The Internet - how old is it
At the time of writing t'Internet is 26 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours and... 13 minutes old.
You can get a up to date age here
The basic principles of communication are still the same, although the applications grow on a weekly basis! Of course the reason for this growth is the simple fact that the Internet foundations are solid and very well known. The Internet uses the TCP/IP protocol, which has always had the principles of self recovery and alternate routing. This contributes to our Missing is not Broken design paradigm.
The Internet is standards based, that's why so many devices can work on it. For WebBricks its an ideal set of protocols and data representations, they completely open and all of the networking comes for free in the operating systems we use. This meets our Use Open Standards mantra.
The WebBrick and Gateway use Internet protocols on a protected private network, the data flows over HTTP and XML both foundation class standards. This is how we move knowledge around to implement Local Control Global Intelligence.
CAT5, CAT5E CAT6 and beyond ...
CAT5 cable has been around for more than 20 years, CAT5E standards documents start before 1996. This type of cable was initially used for structured cabling in corporate buildings. These organisations needed a cable infrastructure that would allow for a flexible use of datacomms and telecomms applications, mostly because corporates are always re-organising.
As time moved on data and telephone converged and applications grew. Since CAT5(E) cable existing in many buildings, engineers worked on how to get the best out of these cables, these days 100Mb/S is standard and 1Gb/S short haul is at commodity pricing. CAT6 cables can give 10Gb/S, although the network switches are currently in the corporate pricing domain.
So CAT5E cable is well priced and flexible. WebBrick solutions use CAT5E cabling for:
- Data Communication, Ethernet
- Data Communication, Temperature Sensor Bus
- Data Communication, DMX commands to dimmers
- Data Communication, RS232 to AV equipment
- Data Communication, RS485 to LED controllers and other bus systems
- Simple contact closure, switch plate, plant monitoring etc
- PWM, switch plate mimic
- Analogue Out, Various 0-10V controls
- Analogue In, Humidity, Light Levels etcfs
Summary Since CAT5(E) cable has been around for a long time, it and it's accessories are commodity priced, and it has supreme flexibility, CAT(n) is perfect placed to form the backbone of any building automation scheme. Of course if its not needed for automation it has plenty of other uses.