Navigation:  Introducing MCL-Mobility Platform > Basic Concepts

 

Overview

 

MCL-Mobility Platform provides a comprehensive management of sites, devices, applications and operators. To take full advantage of all its possibilities, you must first understand the basic concepts behind this web based portal.

Below are the key concepts to take into account when working/managing MCL-Mobility Platform:

 

Account

Each customer has an account that includes the available services and products associated to the subscription and the customer's setup (sites, device groups, operator groups). The customer is given a specific URL to access its private space as well as a password. The "account administrator" manages administrative tasks such as creating user profiles, sites, managing subscriptions. Each account can contain several subscriptions and sites.

 

Subscription

A subscription is a set of products and services contracted during a specific period of time and associated to an account.

The subscription dictates the limit and use of the number of devices, users, allocated servers and dictates the use of services like "Operator Management" and "Filebox". The customer will be able to distribute these items between the several sites created inside the account.

The subscription has a due date which is automatically renewed.

 

Site

A site virtually represents a facility/location. It includes devices, operators and applications. It is created by the "Account Administrator" and managed by the "Site Manager", who has direct access to the Site Dashboard through a specific URL. This is where the operational tasks are executed (application upload, deployment scheduling, site user and operator profiles creation, etc.).

 

Device

It is the physical device, regardless of manufacturer, model or operating system, where the applications run.

 

Device Group

Devices are always included into device groups. Each device group can only accept devices from one single model and operating system. The devices inside a device group obtain the configuration and server settings associated to the device group. In other words, a new device coming into a device group inherits that device group's properties.

 

Unassigned Device

This is a device that is not included in a device group and, therefore, it is not possible to assign any configurations/deployments to it. An unassigned device is a disabled device. To be able to use it, include it in a device group.

 

Configuration

A configuration is a container that can include applications and/or MCL firmware and/or any other files for a specific device model with a specific operating system. It is, then, associated (deployment) to a device group.

 

Deployment

A deployment represents the action of associating/delivering a configuration with applications/MCL firmware/other files to a device group. This action can be planned "as soon as possible" or "at scheduled date/time".

 

Server

A server is an entity that represents the application resident on a back end host server (to which the device will send and receive business data). It is possible to define MCL-Net servers or non MCL-Net servers (3rd party host applications).

 

Operator

The operator is the person handling the devices. The operator's profile is created/managed in MCL Mobility Platform (operator information and status, access rights, restrictions, etc.). Operators do not have access to the platform. They are included in "Operator Groups".

 

Operator Group

Operators are always included into predefined operator groups. The operator group can be seen as an organizational entity like a morning or an afternoon shift. Operators inside an operator group inherit that operator group's properties and have the same access rights and restrictions as the other operators inside that group.

 

Filebox

A filebox is a virtual storage and forwarding space for files. It is available in the customer's account and can be accessed by the devices to upload/download files.

 

Account Profiles

Depending on the level of access to the platform, there are four profiles within an account:

 

Has the highest access rights within the account, meaning, can view and edit everything because this is the only profile that can access the “Admin Dashboard”.

Deals with the administrative aspects of the account (account set up, subscription, site and user profiles creation and platform access restrictions).

Has access to the “Site Dashboard” and its administrative and operational aspects.

 

Can access the site or sites he manages via a specific URL that leads straight to each “Site Dashboard”.

Handles the administrative and operational aspects of the site he is assigned to (managing the site's properties, applications, configurations, devices and operators).

Does not have access to the “Admin Dashboard”.

 

This account profile has a more limited access to the "Site Dashboard". The "Site User" handles the operational aspects depending on the given access permissions.

 

This account profile is currently not in use within MCL-Mobility Platform.

 

Development Stations

Development Stations are specifically used to manage MCL-Designer V4 subscriptions (a type of license). MCL-Designer V4 is a software development tool that allows you to create applications for devices.

In order to work with the "Development Stations" module, ensure that the account's subscription includes an MCL-Designer V4 service which will allow you to manage your MCL-Designer applications.