DPDeskTime in detail

System set up

DPDeskTime® uses secure contactless smart card technology with dual authentication to provide a personal record of a DPO’s time on the DP system.

It receives data from DP computers by passive links, which means it is outside the safety-critical DP system dual redundant networks. The only other thing our system requires is one 110VAC/240VAC input to power it.

Operational hours, including any training data completion dates, are recorded onto a DPO’s personal smart card and are also transmitted back to the DPDeskTime® cloud server over a secure link. This data is securely stored and available for analysis and report generation for the vessel owner/manager and the DPO.

Data transmission

DPDeskTime uses a multipath system for relaying information to the main server. Data can be transmitted through a vessel’s VSAT/Fleet broadband systems with a physical connection or onboard WIFI connection. Alternatively, it can be sent via the DPDeskTime® system’s onboard 3G card when a signal is available in port or synchronised through an Android APP using the DPDeskTime app (due in late 2015/early 2016)

Data packet sizes depend on the time periods used for routine transmission cycles in the system. It is typically synchronized every day, but can be left for much longer if necessary. When sent daily, the typical data packet size is around 50kb.

Smart card technology

The contactless smart cards operate on NFC technology that allows a DPO to view the data stored on their card and synchronise it with the secure server by using any Android NFC-enabled device running the DPDeskTime App. We are planning to roll out an Android App at the end of 2015/early 2016.