EPICS Version 4 Application to Physics Model Servers

Through phase 1 and phase 2 SBIR grants, s fully functional I/O Controller and communication protocol for version 4 of EPICS is completed. An additional phase 1 grant that is currently in progress is being used to develop data types to support higher data volumes with multi-channel arrays, multi-dimensional arrays, and images. This new software architecture provides a flexible and extendible architecture. Version 4 is currently a Java-only implementation. The performance metrics are commensurate with version 3. Version 3 of EPICS is able to provide a platform for implementing channel based control, because the channel and attributes for time stamping, alarm, display and control were narrow, well defined, and complete. To apply EPICS version 4, this project will be used to modify the Matlab Middle Layer Toolkit to use the new PVAccess layer and refactor the code to take advantage of servers for multi-channel arrays. Phase 1 should produce a demonstration that the Matlab Middle Layer Toolkit can be refactored to use Version 4. A Phase 2 grant would provide a modular, client/server based platform for high level physics application. This platform should also demonstrate the ability to create modular experiment control