System overview

The software consist of the following overall components:

• Welcome program: The small starter program that is the first thing you see when starting BBT. The launcher helps you start and connect to a master computer and opens up a client for you. It also handles software updates, your license etc.
• Master (server): Heart of the system. The master is mostly invisible but is the essence of BBT. It is the component handling all the timing, connecting to remote units and systems, and doing all the hard work. Uses a database to store all the information.
• Client: Desktop program that lets you graphically see and control the server.

This division means that once you start the master on one computer, you can have as many clients as you want connect to this master. This allows many people to work on the same event at once, if needed.

If both computers are internet-connected, you may even connect and control any master computer belonging to your license from anywhere in the world. This is particularly useful for providing fast support for people in the field.

Starting up the software, we can see that it lets us either start the server on the local computer, or select another server on the local network. Any server that is started on the network will appear automatically in the list.

It will also let you know if your computer clock is out of sync (compared to accurate internet time servers), when there are software updates available etc.

The timing master (server) is the heart of the software and handles most of the tasks, including:

• Connecting to external device such as timing units, clocks,
• Storing and updating event data, participants, results etc.
• Processing and computing times
• Synchronizing data with external websites
• Capturing video
• Providing web interface to live results, late entry services etc.
• Most other timing tasks…

The master itself is almost invisible, but you can see when it is running in the bottom right of your screen. Doubleclicking it gives you the option to shut it down.

The client is the interface you will be spending the most of your time in. It it basically just a graphical interface to all the functions provided by the master.

Once connected to a master, you can move on to what really matters: Timing your event!