The Remote Switching Products are available in two general categories. The "Remote Port Selection" sharing types of switches are those that connect the caller (local or remote) to any of its slave ports (analog TelCo line or RS-232 models).
Since they are telephone-line oriented, they have their own built in telephone line communication controllers. The port selections are controlled via touch-tones that can be entered manually or appended to a modem dial string or through "security/selection boxes" connected to the callers modem or phone (FTS, MRS, PSS). They "hard-wire" the appropriate connection so the selected port is already connected when the when the remote device answers.
These are similar to what the industry refers to as "code activated switches" except that they are much quicker, provide greater security and are less complicated. Also hardwiring the connection in the RS-232 version eliminates the buffering requirement along with the resulting delays and data rate restrictions.
The "Remote AB-M Switches" on the other hand, connect a common device on port A (not the caller) to either of its slave ports B/C/D/S. "S" is a logical security port (no connection). The MATRIX version allows the connection of any port to any or all ports. The X2 version has more of a security or rebooting flavor. It connects/disconnects two 8-wire connections, such as two LAN connections.
These are "base units" that can be operated manually or remotely over a phone line or a TCP/IP (internet) network with the proper external controller (SP-RRC/3P-RRC or N-RRC). The serial port of an adjacent "Controller PC" can also be used.
The AB-Ms are also addressable, so up to 31 of them can be daisy chained (RJ-11 TelCo connections) and controlled through one Single Port controller (SP-RRC) or from each port of a multi-port controller for larger requirements. This opens the door to other network switching applications such as backup and security as well as sharing applications.
The external controllers are the same as those used with the CPS rebooting products and follow the same flexible "Base Unit + Controller" concept. They can be referenced in that section or reviewed below. In addition to providing the desired type of communications interface, the Controllers add password security, the ability to share phone lines (same as the "Port Selection Switches") as well as other programmable features. Any of the addressable AC power control Base Units can also be inter-mixed within the AB-M "daisy chain" providing even greater application flexibility (See IPN and APB-I).
The REMOTE AB-M BASE UNIT SWITCHES are available with
- RJ-11s for (4 wire) phone line switching applications and
- RJ-45 (8 wire) connectors for switching Ethernet, Token Ring LAN or T1 circuits.
- DB-9/RJ-45 adapters are available for 8 wire RS-232 switching applications.
The FLIP SWITCHES also fit this A/B category. They can connect four phone lines to an alternate set of four analog devices, or to nothing as a security measure (flipping them off). They have their own built in phone line controller. The "Flip" can be controlled remotely over the phone line and/or programmed to "flip" on a daily or weekly timed basis.
Many of the switches also have an add-on remote rebooting capability through one of CPS's rebooting "Base Units". This allows the caller to also control the AC power or reset remote equipment on the selected ports. However, if remote rebooting is your primary objective, go to the REBOOTING PRODUCTS.
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