There are many ways to approach Internet connectivity to electronic devices, each with their own benefits and pitfalls. Coactive's patent-pending IOConnect Architecture™ is a powerful framework distilled from years of experience in the market which provides the reliability, scalability, and manageability required for complex and mission-critical systems. By abstracting control information, providing a flexible environment for data translation and manipulation, and publishing a powerful distributed object interface, the IOConnect Architecture addresses the complex issues surrounding real-time device access while streamlining application development.

When you use Coactive's products, you get much more than a "box" with several network jacks. Coactive's products prepare your system for the future by providing a complete embedded, distributed, open, and scalable solution based on a coherent approach towards the connectivity problem.

An Embedded, Distributed Architecture

The IOConnect Architecture delivers superior reliability and flexibility by avoiding the server bottleneck at the center of other architectures. Instead of requiring that all control data be gathered into a single server, and then forwarded across this server's network connection in a fixed way, the IOConnect Architecture allows you to connect multiple control subsystems to the IP network in a distributed fashion, where it makes sense both logically and physically. The subsystem connection is accomplished using a compact embedded connectivity device, rather than a PC.

Dedicated Server

• Single point of failure at server
• Limited performance due to server bottleneck
• Expensive server maintenance and software
• Control network may be redundant with IP network

IOConnect Architecture

• No single point of failure
• Scalable performance
• Allows physical and logical segmenting of network
• Reduces total cost of ownership

Making the Most of Open Standards and IP Technologies

The IOConnect Architecture goes beyond adherence to open standards by delivering the full power of the ubiquitous and dynamic IP infrastructure to all electronic devices. In addition to utilizing the IP transport layer, the IOConnect Architecture embraces Internet standards such as HTTP, Java, PPP, SNMP, FTP, ODBC, and CORBA.

The fact is that most device connectivity approaches do not result in well-behaved IP hosts or simply do not use IP protocols. These approaches fail to take full advantage of the enormous investments being made in Internet technologies, and will not meet with acceptance from IT professionals who are charged with maintaining the network. The IOConnect Architecture benefits from the expertise and experience of first-to-market innovators who are on familiar ground in both the control and IP worlds.

Coactive Networks is dedicated to the open standards model, and has spearheaded standardization efforts while delivering advanced products to the market. Committed to providing customers with solutions which leverage the latest developments in networking technology, Coactive continues to pioneer innovations in network connectivity.

• Founding member, OSGi
• First Java API to EIA-709 (LonWorks®)
• Founder and leader of the LonMark IP Routing group
• First to market in LonTalk/IP tunneling routers
• Member of Real-time Java standards committee
• Member of IEEE 1451 standards committee
• Contributor to EIA 709.1 standard
• Monitor of standards efforts in OMG

A Complete Solution to Ensure the Present and Future Success of Your System

Coactive's IOConnect Architecture is realized in a complete set of products and services to address your present needs and prepare you for the future. At Coactive, network connectivity is not an incidental feature to be dealt with hastily as an unexpected customer requirement -- it is our entire business. The range of Coactive products provide the connectivity features needed for your system, without burdening you with any unnecessary cost or complexity.

As you browse through the documents in this web site, you may see a perfect match for your system's network architecture; or you may see an architecture that holds unexpected benefits and causes you to rethink your system. Either way, the best thing you can do is to contact Coactive and put our experience to work for you. Network connectivity is our business, and our Sales and Application Engineers will be happy to discuss the details of your system.

sales@coactive.com
1-888-COACTIVE
415 289-1722
415 289-1320 fax