The Problem
Over the last twenty
years, cellular technology has changed
from being used primarily for telephone
service to being utilized for broadband
data travelling over the Internet.
Cellular data transfer started as
basic M2M (Machine-To-Machine) file
transfer or polled data. Initially
this was based on analog technology,
but as frequency spectrum became
scarce due to increased demand, carriers
incorporated digital technologies
including EVDO and HSDPA. With the
advent of these technologies, data
transfer rates have increased from
56Kbps to over 1Mbps. These technologies
have led to where data links are
carrying more than raw M2M data but
also carrying IP based applications
such as VoIP.
To insure cellular
data security and reliability, a
VPN (Virtual Private Network) must
be incorporated. A simple VPN client
with a plug-in air card will suffice
for casual data, but for privacy
and security concerns the need goes
beyond PC based traffic. M2M requires
a router, a VPN appliance and, at
times, legacy protocol conversion.
The function of a router
is to convert IP-based data from
one addressing scheme to another,
for example, public to private addressing.
All routers do this but very few
incorporate a cellular modem designed
to meet commercial and industrial
grade requirements. A router supporting
VPN in various encryption modes like
3DES or AES is fairly common, but
again finding one with a cellular
modem, not just a PCMCIA card, further
limits your selection. Also, most
routers encapsulate legacy protocols
by bundling them into IP packets
for file transfer over a cellular
data link, creating unacceptable
latency and efficiency problems. |
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The
Encore Solution
Encore Networks addresses
today’s cellular data networking
requirements and challenges with
the BANDIT™ line of environmentally
hardened (rugged) routers. The BANDIT™
includes the features required for
secure business applications like
firewall, VPN encryption, and DHCP
server capabilities and provides
fully featured routing which supports
VoIP, Internet and Intranet access
for remote and mobile offices. For
cellular data networking, the BANDIT™
integrates a hardened modem which
can withstand a wide range of temperatures
found in many M2M applications such
as utility service providers (electric,
gas and water), Smart Grid, automated
meter reading (AMR), construction
sites, industrial environments, lottery
terminals, ATM machines and point-of-sale
locations.
The BANDIT™ offers
legacy M2M protocol conversion such
as DNP, Conitel, PGE and CDC. By
converting legacy protocols locally
for encrypted IP transport, the data
packet is more efficient and can
carry more data in the packet payload
which greatly reduces the effect
of network latency. Encore’s central
site solution, the VSR 1200™, supports
multiple host sites for redundancy
which further reduces latency and
increases network reliability. |
