stride

System Tool for the Retrieval and Input of Data and Engineering

Interconnected power systems throughout the world are characterised by their increasing dependence on sophisticated speech, control and protection systems, interconnected by an array of communications bearers. As a result of the demands placed on the communications systems and further, as a result of great advances made in technology, power system communications networks have expanded enormously. The complexity of these networks has placed great strains on their conventional means of documentation.

Their documentation is characterised by:

  • Interconnection of a large number of relatively low cost items of plant
  • The interconnections are subject to frequent changes during the life of the items concerned and items of equipment are frequently relocated within the system.
  • The cost of documentation is a significant part of the cost of the installed plant and is an ongoing cost during the life of the equipment.
  • The documentation is complex, It covers not only the interconnection of items of equipment located at the locations where they are installed, it also requires a large amount of documentation of the many ways interconnections of the various items of communications equipment at each location are made to enable them to operate as a system.
  • Complex communications systems cannot be represented on one or two simple drawings. They generally require overall block schematics backed up by a miriad of wiring schedules, showing the detailed interconnections of the various items of plant concerned.
  • Interconnections between items of communications equipment are increasingly implemented through software and configuration settings which are difficult to show by conventional means.
  • STRIDE was originally developed to manage circuit switched networks consisting of PDH and SDH elements together with a variety of other link and multiplex equipment such as Microwave Radio and Power Line Carrier.
  • Subsequently, STRIDE has been expanded for the mangement of other parts of the communications network. In particular, STRIDE modules have been developed for Optical Fibre networks and for the management of P25 mobile radio networks