iNetLink - PlugAndUse Serial Link over the Internet

Each of a pair of mated units has two serial ports (DB9 connectors) and one 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port. Upon attaching the Ethernet port to your cable/DSL router, DHCP is used to automatically configure its IP address. The two units will automatically coordinate with each other over the Internet, so that they know how to communicate directly with each other, even through a router employing NAT. Every bit going into one side's serial port automatically appears at the other side's serial port. You will not need to make a single adjustment to have the serial ports act as if directly connected, whether they are in different rooms or even in different countries!

A relay contact is available for monitoring conditions on both sides of the link. Each unit takes in a relay contact pair, e.g. from an alarm line of a local unit, which appears as a relay contact output on the other side of the connection. Each unit also has a relay contact output that indicates the state of the link connection - this can be attached to an local alarm to identify whenever connection over the Internet is unavailable.

Each unit has two serial links, each able to handle up to 115 kbps. With most cable/DSL connections, both serial links can be supported at full rate in both directions. While most users may normally need just one of the links, the extra link could be used as a "chat link" while configuring the equipment, without interfering with the primary link.

Last modified: 10 February 2003
Pacific Custom Systems, Inc.