By using the naturally occurring distortion, the Pandoric Rift, through keeping it under tight control Starbase Pandora is able to initiate subspace communications links throughout time and space. The data connection operates in as a series of calibrated bursts across a wide subspace band to facilitate the rift being directed toward multiple locations in time.
Establishing a Connection
Any Solas Tempus Communicator can establish a connection to the Pandoric Interface provided that it has proper clearance to do so. Access to the interface requires at least Level 1 clearance via Command Codes.
- The initial connection request is made via an Interplexing Transceiver which directs a coded signal toward specific coordinates which are easily scanned from the rift across time and space.
- Each Solas Tempus Communicator, computer system, or communications array maintains a lock on its temporal origin, which cannot be altered. This temporal origin is coded into the pulse.
- Once the pulse is received by HAL, the system uses the temporal origin coded into the pulse to focus the rift, originating from the appropriate temporal location.
- During this process the signal is validated as having proper clearance to access the interface.
- HAL then initiates a BlueNet link across the Temporal Awareness Layer first to ensure that each HAL unit is aware of the current ebb and flow of time to prevent causality violations.
- HAL will not allow a causality violation, a connection to the interface cannot be established if HAL detects that doing so will cause such a violation to occur.
- Once the Temporal Awareness Layer has been linked through the interface and validated as being safe, the Autonomous Layer connection is established to manage the connection.
- The autonomous layer manages the AI's awareness across varied nodes in conjunction with the Temporal Awareness Layer which factors in causality and when it is appropriate to share information between nodes.
- Finally, the remaining communication layers can be established through the rift.
- All communications through the rift are monitored by HAL for potential security and causality violations.
Translation
HAL is able to translate the interface to an appropriate terminal design. That is to say, during an operation in the past, it might be necessary to access the interface via local technology. This is possible and is done through Interface Translation, which is managed by HAL.
HAL Computer System Hubs
At various locations throughout the timeline and known space, HAL Computer System Hubs have been established. These hubs maintain a communications link through the Pandoric Interface to relay data. As such an Operative need not establish a link to the interface directly, assuming there is a Hub within communications range that already has a link. HAL will manage this autonomously, seeking out the simplest way to establish a link to BlueNet at the lowest resource cost. If there is a hub capable of providing interface access, the system will use that hub within the local time-frame to establish a connection.
This is where Interface Translation takes place as well, as there are hubs configured as strategic points connected to the computer networks of major races in critical time periods. For security purposes, these interfaces are well hidden within the established infrastructure by Temporal Operatives on the ground. These hubs operate interface translations so that access to the interface can be attained through technology of the time period without arising suspicion.
Examples
- In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, interface access was known to be hidden inside some popular computer games of the time. To anyone playing the game who was unaware of the presence of such an interface, it would be just another game element. However, when activated by a Temporal Operative the interface would be translated so that it could be used within the game. This was often done without the knowledge or awareness of the production company which produced the game. Some consoles in the early 21st century had HAL software built into the system.
- The LEM platforms left on the lunar surface during the moon landings were actually equipped with Interplexing Transceivers and HAL 9000 processing units. These provide communications and network access to-from the Integro Base facility, located inside Earth's moon. Thus providing interface access from the mid-20th century onward.
- During the construction of the Washington Monument in the United States, Temporal Operatives installed within the super-structure a full HAL Computer System Hub in 1890.
- Similarly one has been installed the McMurdo Station on Earth, it was installed around 1961.
These are just a few examples, structures which are known to have lasted for extremely long periods of time can be outfit with HAL Computer System Hub's or other equipment to assist Temporal Operatives in the field have access to the interface as well as to provide extended surveillance for temporal events.
Temporal Beacons
While a Solas Tempus temporal beacon can be used without the Pandoric Rift, Starbase Pandora scans for these signals and if one is found the rift is then directed to that space-time location, to establish a connection if possible.