation interface using ABB second generation RMGC automation.
Many other interfaces
Reliability - required for Mission Critical 24 hour operations
Future extendibility for future system expansions