XML RPC
PageMate V3.1 provides new support for XML RPC, a Remote Procedure Call facility based on the use of XML over IP. XML RPC can be used either in lieu of or in addition to DCE RPC, the traditional Remote Procedure Call facility that has been an industry standard for more than a decade.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a brother to HTML (HyperText Markup Language). Both are dialects of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), an international standard defined by ISO 8879. XML RPC is a remote procedure call facility encoded in XML. XML RPC is a relatively new solution to an old problem, providing a standard for data interchange across disparate platforms.
Two of the most cogent advantages that XML RPC brings to the table for PageMate are
- interprocess communication for client-server operation between and among any platforms that support IP stream sockets; and
- capability to specify ports used for PageMate's XML RPC operation.
The most obvious beneficiary of the first advantage is PageMate support for Linux (new with Version 3.1). Any site or facility that uses PageMate with client-server communication through a firewall is likely to appreciate the second advantage.
New Platforms
PageMate V3.1 provides new support for both PageMate Classic Server and PageMate Client operation on RedHat Linux for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (Itanium) environments. PageMate V3.1 also introduces new support for 64-bit operation on Windows (both EMT64 and IA64), OpenVMS (IA64) and HP-UX (IA64).
GSM Short Message Service
SMS, also known as GSM SMS, is the Short Messaging Service component of GSM (Global System for Mobile Telecommunications). The formal name for the protocol that implements SMS is ERMES UCP, the Universal Computer Protocol of the European Radio Message System. SMS was developed and first deployed in Europe, but it is an international standard that enjoys popularity worldwide for use with digital telephones based on GSM technology. PageMate V3.1 provides new support for GSM SMS messaging with both USA domestic and foreign service providers.
Support for Mobile Web Devices
The Web Connector for PAM V3.1 provides support for small and medium-sized web-capable devices, including PDAs (e.g., iPAQ) and WAP phones. The Web Connector is an option for PAM Server that requires Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) on the PAM Server system.
The PageMate Web Connector provides an alternative to RPC for client-server support for interactive users. There are three separate web interfaces provided with the V3.1 Web Connector, including
- A site suitable for use with full-screen browsers (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape) operating on displays with resolutions in the range 1024 x 768 pixels or greater;
- A site suitable for use with PDAs and similar mobile devices with mid-sized screen resolutions in the range 240 x 320 pixels; and
- A site suitable for use with WAP-enabled phones and similar small-screen devices with display resolutions in the range 120 x 160 pixels.
On-Site Paging Systems
PageMate has always supported operation with customer-owned (on-site) paging systems. Customer owned and operated systems are popular and cost-effective in hospitals, plant automation and other application environments that are characterized by a need to broadcast messages to mobile personnel in a confined space (typically a mile or less in diameter).
Version 3.1 extends the scope of PageMate's support for these environments by introducing specific support for Glenayre and Zetron paging systems and terminals, and by providing support for custom solutions for voice broadcast using DECtalk text-to-speech synthesis. As an authorized reseller for Zetron paging systems and terminals, Systemetrics can now provide custom solutions for applications that need to deliver messages to mobile personnel in either text or speech form.
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