Talk2M service enables remote lighting control

The Ewon industrial-grade Ethernet router from MAC Solutions has been selected by Architen Lighting to monitor and diagnose a lighting system it had installed at the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

The Ewon Ethernet Gateway enables Architen to remotely monitor and control the lighting system.

Architen engineers can log on to a webpage on the internet using the Ewon's Talk2M (Talk to Machines) service, enabling them to turn on or change lighting effects from their desktop, anywhere in the world.

The multi-dimensional lighting mesh developed by Architen Lighting for the O2 Arena in Dublin has more than 6,000 LEDs and is located in the new concierge, greeting customers on entry to the arena.

Christopher Rowell, project manager at Architen Lighting, said: 'The graphics and effects are provided by a Pharos LPC X controller, which outputs more than 5,000 control channels via a Pathport Ethernet backbone.

'At commissioning, we programmed a number of different lighting effects.

'The controller automatically chooses an effect based on the day and time of the show.

'The control rack at site also has an Ewon router to enable remote changes and control.

'This means we can log on to the internet to turn on or change the lighting effects from our desks.

He added: 'Rather than spending a whole day travelling to a customer's site in order to upgrade or change a lighting effect or to diagnose a fault, the Ewon Talk2M service lets us remotely perform these tasks, which saves us time and money.

'In the O2 project, the client recently asked me to soften the lighting effects for a specific VIP guest.

'Within 15mins, I was able to write a new software programme in London and send the upgrade to the Ewon device using Talk2M.

'The change was instantaneous and it was like having a direct Ethernet connection to the site.

The Ewon range of industrial routers complies with a range of serial and Ethernet-based PLCs, including Siemens, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Omron.

Architen is using the Ewon device in combination with the Ewon secure internet-based connectivity service, Talk2M.

This service, which is provided by Ewon's manufacturer ACTL, is free to use and provides Architen engineers with a secure remote internet or wireless connection, so that they can monitor and control lighting systems from anywhere in the world.

Talk2M offers full integration of IT security standards by establishing an internet communication 'tunnel' between the user and the remote lighting system, without any IT network security changes at either end.

This enables easy, fast deployment of a remote connectivity link, while circumventing the complexities that may exist within a site's IT network infrastructure.

On request or permanently, Ewon makes a secure VPN connection to the Talk2M web server using UDP or TCP https, passing outward through the site firewall.

On the other side, the user also makes a secure VPN connection to the same server, by signing in to the Talk2M service, using free VPN software called 'Ecatcher'.

This server acts as a 'broker' to interconnect the two VPN tunnels.

The information exchanged during the communication is 128-bit encrypted, so that only authenticated users can connect to their Ewon devices.

The Talk2M VPN-client (Ecatcher) is a free download from the Talk2M website.

The remote sites (Ewon devices) are registered to a specific Talk2M user account and are accessible only to that user.

Once a user has connected using Ecatcher and signed in, a single click is all that is needed to establish communication with the chosen remote site.

Connecting to a remote location via mobile-phone networks is just as straightforward.

An Ewon device containing an embedded GPRS or Edge modem can either be permanently connected to Talk2M or can be remotely activated to establish a Talk2M VPN session, by sending it an SMS text message.

Remote sites require only standard Sim cards, which are inexpensive and can be sourced from any mobile-phone provider, allowing Talk2M users to shop around for the best deal on mobile data rates.

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