Network processor provides missing control link

When IPCS required a solution for its new Netgenium IP lock controller, a rapid, reliable and easy means of adding intelligent connectivity was needed.

IP Control Systems (IPCS) is a leading specialist in the research and development of products that assist in IP convergence across a range of systems.

Its solutions allow a building's lighting, entry access, telephony, HVAC and CCTV systems to be connected over a single IP network.

This creates a much simpler, easier and smaller LAN that is cost effective to manage.

So, when IPCS required a solution for its new Netgenium IP lock controller that enabled doors to be opened or closed remotely via an IP Ethernet connection and integrated with IP telephony or CCTV systems, a rapid, reliable and easy means of adding intelligent connectivity was needed.

Digi International's powerful NS9360 microprocessor proved the ideal solution.

Access control equipment is one of the newest areas that IPCS has integrated into its product offerings.

Door control systems that can be activated through an internet-based protocol are a major part of this.

When it first developed the IP lock controller, IPCS needed a solution that would work over Ethernet, and integrate with both IP telephony and CCTV.

For example, if someone requested entry at a door they could be seen over IP-enabled CCTV and heard over an IP-enabled telephone.

The challenge however was finding a processor with the performance, speed and reliability to effectively regulate a door lock, while preventing failures including constant systems reboots which could prevent people from accessing their homes and offices.

When IPCS discovered Digi's NS9360 microprocessor, its 32bit, 177MHz performance was exactly what IPCS needed.

IPCS programmed using C and the implementation was extremely quick and easy.

Paul Anderson, Managing Director of IPCS, commented: "Our background is in networking, not electronics design, but with Digi's support we found integration of the NS9360 chip much simpler and faster than we had expected".

"We first learnt about the NS9360 in May and by October we already had a working product".

The NS9360 offers a whole new level of performance to network-attached processing.

It provides full duplex 10/100Base-T Ethernet with more than enough additional processing performance and bandwidth to handle sophisticated embedded applications.

It is based on the ARM 926EJ-S, the most powerful ARM9 core, which contains both DSP and Java byte code instructions.

It operates at up to 177MHz and contains a broad set of industry standard peripherals: USBd, USBh, I2C, 1284, serial ports and a high-performance LCD controller.

The NS9360 is a member of Digi's NET+ARM family of 32bit processors exclusively targeted at network enabling embedded electronic equipment.

These processors are all supported by the NET+Works software development tools suite, which contains Green Hills Multi or Microcross Gnu X-Tools, a hardware debugger, utilities, and application examples.

Throughout the creation of its door control system prototype Digi offered IPCS great support.

Digi thoroughly reviewed IPCS' prototypes and offered helpful comments and suggestions.

This support enabled IPCS to considerably speed up the development time of its final product.

Thanks to this quick integration, IPCS could easily fulfil the orders that were placed around the time of the original prototype design.

IPCS' Netgenium IP lock controller solution has successfully integrated with IP systems on a variety of projects.

The solution is fully powered by power over Ethernet (802.3af).

POE negates the requirement for a local power supply and reduces costs as only one cable needs to be run to each door.

It is also compliant internationally, allowing the solution to be used worldwide.

The new product's integration with IP systems ensures that anyone can be granted door entry through a number of methods.

They can be viewed on CCTV, spoken to and granted access via an IP-enabled telephone, or even provided entry from an individual remotely monitoring them from a computer terminal.

Further benefits of the Netgenium IP lock controller, the world's first native IP lock controller, include secure encryption services, support for magnetic locks, door strikes and sheer locks, battery backup, support for manual exit switches, and timed and toggled door operations.

Throughout the project the NS9360 was easy to use and provided simple architecture that was simple to master.

The resulting product has proven to be a tremendous success.

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