Troubleshooting Traffic Channel

When correctly configured, the Traffic Channel application is designed to run autonomously without intervention. However, because of the numerous hardware assets that the program relies on, failures can occur. Correct operation requires that all components illustrated in the overview be operating correctly.

The TrafficChannel.exe program writes diagnostic information to the \TrafficChannel\ErrorLog.txt file as it runs. This file should be periodically reviewed and should be the first place to look when the program appears to be running incorrectly. Note that this file is appended to each time the program is run, so it should periodically be purged.

Common failure symptoms and possible diagnoses:

• I start the TrafficChannel.exe program but it does not appear on the computer.
  • Note that the program sleeps or waits to start until the synchronization value specified in the sequence configuration file. Verify that this value is appropriate and that the time you are waiting is more than the synchronization value.
  • The Genie DVE board is memory-usage intensive. No other desktop applications should be running when TrafficChanel.exe is running. If you have exhausted memory, the system should be rebooted.

• I start the TrafficChannel.exe program and it appears on the computer monitor but not the video display.
  • Re-seat the physical cable connections to the pigtail on the DVE board and the video monitor.
  • Reset the power on the video monitor.
  • Reset the power on the DVE board; that is, shutdown, turn off the power on the computer, and reboot.

• The video displayed in the DVE swoosh image is not the correct image for a given map.
  • Verify that the video-control computer is operating correctly.

• The video signal displayed in the swoosh of the DVE appears black or as white noise.
  • Disconnect the traffic video signal cable from the DVE board and connect directly to a video monitor to verify the signal. If there is no signal coming out of the fiber, contact traffic personnel at WSDOT to see if there is a known failure in the video switch or acqusition equipment.
  • If the video previews correctly, reset the DVE board.

• The program is running but the segment colors are not changing.
  • Verify that your network connection is up by using ping or other network software diagnostics.
  • Verify that you can reach the ITS generic re-distributor machine by pinging the machine nova.its.washington.edu.
  • Verify that the segmentLogger utility is running and that the file it creates, \segmentLogger\sdd.output, is being updated.

• Error or warning dialogs are displayed when starting the TrafficChannel.exe program.
  • One or more of the configuration files have been corrupted or incorrectly modified.
  • System type error messages typically indicate an OS-related failure that has led to the exhaustion of resources. Time to re-boot.

Traffic Channel | ITS UW Home

webmaster@its.washington.edu
(May 11, 1998)