The Commander from integration product firm North Communications, slightly larger than a Palm organiser, has an Intel processor and on-board memory, and an ethernet port for connect to internet protocol.
The Commander from integration product firm North Communications, slightly larger than a Palm organiser, has an Intel processor and on-board memory, and an ethernet port for connect to internet protocol. This allows it to serve building data as graphical HTML pages onto IT networks for viewing in standard web browsers. It is possible for alarms from building systems to be converted to e-mails, which can then be sent using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Commander can collect, process, cache and serve information needed for site-wide or area-wide control, say the makers. Besides, IP, Commander?s ethernet connection supports a protocol developed by North Communications that allows different Commanders to talk to each other or to personal computers across IP – meaning the IP layer can be used for accessing management information, as well as for passing data between building systems on a company?s intranet. Commander connects to building systems via Compass, a widely used integration solution for building systems. Launched originally in 1996, Compass is compatible with more than 200 proprietary building systems and network standards such as Echelon, BACnet, EIB and MODBUS. Commander will link directly to ZiP, a modular input-output system developed for simple monitoring and control. In addition to TCP/IP, Commander?s Ethernet connection supports IPBus, a protocol developed by North Communications that allows different Commanders to talk to each other or to PCs across IP. This means the IP layer can be used for accessing management information, as well as for passing data between building systems anywhere on the client’s intranet. BACnet/IP is also supported by Commander, providing similar capabilities for buildings or estates where the BACnet automation standard is adopted.
