NCJ Number
122557
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1990) Pages: 24-26
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Buffalo residents have consistently opposed the consolidation of police precincts and, when considering consolidation, the Buffalo Police Department decided instead to implement a communications network that combines voice and data on centrex lines.
Abstract
The DIALAN (DMS Integrated Access Local Area Network) technology is provided in New York Telephone's Central Office LAN product line and enhances Intellipath centrex service, which operates with Northern's DMS-100 digital switch. Centrex is a central, office-based service that provides advanced calling features to telephones in an office environment. Network components include centrex lines that link police headquarters to each precinct, headquarters and precinct personal computers, DIALAN circuit cards inserted in the DMS-100 switch in central offices, and Coherent Communications Systems Integrated Voice/Data Modules (IVDM's). The IVDM splits a telephone line into separate channels for voice and data. An immediate benefit of the communications network is the ability to standardize forms that are transmitted between police headquarters and precincts. The Buffalo Police Department is looking ahead to more sophisticated applications, including a computer-aided dispatch system, tying into the district attorney's office for court schedule transmission, and accessing local emergency contact files.