Communications & Networks
You wouldn’t think that new technology could drive
old technology, but this is the exact trend seen in the
ITS space lately.
It’s a fact that there are many older devices in the field
that have previously not been able to be reached via a
network. It’s also a true that the latest projects for trans-
portation entities involve video. So what does video
have to do with old technology? Let me explain… it all
starts at the camera.
In order to effectively implement video over IP (new
technology) there are generally a few important consid-
erations. First, you must decide what type of connectiv-
ity your camera solution will use. If you need an IP
enabled camera, this means you need an existing or
new networking infrastructure to make the connection
back to the traffic management center (TMC).
If you choose to keep an existing analog camera set
up, then you will need to choose a video encoder that is
right for your needs. This encoder of course resides at
the remote site which means again you need an existing
or new networking infrastructure to make the connec-
tion back to the TMC. To an extent, those that have imple-
mented video before, may have it easier than those
starting from scratch with an IP camera.
The reason here is simple: older video solutions relied
heavily on some type of fiber link to the remote sites
because of distance. It doesn’t matter if it was FDDI, Son-
net or some other proprietary type of communication,
the most important thing was that it was fiber. Now that equipment. It would be nice to be able to gather this
there is a physical fiber cable, all that is required to make data on a real-time basis using your new network infra-
it part of an Ethernet infrastructure is an Ethernet switch structure.
with fiber ports or a media converter.
Many are the ways
What next? However, most of the devices mentioned are serial, how
So now you are in the middle of your new video over IP can you network them effectively? There is no reason to
rollout and are building your network infrastructure. replace these old serial interface products, but all the
Nowadays, the most popular infrastructure being imple- reason in the world to connect them. While many know
mented is a Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Ring. Due to the that there are such devices called Serial to Ethernet con-
design of this type of network infrastruc-
ture, now more than ever you have Eth-
“If your new
verters or Device Servers that can in
fact convert Serial to Ethernet, many do
ernet connectivity out to the edge of the
network
not know that giving a serial device an
network. Hopefully now you are starting
to ask yourself, what else can I hook up
infrastructure gets
IP address on your network is only one
way to connect to it.
to the Ethernet?
close enough to the
Another way is via a virtual serial port.
This finally brings us to the point of
this article. It may have taken video over
sign you may be
If you have a software application that
requires a COM or TTY (aka serial con-
IP to get that expensive Ethernet infra-
able to connect it
nection) to the serial device, some
structure put in place, but now you
should leverage that network and get
up via Ethernet”
Serial to Ethernet vendors have a spe-
cial Windows or Linux/UNIX certified
additional ROI out of it. For example, you Driver that allows you to install a “Real
might have a dynamic message sign out in the field. This COM port” on the machine hosting the software pro-
sign could be currently connected via Cellular, ADSL or gram you need to use. This may sound complicated, in
even analog modem. If your new network infrastructure reality it is a five-minute install process to make it all
gets close enough to the sign you may be able to con- work.
nect it via wired or wireless Ethernet, saving a lot of For example, let’s say you have a software program
money each month in reoccurring access charges. that interfaces with a loop detector. It helps you retrieve
What about loop detectors and car counters? Occu- a count for how many cars have passed. Normally you
pancy meters, and speed sensors, even road condition would hook a computer to its Serial port and get the
monitoring devices and weather stations? Certainly data. Instead, using a Serial to Ethernet converter you
these may have been long but forgotten, or simply con- would connect the serial loop detector to the network.
nected to older expensive types of communication Next you would install the special Windows Real COM
23 Vol 4 No 1 Thinking Highways www.thinkinghighways.com
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